Wings Nation First Round Targets: Urho Vaakanainen
By Nick Seguin
6 years agoFinland’s Urho Vaakanainen plays a well rounded game of hockey. The 6’1” left-handed defenseman still has some growing to do, but he’s a physical player in his own end capable of shutting down threatening opposition possession. From an offensive point of view, Vaakaneinen sees the ice very well and is able to move the puck up it. He’s not much of an offensive threat, however.
While he doesn’t have a lot of experience at the professional level, Vaakainen has played extensively for Finland at the International level. He’s projected to go late in the first round at this year’s NHL Entry Draft.
NHL CS RANKINGS
Projected to go 8th overall among European skaters.
THE STATS
Through most of his junior hockey career, Vaakanainen’s offense was quite impressive for a defenseman as he was producing at almost a point-per-game rate. However, with his jump the the Finnish professional league, as well as during International play, you’ll notice a huge drop off in his production. That’s not a bad thing. It just means that he’s playing a more defense-first game.
At the International level, he played for both the Finland U18 and U20 teams this year, winning a silver medal with the latter. He’s got to add some muscle to his frame before being ready for the North American professional game full-time, but his performance at home and abroad has been impressive so far.
THE EYE TEST
Goran Stubb, NHL Director of European Scouting, told NHL.com:
“Vaakanainen is a smooth skater with vision and a good set of skills including skating, passing, shot, vision.”
Mark Seidel, chief scout for North American Central Scouting, added:
“Great feet, has the potential to run the power play. (He) still needs more commitment defensively, (but) makes plays.”
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DOES HE FIT IN WITH THE RED WINGS?
Vaakanainen will likely be a middle-pairing defenseman in the NHL and Detroit has plenty of those. He’s projected to go much further back than Detroit is picking and I would be very disappointed if the Wings traded back and got him. There are better defensemen higher up in the rankings that the Red Wings should be looking at before they consider Vaakainen.
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