Finland remains one of hockey’s most reliable development pipelines, consistently producing intelligent, skilled prospects with NHL potential. The early stages of the 2026–27 season have been particularly encouraging, with several young players making meaningful offensive strides in Liiga and U20 SM-sarja. From Washington Capitals first-rounder Oliver Suvanto to emerging junior standouts, there’s plenty of talent worth watching.

For dynasty managers, context matters. Producing against professionals carries considerably more weight than dominating junior competition, while age, draft pedigree, and developmental trajectory are equally important. With that in mind, here are ten prospects playing in Finland whose early performances deserve attention.

Oliver Suvanto, C, Tappara (Liiga), Washington Capitals, 2026 First Round, 18th Overall

Suvanto is the clear headliner, and his early performance suggests Washington may have landed considerable value with the 18th overall selection in 2026. After collecting 11 points in 48 Liiga games last season, he opened 2026–27 with eight points through 14 games, representing a substantial offensive improvement. His responsibilities are also expanding, and his October 21 performance against Ässät, when he recorded a goal and an assist, demonstrated his ability to contribute offensively against established professionals. At 6-foot-3 and over 200 pounds, Suvanto already possesses the physical tools and defensive foundation of a future NHL center. The encouraging development is that his offense appears to be catching up.

His Hockey Prospecting profile provides an interesting counterpoint. Based on his draft-year production, the model assigns him a modest 12 NHLe, a 23% probability of becoming an NHL regular, and just a three percent probability of becoming a star producer. His statistical comparables include Eric Fehr, Alexander Frolov, and Easton Cowan, illustrating a wide range of outcomes. Importantly, these projections have not incorporated his improved 2026–27 production.

For dynasty managers, Suvanto presents an intriguing combination of NHL certainty and potentially underestimated offensive upside. His size, puck protection, competitiveness, and two-way awareness provide a strong foundation, but his fantasy ceiling depends on whether he develops into a legitimate top-six contributor rather than a complementary middle-six center. Producing around 0.6 points per game in Liiga at 18 is far more encouraging than his draft-year projections suggest. If this offensive progression continues, his dynasty value could rise substantially before the statistical models catch up.

Emil Kuusla, LW/RW, Jokerit (Liiga), Undrafted NHL Overager

Kuusla has emerged as one of Liiga’s more intriguing young offensive contributors, opening the season with ten points through 11 games. His nine assists highlight his playmaking ability, an encouraging development after collecting 27 points in 49 games with SaiPa last season. At 21-years-old, producing close to a point per game against professional competition represents a meaningful step forward. His move to Jokerit has provided an opportunity to assume greater offensive responsibility, and he has responded with impressive vision, anticipation, and an ability to create scoring opportunities for his teammates.

🚨 Viimeisellä minuutilla!! 💥

Kaksikko Emil Kuusla & Maxime Fortier taituroi @jokerithc:n tasoihin Nokia Arenassa 🔥

📺 @MTVUrheilu | #Liiga pic.twitter.com/INjyxdpLYT

— Liiga (@smliiga) October 2, 2026

Despite his production, Kuusla remains undrafted, with his 5-9, 168-pound frame presenting legitimate concerns about his ability to translate his game to North America. He will need exceptional skating, creativity, and puck skills to overcome those physical limitations, but his early-season performance suggests there may be more offensive upside than previously anticipated. For dynasty managers, Kuusla remains a speculative target in exceptionally deep formats, particularly given the uncertainty surrounding his NHL future. However, sustained production against professionals could attract interest from NHL organizations seeking an inexpensive offensive contributor. If he maintains this pace, he may become one of Finland’s more interesting undrafted prospects to monitor.

Ondřej Kos, LW, Ilves (Liiga), St. Louis Blues, 2024 Third Round, 81st Overall

Kos provides an interesting contrast to the higher-scoring prospects featured here. Selected by St. Louis in the third round of the 2024 draft, the Czech winger has opened the season with four assists through 12 Liiga games. While his offensive production remains modest, gaining consistent professional experience at 20 years old is encouraging. At approximately 6-2, Kos brings size, skating ability, competitiveness, and a two-way foundation that could eventually earn him an NHL opportunity.

