| Janne Peltonen | Karpat U20 | U20 SM | L | D | 6’3″ | 174 | Oulu, FIN | 2005 | 2022-2023: C+ |
U18: Team Finland vs Team Sweden, February 12, 2023: Peltonen totaled 20:40 in ice time including 3:27 while shorthanded. He did not play on the power play. Right out of the gate on the opening face-off win Peltonen worked on hinge to be aback diagonal outlet for his partner and then fired a cross ice rocket that hit his right winger in stride for an easy zone entry and shot that trickled into the net, but was called off. While defending line rushes we liked how defended with his stick on the ice, but we noted multiple times that he needed to do a series of crossovers to get up to speed when retreating off the offensive blueline. Offensively he showed poise along the offensive blueline and had the confidence to move laterally to change the shooting angle on his release. In the defensive zone we would like to have seen him be more assertive when closing on an opponent who had bobbled the puck or when there was an indirect pass. He finished the game even with 0 points, 1 snap shot from the left point, 0 hits, received 1 hard body check and had 1 point shot blocked at the top of the crease that ended up in the corner.
U20: Karpat vs Tappara, January 6, 2023: Peltonen totaled 22:07 in ice time including 1:23 while on the power play. He did not play while shorthanded. At 6’3″ he has an NHL frame to go along with the mentality of forcing plays up the ice as early as possible. He shows explosive lateral mobility and a quick first step in all four directions. In the defensive zone we would like to see him be more assertive while clearing shooting lanes as he was -2 tonight with both goals originating off of point shots while he was standing with an opponent in front of his net. He finished the night -2 with 0 points, 2 PIMs (tripping), 0 hits, received 1 hard body check and he had 1 point shot blocked.
U18: 5 Nation Tournament, November 8-14, 2022: Janne is a very good sized defensive prospect playing already at 6’3 and 175 pounds. He is a left shooting left defenseman and his big frame will allow for lots of growth and strength in the next few years. His game is characterized by fast aggressive pinch decisions in the offensive end that kept plays alive and pucks in for his teammates. And when defending his skating is strong, good mobility and can play tight gap on attackers. (Scout: Marlin Muylaert)
U18: 5 Nations Tournament, November 10th vs Team Sweden and November 12th vs Team Czechia: Mobility wise moves okay and he understands positioning. Generally steady and not flashy. Will need to improve his decision making with the puck and needs to get stronger when he’s clearing the puck out of his own zone (Scout: Greg Puhalski)
U20: Karpat vs Assat, October 15, 2022: Peltonen totaled 21:35 in ice time including 2:43 while on the power play and 2:12 while shorthanded. He is a big left shot defender who primarily played the right side. In defensive transition he is ultra aggressive attempting to stand up on every pass or anytime the puck carrier looks down. Tonight that aggressiveness burned him as he was on the ice for three goals against. The first coming off an offensive zone pinch, the second coming when he misread an odd man line rush trying force outside the dot lane without a backchecker and the third coming when a teammate left him out to dry on a bad change. Even with all of that it is tough not to like what his package of size and aggressiveness will bring to a smaller North American sheet of ice.