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Aleksi Heponiemi

Aleksi Heponiemi Signs In Switzerland

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Florida Panthers forward and former top prospect Aleksi Heponiemi has signed a one-year contract with EHC Biel-Bienne of Switzerland’s National League. The signing suspends Heponiemi’s formal playing relationship with the Panthers organization, though it may not end it.

Since Heponiemi received a qualifying offer from Florida, the Panthers will retain the exclusive rights of any NHL team to sign him until July 1st, 2027.

Keeping in mind the overall trajectory of Heponiemi’s career, this is a disappointing outcome for a player once touted as one of the Panthers’ better prospects.

Heponiemi, 24, is a Finnish center who scored 86 points in 72 games as a WHL rookie, winning the league’s Rookie of the Year award.

Off the back of that season, Heponiemi was drafted in the second round, 40th overall at the 2017 draft. The following campaign, Heponiemi clearly outplayed his draft position, scoring 118 points in just 57 regular-season games and 30 points in 26 playoff games en route to a WHL title and First-Team WHL All-Star honors.

He turned pro in 2018-19 directly afterward and was exceptional once again. Heponiemi scored 16 goals and 46 points in 50 games for Karpat in the Finnish Liiga, an impressive feat for a 20-year-old rookie professional. By that point, even though Heponiemi’s three points in 17 playoff games gave some cause for concern, the prevailing belief was that he’d end up a productive NHL center.

Heponiemi seemed to hit a wall after crossing the Atlantic in 2019-20. He scored just 14 points in 49 games for the Springfield Thunderbirds in the AHL, and although he was used to the smaller ice surfaces due to his time in the WHL the smaller ice combined with the relentless physicality of the AHL proved quite the challenge. Heponiemi would end up earning an NHL call-up the following season, but he only played a total of six games in the AHL.

In 2021-22 Heponiemi turned in a productive AHL campaign with 39 points in 56 games, though it was becoming more and more clear that he likely wouldn’t end up the difference-making NHLer it once appeared he would become. This past season was more of the same, 43 points in 62 AHL games but just three points in 10 NHL contests.

It appears now with this signing in Switzerland Heponiemi has opted to likely play a starring role for an overseas club rather than continue the status quo, which for him has been existing on the Panthers’ roster bubble.

He could play his way back into the NHL, of course. But given how successful Heponiemi has been in the past in top European pro leagues and how that success failed to translate to the NHL, it’s also certainly a possibility that Heponiemi’s chances of becoming a productive NHL center have all but evaporated.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Florida Panthers Recall Ten Players

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4:00 PM: The Panthers have officially announced the recalls, and added one name that wasn’t included in Richards’ report: goaltender Evan Fitzpatrick.

Fitzpatrick, 25, is a 2016 second-round pick who played in 17 games with the ECHL’s Florida Everblades and posted an 11-3-1 record and .921 save percentage in those games. Fitzpatrick saw action in one AHL game this season, stopping 23 of 25 shots in an April 1st overtime loss to the Springfield Thunderbirds. With Guzda, Lyon, and Bobrovsky ahead of him on the depth chart something would have to go quite wrong for him to see time in these playoffs, so this recall is more about adding some depth to the team than anything else.

10:37 AM: The Florida Panthers have brought up their complement of Black Aces for the remainder of the playoffs today ahead of Game 3 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Per Florida Hockey Now’s George Richards, the following players have been brought up from the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers:

F Connor Bunnaman
F Grigori Denisenko
F Patrick Giles
F Aleksi Heponiemi
D Lucas Carlsson
D Matt Kiersted
D Santtu Kinnunen
D John Ludvig
D Calle Själin
G Mack Guzda

The recalls come after the Hershey Bears eliminated Charlotte from the Calder Cup Playoffs on May 4, taking their Atlantic Division semifinal series by a count of 3-1.

The two most intriguing names on this list are Denisenko and Heponiemi, both previously highly-touted prospects that have yet to make a notable NHL impact. Denisenko struggled in the minors this year and posted no points and a -1 rating in four playoff games for Charlotte. The 24-year-old Heponiemi, however, led the team with seven points in seven playoff games.

One name that Panthers fans will definitely recognize is Carlsson, who dropped back into an AHL role this season after appearing in 40 games for Florida during 2021-22. Carlsson was one of the best defenders in the AHL this season, recording 54 points in 61 games along with a +24 rating. He’s one of the more dependable recall options for Florida should injuries pop up among their defensemen.

The 24-year-old Kinnunen is also a name to watch for in the coming years. A seventh-round pick of the Panthers in 2018, Kinnunen broke out for 35 points in 69 regular-season games and six points in seven playoff games for Charlotte during his first season in North America.

Florida Panthers Loan Aleksi Heponiemi To AHL

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On December 15th, the Florida Panthers recalled Aleksi Heponiemi from the AHL on an emergency recall, as the team was dealing with an illness that was working its way around the roster.

