As the Liiga season winds down and playoff positioning takes shape, a number of prospects have begun to separate themselves with strong late-season performances. This group of players represents a mix of draft-eligible talent, NHL-affiliated prospects, and under-the-radar names who have elevated their play at the right time. Some have been building toward this moment all season, while others have surged more recently, but all have done enough to warrant attention as the offseason evaluation period approaches. What follows is a closer look at who is standing out in Liiga, why it matters, and what dynasty managers should be taking away.

Benjamin Rautiainen, LW – Tappara

Rautiainen put together one of the most dominant seasons in modern Liiga history, exploding for 77 points in 59 games, including 25 goals and 52 assists, and becoming the first player in nearly two decades to reach the 70-point mark in the league. The Tappara forward shattered the club's single-season scoring record and established himself as one of the most productive U21 players Liiga has seen in decades. His performance earned him both the Lasse Oksanen Award as league MVP and the Golden Helmet as the top player, a rare combination that underscores just how impactful his season was.

What makes Rautiainen's breakout especially compelling is how it was built. His offensive game is driven by intelligence, timing, and spatial awareness rather than flash. He consistently finds soft areas, extends possession, and creates passing lanes in tight spaces, functioning as a true playmaking driver. As the season progressed, his confidence with the puck grew, allowing him to take on a more assertive role without sacrificing the efficiency that defined his early success. His Fantasy Hockey Life tracking profile supports the eye test, showing strong play-driving metrics alongside above-average loose puck recoveries and playmaking indicators.

From a projection standpoint, Rautiainen's season has dramatically altered his trajectory. Originally viewed as a longer-term project after being selected 108th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2025, he is now firmly on the map as one of the more intriguing forward prospects outside the NHL. That said, his Hockey Prospecting model remains more modest, giving him just a 6 percent chance of becoming a star but a 76 percent chance of reaching the NHL, with outlier comparables such as Jesper Bratt and David Perron. While his ceiling may not project as elite in a traditional sense, his historic Liiga production and translatable, low-risk style suggest a clear path to becoming a reliable middle-six NHL contributor who can quietly accumulate value in deeper dynasty formats.

Ville Ruotsalainen, D – KalPa

Ruotsalainen, a 22-year-old undrafted, 5-10 left-shot defenseman, is in his third Liiga season with KalPa and has taken a significant step forward offensively. Through just 19 games this season, he has already recorded 20 points, surpassing the combined total from his previous 82 Liiga games. That kind of jump suggests real development rather than a short-term spike, and it has put him on the radar as a potential late-blooming option for NHL organizations looking for value signings out of Europe.

Ruotsalainen has grown into a more complete contributor, blending improved offensive instincts with a steady two-way foundation. His ability to operate through the middle of the ice and support transition play has made him a trusted presence, and as his confidence with the puck has increased, so too has his willingness to drive play rather than defer. He may not project as a high-end, dynamic defenseman, but his well-rounded profile and upward trajectory make him an intriguing name to monitor, particularly if his offensive growth continues and earns him an NHL contract opportunity.

Santeri Huovila, LW – JYP

Huovila, a 21-year-old undrafted winger, has emerged as one of the more intriguing late-season risers in Liiga. After a strong 2024–25 campaign, he has taken another step forward in 2025–26, now producing at over a point-per-game pace with JYP. At 6-0, he combines adequate size with a noticeable blend of pace and offensive instinct, and his recent production suggests a player whose confidence and impact are both trending upward. Given his trajectory, he is starting to look like a legitimate candidate to earn an NHL contract.

Huovila's game is driven by his willingness to attack, particularly off the rush, where he consistently challenges defenders and creates pressure. That added layer of dynamism has become more apparent as the season has progressed. The key for Huovila will be maintaining that level of engagement, as his effectiveness is closely tied to how involved he is on a shift-to-shift basis. When he is actively driving play, the tools are clear, and if that consistency holds, he could continue to elevate himself from a depth option to a more legitimate offensive prospect worth tracking closely.

Valtteri Nurmi, D – Pelicans

Nurmi has continued to develop into a reliable presence on the back end, combining steady defensive play with improving puck movement. His ability to make clean exits and support transition has been a consistent strength, and as the season has progressed, he has shown more confidence in joining the rush when opportunities present themselves. He appeared in just 10 Liiga regular-season games, but made a strong impression by recording six points in that limited sample, a notable output for a 21-year-old undrafted overager adjusting to the professional level. His game is built on composure and structure, traits that tend to translate well as competition increases, and while he may not project as a high-end offensive defenseman, his steady development and flashes of upside give him a solid foundation as a potential depth option worth monitoring if this level of play continues.

Jere Lassila, C – JYP

Lassila has quietly put together a strong stretch of play, leaning into a two-way identity that allows him to contribute in multiple areas. His work ethic and positioning stand out, and he consistently stays involved in the flow of play, even when it does not translate directly into scoring. Now 22 and previously undrafted, he has taken a significant step forward this season, producing at nearly a point-per-game pace in Liiga, an uncommon feat, while nearly doubling his point total from last year.

There is value in players like Lassila, particularly in deeper formats where role and usage matter. His game is not built on high-end skill, but his reliability, awareness, and willingness to compete in all three zones give him a legitimate pathway to NHL consideration. If this level of offensive growth proves sustainable, he becomes a much more intriguing late-blooming prospect worth monitoring closely.

Alberts Smits, D – Jukurit

Smits brings a blend of size and skill that has started to translate more effectively as the season has progressed. His ability to protect the puck and operate in traffic makes him difficult to handle along the boards, and he has begun to turn those advantages into more consistent offensive contributions. A draft-eligible prospect, Smits has steadily climbed rankings, sitting around 12th on consolidated lists while appearing as high as fourth on some boards, reflecting both his rising stock and the variability in how evaluators view his upside. Notably, his Fantasy Hockey Life skater card highlights exceptional play-driving metrics alongside strong blocks, shots, and hits (BASH) that further elevate his profile in multi-category formats.

The intrigue lies in how those tools continue to develop. If his pace and decision-making keep trending upward, Smits has the potential to become a more impactful offensive player, particularly given the strong underlying indicators already present in his game. While there is still projection involved, his combination of size, play driving, and peripheral production makes him one of the more compelling and well-rounded prospects to track in this draft class.

Anttoni Uronen, LW – HIFK

Uronen has been another forward who has found a rhythm late in the season, using his skating and offensive instincts to create more consistent pressure. His ability to generate chances off the rush has stood out, and he has shown flashes of the kind of skill that can translate into higher-level production. As a draft-eligible player ranked 86th by Central Scouting, his profile sits more in the sleeper range, but his production in Liiga at this stage is notably impressive and adds some intrigue relative to his ranking.

The challenge for Uronen will be sustaining that level of play, as his effectiveness has at times come in waves. Hockey Prospecting gives him just a two percent chance of becoming a star, which reflects both the uncertainty in his projection and the lack of a consistently dominant track record. Still, players producing at this level in Liiga during their draft year tend to earn longer looks, and if he can build on this momentum with greater consistency, he could outperform expectations and continue to climb prospect boards.

Final Thoughts

This group of Liiga prospects highlights the depth and variety of talent developing in Finland's top league. While there may not be the same level of headline-grabbing production seen in other leagues, the consistency, structure, and translatability of these players make them particularly interesting from a projection standpoint. As the offseason approaches, identifying which of these late-season risers can sustain their momentum will be key for dynasty managers looking to stay ahead of the curve.

Thanks for reading! See you next week. For more fantasy hockey analysis, or if there's a prospect, topic, or theme you'd like me to cover, follow and message me on X: https://x.com/VictorNuno12