FinnProspects

Kristian Vesalainen

Position: right wing
Shoots: Left
Born: 1999-06-01 / Helsinki, Finland
Height 192 cm
Weight 94 kg
Team: Jokerit

Prospects ranking positions

Drafted by Winnipeg Jets in 2017 #24


  • 2018-02-13 at Ässät - HPK, Liiga by Asko Huuki

    Vesalainen has been in excellent form totaling 19 points in 16 games after World Junior Championships. He didn’t have points against Ässät but he saw over 21 minutes of ice time and he was eager to use his excellent shot collecting seven shots.

    Vesalainen has always excelled in physical side and skating and that hasn’t changed. He is really good at using his body and he is extremely difficult to beat in board battles. Also his skating has taken one more step forward. His acceleration and agility were impressive for big player already before, but his top speed has taken great strides and now that part is clearly above average for this level. Before his decisions with the puck were concerning, but he has learned how to play pro game and nowadays he plays more simple game and uses his linemates lot better. His hockey sense off the puck has always been good and he is involved in the game much more often than he’s not.

    The forward has progressed nicely and he is already one of the most dangerous forwards in Liiga. If anything, his playmaking abilities are not on the level with other qualities. His hands are decent, but together with big body he is very good at protecting the puck. He also has excellent work ethic, he is efficient in checking and he is defensively sound and this is probably the reason why he already plays in penalty kill despite being just 18 years old. Overall, he is excellent player for a player of his age. With this level of play he definitely could have a chance to play in World Championships unless he moves to North America right away after regular season.


  • 2017-04-16 at Latvia - Finland, U18 World Championship by Asko Huuki

    Vesalainen was the best Finnish forward after Joni Ikonen in a game against Latvia. He collected impressive four points and now he has eight points in just three games. Vesalainen has looked like a man among boys but Finland has played against weaker opponents so far.

    Forward likes to carry the puck often but I don’t think that style of play will translate into pro game. At the moment Vesalainen successfully protects the puck with his body but he doesn’t have enough top speed or good enough hands to be as efficient when he loses his physical advantage against men. Already at this level he loses the puck relatively often when he carries it. That causes turnovers and one of those eventually led to Latvia’s goal. His hockey IQ with the puck is questionable.

    However Vesalainen has enough interesting assets. He has the size, he can play grittier and more physical game, he is agile for a player of his size, he has above average yet not excellent shot and he has excellent work ethic. He is one of the first forwards to help the defense and he positions well without the puck. Also he has shown ability to give occasional creative and sharp pass though I would like to see that part of his game much more often.

    I think Vesalainen has pretty high floor and he should be relatively safe bet to become NHL player in the future. However I don’t think that he has the upside of becoming top six winger.


  • 2016-12-08 at HPK - Ässät, Liiga by Asko Huuki

    Vesalainen made his first goal in Liiga in his 9th game with HPK.

    Forward is an inquiring prospect due to combination of size and speed. He likes to carry the puck to the offensive zone but he also loses the puck often while doing so. While Vesalainen does have fairly good hands, it is an area which could use improvement especially if he doesn’t start playing simpler and quicker game in the future. At the moment he looks like a player with a lot of good tools but who hasn’t been quite able to put it all together which is likely the reason why it took nine games to get first point in Liiga despite getting a lot of ice time.

    However Vesalainen is hard worker, plays solid passing game, forechecks well, doesn’t shy away in physical battles and is impressive at the defensive zone for a player of his age. His offensive talent most likely prevents him to become elite player but he should have bright future ahead in two-way role.



Articles about Kristian Vesalainen

Statistics

Player statistics powered by www.eliteprospects.com

 Season Team League GP G A TP PIM      Playoffs GP G A TP PIM 
 2012-2013 HIFK U16U16 SM-sarja Q4 2 35 0|        
  HIFK U16U16 SM-sarja5 0 00 0|Playoffs1 0 00
 2013-2014 HIFK U16U16 SM-sarja Q9 8 1220 0|        
  HIFK U16U16 SM-sarja28 18 2139 8|Playoffs3 2 24
  HIFK U18U18 SM-sarja9 1 12 0|        
  HJK U16U16 Mestis1 1 01 0|        
  HJK U18U18 Mestis3 2 35 2|        
 2014-2015 HIFK U16U16 SM-sarja0 0 00 0|Playoffs1 2 13
  HIFK U18U18 SM-sarja18 10 515 29|Playoffs12 5 38
  HIFK U20U20 SM-sarja17 1 12 0|Playoffs1 0 00
  Finland U17WHC-176 3 25 4|        
  Finland U17EYOF3 2 13 2|        
  Finland U17 (all)International-Jr24 8 513 8|        
 2015-2016 Frölunda HCChampions HL3 0 00 0|        
  Frölunda HC J18J18 Nationell0 0 00 0|Playoffs2 1 01
  Finland U18 Hlinka Gretzky Cup5 0 00 0|        
  Frölunda HC J20J20 Nationell37 15 1934 0|Playoffs1 0 11
  Frölunda HCSHL19 1 12 0|Playoffs5 0 00
  Finland U17WHC-175 4 48 4|        
  Finland U18WJC-187 2 46 6|        
 2016-2017 Frölunda HCChampions HL6 2 13 0|        
  Frölunda HC J20J20 Nationell10 4 04 14|Playoffs5 2 13
  Frölunda HCSHL26 1 56 2|Playoffs1 0 00
  HPKLiiga9 1 01 0|        
  Finland U18WJC-187 6 713 8|        
  Finland U18 (all)International-Jr9 6 713 10|        
  Finland U20WJC-206 1 12 0|        
  Finland U20 (all)International-Jr12 4 37 4|        
 2017-2018 HPKLiiga44 19 2039 6|        
  KärpätLiiga5 3 14 0|Playoffs18 4 48 14 
  Finland U20WJC-205 2 46 2|        
  Finland U20 (all)International-Jr10 3 69 6|        
 2018-2019 Winnipeg JetsNHL5 0 11 0|        
  Manitoba MooseAHL22 4 913 10|        
  JokeritKHL31 6 1117 0|Playoffs6 1 01
 2019-2020 Manitoba MooseAHL60 12 1830 10|        
 2020-2021 HPKLiiga10 4 48 4|        
  Winnipeg JetsNHL12 0 11 0|Playoffs4 0 00
  Manitoba MooseAHL6 1 45 0|        
 2021-2022 Winnipeg JetsNHL53 2 13 6|        
  Manitoba MooseAHL17 3 36 6|Playoffs2 0 00
 2022-2023 Malmö RedhawksSHL15 1 23 0|        
  HIFKLiiga40 16 2137 8|Playoffs12 2 35
  HIFKSpengler Cup3 1 23 0|        
 2023-2024 HIFKLiiga24 10 1222 4|        
  Finland EHT3 0 11 0|        
  Finland (all)International3 0 11 0|        

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