Red Wings Select Otto Kivenmäki 191st Overall

With their last pick in the 2018 draft, the Detroit Red Wings have selected Finnish forward Otto Kivenmäki. Kivenmäki is in the Assat system in the Finnish Liiga. He had 37 points in 37 games in the Jr. A SM-liiga in the 2017-18 season and is on the national team radar, having played four games for the U-18 team.

Flamesnation writer Marco Bombino wrote about Kivenmäki and had the following to say: “Otto Kivenmäki is on the smaller side, but there are not many Finnish draft eligible prospects with similar attributes. A world-class skater with blazing speed and sublime agility, his acceleration is almost second to none. He makes tight turns and can leave defensemen in the dust. He’s got great hands and vision as well. The small Ässät center did miss the U18 World Championship where he would have had more exposure. While Kivenmäki will need considerable development time in Finland, I would be fairly surprised if he goes undrafted.”

Check out his article for more information on European sleeper picks from the 2018 draft.