The best time of the year for prospect watchers is right around the corner. The 2024 edition of the IIHF World Junior Championship begins later this month, as normal, on December 26. This year’s event will take place in Gothenburg, Sweden, which was initially slated to host in 2022 but needed to be rescheduled due to COVID restrictions.
Exactly a week after Team Canada announced their preliminary roster, Team Finland made an official announcement on the players that will be joining them in Sweden. Unlike Canada and the United States, Finland released a 25-man roster instead of 29, meaning they will only have to cut one forward and one defenseman before the tournament begins.
As part of the “big six” in international hockey, Finland has had an up-and-down ride in the World Junior Championships over the last several years. The team won the gold medal in 2019 and has only medaled twice since that win. Hoping to get back into the top three after a disappointing performance last year, the Finnish roster is as follows:
F Rasmus Kumpulainen (Wild, 2023, 53rd overall)
F Konsta Helenius (2024 draft-eligible)
F Oiva Keskinen (Blue Jackets, 2023, 194th overall)
F Samu Bau (Coyotes, 2023, 162nd overall)
F Kasper Halttunen (Sharks, 2023, 36th overall)
F Jesse Kiiskinen (Predators, 2023, 68th overall)
F Aleksanteri Kaskimäki (Blues, 2022, 73rd overall)
F Max Koskipirtti (2024 draft-eligible)
F Jere Lassila (2024 draft-eligible)
F Lenni Hämeenaho (Devils, 2023, 58th overall)
F Emil Hemming (2024 draft-eligible))
F Jani Nyman (Kraken, 2022, 49th overall)
F Tommi Männistö (2024 draft-eligible)
F Janne Naukkarinen (2024 draft-eligible)
D Veeti Väisänen (2024 draft-eligible)
D Otto Salin (Kings, 2022, 148th overall)
D Arttu Kärki (Golden Knights, 2023, 96th overall)
D Kasper Kulonummi (Predators, 2022, 84th overall)
D Emil Pieniniemi (Penguins, 2023, 91st overall)
D Joona Väisänen (2024 draft-eligible)
D Kalle Kangas (Penguins, 2023, 223rd overall)
D Jesse Pulkkinen (2024 draft-eligible)
G Eemil Vinni (2024 draft-eligible)
G Niklas Kokko (Kraken, 2022, 58th overall)
G Noa Vali (2024 draft-eligible)
Of players already drafted to the NHL, the Nashville Predators, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Seattle Kraken all lead the way with two prospects a team. Amongst the players eligible for the 2024 NHL Draft, Helenius leads the way, largely projecting to be a top-10 selection next summer. As a 17-year-old, Helenius is currently playing with Jukurit of the Finnish Liiga, scoring eight goals and 20 points in 28 games to start the season.