Otto Kivenmaki Will Be Given Room To Learn From Mistakes With Ässät

Detroit Red Wings 2018 7th rounder Otto Kivenmaki has been playing on Porin Ässät’s first line during the Liiga preseason with fellow 2018 draft pick and Montreal’s 1st round draft pick Jesperi Kotkaniemi as his center. In an article announcing that Kivenmaki, Kotkaniemi, and fellow young Ässät forward Carolina Hurricanes 2018 4th rounder Lenni Killinen will be playing for the Finnish U20 team at the upcoming Four Nations Tournament, Ässät’s head coach Mikael Kotkaniemi had a quick comment to make on the trio. Roughly translated, Kotkaniemi, father of Jesperi, said the following:

“It is, of course, great for us to leave the players for the twenties national team. Otto and Lenni performed well in our Vaasa Cup matches and we are driving them all the time.

Our young offenders have taken big steps when we have given them the responsibility. They also have the permission to fail and learn to succeed through it. Our youth section has been very promising in the practice games.”

This is great news for Red Wings fans, as Ässät appears to be going through a transition period of their own. Knowing Kivenmaki will be given room to learn on the fly while at the moment being slotted in on the first line with Jesperi Kotkaniemi, fans should be able to see him take his game to the next level this season.

Thanks to fellow WingsNation writer Cameron Kuom (@AthanasiouLater on twitter), here’s an assist by Otto Kivenmaki (#73) from an Ässät preseason game:

Regarding the previously mentioned Four Nations Tournament, fellow Red Wings prospect Jesper Eliasson will be playing for Team Sweden in the tournament that runs from August 24th-26th.