His fantasy outlook, however, remains limited. Mason Black’s application places his current pNHLe at 25, down from 31 last season, with little evidence of sustained offensive growth. His historical statistical comparables include Thomas Di Pauli, Travis Boyd, and Dalton Smith, while his one percent BASH score and 2.12 Puck STUD rating reinforce the modest projection. Although Kos has the tools to develop into a useful depth forward, his offensive ceiling appears limited without a substantial scoring breakout, making him a lower-priority dynasty asset outside exceptionally deep formats.

Vilho Vanhatalo, RW/LW, Tappara (Liiga/U20), Florida Panthers, 2026 Sixth Round, 168th Overall

Vanhatalo brings a considerably different profile from many of Finland’s smaller, skill-oriented prospects. Selected by Florida in the sixth round of the 2026 draft, the 18-year-old winger stands 6-4 and possesses an intriguing combination of size, mobility, and shooting ability. After recording 19 points in 38 U20 games last season, he has demonstrated greater offensive confidence early in 2026–27, including nine points in five U20 appearances and additional Liiga experience. His physical tools allow him to protect the puck, establish positioning around the net, and generate offense with a heavy shot, but his ability to create opportunities consistently against stronger competition remains a significant question.

Despite his encouraging start, Vanhatalo’s Hockey Prospecting profile offers a sobering assessment of his long-term upside. His draft-year NHLe of 10 translates to just an 18% probability of becoming an NHL regular and a two percent probability of becoming a star producer. His statistical comparables include Vladislav Luchkin, Joey Larson, Connor Davis, Matt Oikawa, and Joel Lowry. These comparisons reflect historical production patterns rather than playing style, but they reinforce how much offensive development Vanhatalo still needs. For dynasty managers, his size and early U20 production make him worth monitoring in exceptionally deep formats, but the underlying probabilities suggest caution. He remains a long-term project rather than a priority acquisition, and meaningful production against professional competition will be necessary before his fantasy outlook improves.

Emil Järventie, LW, Tappara U20, Pittsburgh Penguins, 2023 Seventh Round, 217th Overall

Few players in Finland have opened the season with more impressive goal-scoring numbers than Järventie, who recorded 16 goals and 20 points through his first 14 U20 games. His remarkable finishing rate has made him one of the league’s most productive offensive players, with his shooting ability clearly driving that success. However, his age is an important consideration. At 21, Järventie is considerably older than many of his junior opponents, reducing the predictive value of his production. Pittsburgh selected him in the seventh round of the 2023 draft, and despite previous professional experience in Finland, he has yet to establish himself as a consistent Liiga contributor.

His statistical profile raises further concerns. According to Mason Black’s pNHLe application, Järventie’s projected NHL fantasy production has fallen from 48.0 in 2020–21 to just 14.0 in 2026–27, including a decline from 29.0 last season. That trajectory places him well below the model’s second-line potential threshold and suggests his impressive junior scoring may not translate against stronger competition. His historical statistical comparables include Arttu Ruotsalainen, Aleksi Saarela, and Mikko Rantanen, although these reflect statistical similarities rather than equivalent NHL upside. His Dobber Prospects scouting profile assigns him an upside and certainty rating of 6.5 each, but his declining pNHLe underscores the considerable developmental uncertainty. For dynasty managers, Järventie’s goal-scoring instincts remain intriguing, but until he demonstrates sustained offensive production against professionals, his junior dominance warrants caution rather than renewed fantasy investment.

Luukas Jurvelin, RW, Kärpät (U20 SM-sarja), Undrafted 2026 Overager

Jurvelin has been one of Finland’s most impressive early-season junior performers, recording 21 points, including nine goals, through 15 games after managing just 19 points in 37 U20 contests last season. The 18-year-old winger has already surpassed his previous goal total, demonstrating a significant improvement in offensive consistency and playmaking. While his breakout is encouraging, producing against junior competition carries less predictive value than success at the professional level, and he still has plenty to prove. After going undrafted in 2026, Jurvelin could attract attention as an overage selection in 2027, particularly if he maintains his production and earns a Liiga opportunity. For dynasty managers, he remains a deep-league watchlist candidate whose rapid development warrants monitoring, but his NHL upside remains highly speculative.

