Three players to watch on Team Finland at 2024 WJC

Three players to watch on Team Finland at 2024 WJC

Konsta Helenius, C: Playing his second season in Liiga, Helenius has developed into a top six player in a top tiered league. His eight goals and 20 points through 28 games are testament to the rare blend of skill and will. Projected as a top 10 pick in the 2024 NHL draft, Helenius will get a chance to shine in Finland’s top six. There will be plenty of pressure for him to produce on a Finnish team that has a number of NHL drafted players, but lacks household names.

From a pure numbers projection, Helenius has a chance to finish amongst the top five draft eligible Liiga players ever, a list led by Aleksander Barkov’s 48 points 11 years ago.

Kasper Halttunen, RW: One of the more polarizing figures from the 2023 NHL draft, Halttunen does one thing extremely well, and that’s score goals. A second round pick of the San Jose Sharks, he captained Finland’s U18 team in April, where he was named one of his country’s top three players. He possesses an elite shot and release. He can score from distance and elevate pucks quickly in-tight. In his first year with OHL London, he’s sniped 20 goals through his first 28 games. 

Jani Nyman, RW: At 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, Nyman is your prototypical Finnish power forward. The power isn’t derived as much from initiating physical contact as it is repelling it and protecting the puck. He’s an interesting study, as throughout his career he’s been able to produce points, leaning more to the goal-scoring side than the playmaking side. He can be an effective power play threat because of his willingness to shoot. His shot is dangerous and can beat goalies from distance. While there are concerns about his skating, he’s been able to put up 14 goals and 22 points through 28 Liiga games this season.