Arriving at the world juniors in Gothenburg, the author notes the strange end to 2023’s preliminary round, with Sweden undefeated and Finland in need of points. Despite Sweden leading late in the game, Finland tied it up and went on to win in a shootout, securing their spot in the quarterfinals. While Finland can rest easy, the loss may be a good thing for Sweden, as adversity can be a positive motivator. The team’s veteran lineup, including Buffalo Sabres prospect Noah Ostlund, Vancouver Canucks’ Jonathan Lekkerimaki, and Minnesota Wild’s Liam Ohgren, have been instrumental in their success so far. With the pressure of playing on home soil, the team is looking forward to making something good out of their last junior tournament together.
Konsta Helenius, a center, is the top Finnish prospect for the 2024 draft. He recently showcased one of the reasons why, scoring a sick shootout goal to regain momentum for his team. However, he also took a hard hit from Anton Wahlberg (BUF) in the first period, indicating that he may need to bulk up in the coming years. Despite this, I believe he has the potential to have a great world juniors in 2025.
Whenever I watch Oskar Pettersson (OTT) play, I am always impressed by his tenacity and physicality. I think he would be a great addition to a Senators line with Ridly Greig or even Brady Tkachuk in the future.
I am curious if Tommi Mannisto will receive any draft attention this summer. Although he has been passed over twice before, his speed and work ethic are hard to overlook. He is currently in his first North American season with Michigan State, so there are opportunities for any NHL team looking for an energy player.
Lastly, I do not want to exaggerate, but my lack of sleep over the past day and a half has left me feeling like I am in a Fear and Loathing-like state. To make matters worse, I had to navigate through a Great Gatsby-themed New Year’s party and avoid a stilt-walking circus performer just to get to my hotel room. Nevertheless, I am excited for more fun from Gothenburg throughout the week.