Olli Kylmälä, C, Kärpät U20, 2027 NHL Draft Eligible

Kylmälä is among Finland’s more intriguing 2027 draft-eligible prospects, recording eight goals and 19 points through his first 15 U20 games. The 17-year-old center has demonstrated an appealing combination of goal scoring, playmaking, and offensive awareness, showing an ability to drive play rather than simply benefit from talented linemates. At 6-0, he has a reasonable physical foundation, although continued strength development will be important as he progresses toward professional competition. His production against older junior opponents is encouraging, but translating those skills to the faster, more physical Liiga remains the next challenge. For dynasty managers in leagues that allow drafting unselected prospects, Kylmälä is worth monitoring ahead of the 2027 NHL Draft, particularly if his offensive progression continues and he earns opportunities against professional competition.

Miska Liljeberg, F, Ilves U20, 2027 NHL Draft Eligible

Liljeberg has made an impressive early statement in his draft season, recording eight goals and 17 points through 12 U20 games. At just 17-years-old, his production is particularly encouraging, and his combination of scoring instincts, offensive awareness, and a relatively mature 6-0, 190-pound frame provides an appealing foundation. His physical development should help ease the transition to professional competition, although he still needs to demonstrate that he can consistently generate offense against stronger opponents. For dynasty managers, Liljeberg is an intriguing name to monitor ahead of the 2027 NHL Draft, with continued offensive growth potentially making him an attractive target in deeper prospect leagues.

Eelis Uronen, D, HIFK U20, Undrafted 2026 Overager

Uronen has emerged as an intriguing offensive defenseman in Finland’s junior ranks, recording five goals and 13 points through his first ten U20 games. The 18-year-old went undrafted in 2026, but his early production suggests he could warrant another look in 2027. At 6-1 and 200 pounds, he possesses a solid physical foundation, combining defensive competitiveness with a willingness to contribute offensively. While his scoring from the blue line is encouraging, he still needs to demonstrate that his puck-moving ability and offensive instincts can translate against stronger competition. For dynasty managers, Uronen remains a speculative deep-league watchlist candidate whose value could rise considerably if he sustains his production and earns opportunities in Liiga.

Paavo Fugleberg, RW, TPS U20, 2028 NHL Draft Eligible

Fugleberg is a long-term prospect in Finland, recording ten goals and 19 points through 13 U20 games despite not being eligible for the NHL Draft until 2028. Born in October 2009, the 17-year-old winger is already producing against players several years older, showcasing impressive puck handling, creativity, vision, and the confidence to attack defenders individually. His ability to generate offense through both playmaking and goal scoring makes him particularly appealing from a fantasy perspective. While his physical development and transition to stronger competition remain important hurdles, his early production suggests considerable offensive upside. For dynasty managers in exceptionally deep leagues, Fugleberg is a name to monitor well ahead of the 2028 draft, although his lengthy developmental timeline makes him a speculative investment for now.

Final Thoughts

Suvanto remains the most compelling fantasy prospect in this group, with his improving Liiga production suggesting greater offensive upside than his draft-year projections indicated. Kuusla offers an intriguing undrafted breakout, while Vanhatalo remains a speculative late-round investment. Among the junior prospects, Kylmälä, Liljeberg, and particularly the younger Fugleberg stand out for their age-relative production, while Jurvelin and Uronen are showing encouraging growth after going undrafted. Järventie’s impressive goal scoring warrants more caution given his age and level of competition. For dynasty managers, the key is distinguishing meaningful developmental progress from inflated junior production, as identifying legitimate offensive upside before it gains widespread attention can provide a significant advantage.

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: @VictorNuno12.