Now, per a team announcement, Heponiemi has been returned to the team’s AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers. It’s been a busy season so far for the young Finnish forward, as marks Heponiemi’s ninth transaction of 2021-22.

Heponiemi has scored three points in 10 NHL games this year and eight points in 18 AHL games. The 23-year-old was drafted by the Panthers 40th overall at the 2017 draft, fresh off of his impressive rookie season in the WHL with the Swift Current Broncos. While Heponiemi scored 86 points in 72 games that year, it was his sophomore WHL season that rocketed him towards top prospect status.

In 2017-18, Heponiemi scored 118 points in just 57 games, which went along nicely with the 30 points he scored in 26 playoff games as the Broncos took home the WHL title.

That stunning performance led him to make his professional debut in the Finnish Liiga, playing for Karpat. He scored 46 points in 50 games, no small feat given the somewhat conservative nature of Liiga, and after that year he headed to North America.

Unfortunately for Heponiemi, the immense scoring success he found in Finland and in the WHL hasn’t translated to the North American professional ice. Heponiemi’s AHL scoring started slow, with just 14 points in 49 games in 2019-20. Last year it began to come along, though, as he scored 39 points in 56 games.

In the NHL Heponiemi has struggled with the lack of time and space he is afforded by a league with such fast and physical players. While his total of just six points and 25 total games played is a disappointment considering his once-lofty prospect status, the fact remains that he won’t turn 24 for a few more weeks, meaning there is still time for his game to grow.

He’ll need to put together a strong, productive season at the AHL level first, though, and this loan back to Charlotte will restore his platform to put that sort of year on his resume.

Florida Panthers Recall Aleksi Heponiemi

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The Florida Panthers have added another young forward from the minor leagues, this time recalling Aleksi Heponiemi. This is the fourth recall of the season already for Heponiemi, and the eighth transaction overall.

An illness is working its way through the Florida roster at the moment, and George Richards of Florida Hockey Now reports that Matthew Tkachuk is the latest to miss practice. With the Panthers welcoming in the Pittsburgh Penguins this evening, they may have to rely on some other players to drive the offense.

Heponiemi, 23, was once considered a top prospect in the Panthers organization, after being selected 40th overall in 2017. He starred at the junior level (posting 118 points in 57 games for the Swift Current Broncos) dominated at the professional level in Finland, and made his NHL debut during the 2020-21 season. Unfortunately, even while having some success in the AHL, the undersized forward hasn’t been able to establish himself with the Panthers.

In seven games this season, he has two points while averaging fewer than nine minutes a night. For his 22 career games, that point total rises to just five.

With Grigori Denisenko also up with the team, Florida is relying on some of their high picks to fill the gaps while they try to figure out how to compete in the Atlantic Division. After winning the Presidents Trophy last year, the Panthers now sit 14-12-4, with Tkachuk leading the team in scoring by a mile.

Florida Panthers Loan Alex Lyon To AHL

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Dec 14, 4:16 pm: The Panthers have returned Lyon to AHL Charlotte, according to a team announcement. Knight is now healthy and fully recovered from illness after missing four games, per Florida Hockey Now’s George Richards.

Dec 8, 4:28 pm: The Florida Panthers have since announced that Knight is dealing with a non-COVID illness and will not play tonight. Sergei Bobrovsky will get the start in net. Forward Anton Lundell is also dealing with a non-COVID illness.

Dec 8, 3:28 pm: The Florida Panthers have made a roster swap, recalling veteran netminder Alex Lyon from the Charlotte Checkers, their AHL affiliate, and sending forward Aleksi Heponiemi to Charlotte. The move leaves Florida still with the maximum 23 skaters, something they haven’t been able to have for much of this season.

It’s unclear what the exact basis is for recalling Lyon, as neither Spencer Knight nor Sergei Bobrovsky appear to be injured at this time. Knight had been pulled from last night’s game against the Winnipeg Jets early on in the second period, however that appeared to be performance related, with the goaltender allowing three goals on 15 shots. Bobrovsky replaced Knight and finished out that game.

Given Bobrovsky’s struggles this season and not wanting to burn out Knight, adding Lyon into the mix could serve to push Bobrovsky while giving Knight a bit of a break. Lyon has had a solid season thus far with the Checkers, recording a 2.80 goals-against and .903 save-percentage in 12 games.

As for the 23-year-old Heponiemi, the forward has bounced around between the NHL and AHL plenty this season, and was most recently recalled on an emergency basis on December 4th. The shuffling hasn’t hurt him too much, recording two points in seven NHL games this season, as well as seven points in 16 games in the AHL.

Florida Panthers Emergency Recall Aleksi Heponiemi

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According to the team Sunday morning, the Florida Panthers have recalled forward Aleksi Heponiemi from the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers on an emergency basis. The Panthers were able to use an emergency recall after they played a skater short last night with Aleksander Barkov out due to illness.

