Jesperi Kaukonen is in his second year of NHL draft eligibility. He is player who put up 22 goals and 46 points in 29 games while playing U18 hockey in Finland during the 2020/21 season, but has yet to discover that touch in U20 hockey. We are concerned that his puck battle winning percentage has decreased from 45% during 2021/22 to 42% while playing in the same U20 SM league this year.
| Jesperi Kaukonen | Assat U20 | U20 SM | L | RW | 5’10” | 172 | Paimio, FIN | 2004 | 2022-2023: Free Agent 2021-2022: C+ |
Neutral Zone NHL in 2022: Why a potential draft pick, He initiates body contact with two hands on his stick. During wall battles, he shows the body awareness to take the defender’s hands away by spinning through contact. 64% of his shots his the net. He attacks the low slot looking for rebounds. Why not a potential draft pick, he only has one game of International playing experience and that occurred during the 2019/20 season at the U16 level. During the 2021/22 season, he won 45% of his puck battles while playing primarily U20 hockey. At 5’10” and 170 pounds he will need to add strength and power to his frame as historically 76% of his shots come from the low slot.