When the Florida Panthers selected Aleksi Heponiemi in the second round last summer, he had just finished his first in the WHL where he scored 86 points in 72 games and was named Rookie of the Year. The undersized but extremely skilled center was picked 40th overall, and sent back to the Swift Current Broncos for another year in the CHL. This time around, Heponiemi led the league in assists and registered a staggering 118 points in 57 games. With another 30 points in 26 playoff contests, he was a huge reason why the Broncos won the WHL Championship and attended the recent Memorial Cup.
Now, instead of playing for the Panthers or their AHL affiliate next season, Heponiemi is headed home. The 19-year old forward has signed a two-year contract with Karpat in Finland, meaning Florida will have to wait to sign their prized prospect. Though he was drafted out of the CHL, his return to Europe will extend the Panthers’ draft rights through June 1st, 2021. The team will have to sign him before that point or risk losing him to another team. While that’s not an issue at the moment, the new contract with Karpat does likely mean we won’t see Heponiemi back in North America for at least two years.
Heponiemi is an elite playmaker, able to find teammates and get them the puck through the smallest of windows. His vision and passing ability are among the best in the CHL, and he projects to be an excellent NHL player down the road. Still, he’ll have to prove that he can create space for himself at the next level when players are even bigger and faster, though he’s never had trouble up to this point. Florida will wait patiently, and hope they can bring him over in a few seasons. They may get another good look at him on the international circuit, as Heponiemi won’t turn 20 until January 8th next year, meaning he is still eligible for the World Junior Championship.