This is Heponiemi’s second appearance on the Panthers’ roster this season. He was called up earlier in the month, playing two games before Florida returned him to the Checkers. He registered an assist and a +1 rating while averaging 10:28 of ice time.

A second-round pick in 2017, Heponiemi’s clout skyrocketed after a 118-point season with the WHL’s Swift Current Broncos in 2017-18. While his speed remains tantalizing, the scoring pace hasn’t quite translated to professional hockey, at least in North America. The Finn now serves as an alternate captain in Charlotte and has four goals, three assists, and seven points in 16 games there in 2022-23.

Unfortunately, even if Heponiemi can impress during his call-ups this year, he likely won’t be able to stay in the NHL. It’s another example of what can happen when a team flies too close to the sun in terms of the salary cap. Even with forward Anthony Duclair on long-term injured reserve, the team had just $82,675 remaining in their LTIR pool, according to CapFriendly, and could not add another contract to the active roster. By playing a skater short, the Panthers made themselves eligible for an emergency recall the following day without exceeding the cap’s Upper Limit.

Florida Panthers Send Three Players To AHL

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As they prepare their cap for the impending return of Aaron Ekblad, the Florida Panthers have sent three players to the minor leagues. Lucas Carlsson, Aleksi Heponiemi, and Matt Kiersted have all been sent to the Charlotte Checkers.

Ekblad was injured in the middle of October and has played just three games this season. He is eligible to return on Saturday after missing the requisite LTIR time, and head coach Paul Maurice is expecting him in the lineup.

Patric Hornqvist is also expected back in the coming days, though he was never placed on injured reserve in the first place. To make room for Ekblad, the team still needs to clear a bit more salary, likely meaning someone else will be going down when he’s activated. For now, the team has to keep at least 20 players on the roster.

It’s huge news for the Panthers, especially given how strong Ekblad was last season. The veteran defenseman set a new career high with 57 points in 61 games and finished sixth in Norris Trophy voting. Florida has been okay without him but still sit at 8-5-1 on the year, not exactly the start they wanted after winning the Presidents’ Trophy in 2021-22.

Ekblad’s return will go a long way to getting them back to being an elite team in the league, even if it does cost them some NHL depth to fit his salary in.

Florida Panthers Recall Aleksi Heponiemi

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According to the team, the Florida Panthers have recalled forward Aleksi Heponiemi from the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers ahead of tomorrow’s road game in Los Angeles.

The 23-year-old forward signed a one-year, two-way contract extension last July to remain with the team that drafted him. Heponiemi was the 40th overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft and proceeded to have a spectacular post-draft career in both the WHL and the Liiga before turning pro in North America. Although his offensive success hasn’t quite translated yet to the NHL (he has a goal and two assists in 15 career games), there’s still some development time left in the tank for Heponiemi.

The move comes with Patric Hornqvist and Colin White both sidelined with upper-body injuries, leaving the team with just 11 healthy forwards. Heponiemi had four points in his first six games with Charlotte.

Assuming no line changes occur in Hornqvist’s absence, Heponiemi could slot in on the wing and make a Finnish trio with Eetu Luostarinen and Anton Lundell.

Florida Panthers Sign Aleksi Heponiemi

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The Florida Panthers have inked Aleksi Heponiemi to a one-year, two-way contract extension for the 2022-23 season. CapFriendly reports that the deal will be worth $750K at the NHL level, $100K at the AHL level, and comes with a minor league guarantee of $175K. The young forward was scheduled for restricted free agency but is still not eligible for salary arbitration.

Heponiemi, 23, was the 40th overall selection in 2017 and has had an interesting route to the NHL. The Tampere, Finland native was picked out of the WHL, where he had come over to play for the Swift Current Broncos, and absolutely dominated that league after going back for his draft+1 season. With 118 points in 57 games (and another 30 in 26 postseason matches) he helped the Broncos win the WHL championship, taking home the CHL Sportsman of the Year award in the process.

The following season he returned to Finland to play at the professional level, and had no problem carrying over his offense to Liiga play. In 50 games for Karpat he scored 16 goals and 46 points, while also attending the World Juniors and winning gold. The next year was spent in the AHL with the Springfield Thunderbirds, before COVID restrictions kept the AHL from playing through the early part of 2020-21. That led to a loan to Sweden where he played for MODO, scoring nearly a point-per-game through the first half.

A recall to North America led to his NHL debut but he wouldn’t stay at that level. In fact, this past season he once again was limited to the AHL–this time scoring 39 points in 56 games for the Charlotte Checkers.

Now, it’s time for Heponiemi to try and make the Panthers on a full-time basis. No longer waiver-exempt he will be risked to the rest of the league if they try to send him to the minor leagues, giving him at least a bit of a head start over some other young prospects. That doesn’t guarantee him a spot though, especially on a team that already has plenty of offensive weapons and might prefer more physical players in the bottom-six.

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