Jere Somervuori (LW, L, 6’0″, 165, HIFK, 08/10/2007)
Jere Somervuori is a raw, toolsy winger with promising two-way instincts, excellent game processing, and above-average puck touches, but who currently lacks the physical maturity and execution consistency to be considered a complete prospect. His elite-level anticipation, transition play, and ability to draw penalties make you take notice—but his struggles in 50/50 battles, shot finishing, and puck strength under contact highlight his current limitations. With an August birthdate and clear room for physical growth, Somervuori is a long-term project with a legitimate upside if his frame and skills develop in parallel.
Why Jere Somervuori Should Be an NHL Draft Pick
1) Transitional Impact & Game Processing
Somervuori shows a mature grasp of the game in motion. His 3.7 takeaways per game and impressive off puck defensive details—particularly during the Hlinka and Five Nations tournaments—underline a player who reads pressure, anticipates passing lanes, and can create clean transitional exits or turn defense into quick scoring opportunities. He routinely pushes the pace off retrievals and reads neutral zone flow extremely well.
2) Agility and Skating Mechanics
Jere’s skating base is sound. His quickness and edgework are evident, and he uses his feet to beat defenders to space or extend offensive zone time. He’s especially dangerous when attacking after receiving the puck in motion, and his elusiveness makes him difficult to pin down even at lower strength levels. His ability to draw 0.28 penalties/game at the U20 level and 0.67/game at the Hlinka speaks to the disruption he causes with his feet and positioning.
3) Defensive Details & Versatility
He logs time on both special teams and has proven effective in penalty kill reads, pressure containment, and active stick work. On multiple occasions, he demonstrated an ability to break up exits, pin puck carriers, and force poor dump-ins. Despite playing limited Liiga minutes, he was trusted enough to get a handful of shifts—valuable experience that suggests HFIK’s internal belief in his trajectory.
4) Offensive Instincts (in flashes)
Somervuori averages 2 Grade “A” scoring chances per game in U20, and 3.8 at the Five Nations, showing he knows how to get into soft ice and can identify attacking lanes off the rush or cycle. His 2.5 shots on goal/game in U20 play is notable considering his frame. The puck is on his stick a lot, and his 84–86% pass completion rates are solid given his pace and usage.
Why Jere Somervuori Should Not Be an NHL Draft Pick
1) Extremely Undersized and Physically Immature
At 155 lbs on a 6’0” frame, Somervuori is currently not physically ready to compete in North America. He gets bumped off pucks too easily, struggles to win inside body position, and it shows statistically:
Just 51% 50/50 win rate in U20
38% and 36% win rates in Five Nations and Hlinka, respectively
0 hits given in international play
Receives 2.8 hits/game in the Five Nations tournament
2) Low Finishing Output Despite High Volume
Despite getting good looks, he converts on just 11% of his Grade “A” chances in U20 and a concerning 7% at the Five Nations. That’s a red flag. He has a solid shot generation base (3.8 attempts/game) but lacks velocity, deception, and finish. His shot is easy to read and lacks pop—likely a function of both technique and strength.
3) Sloppy with the Puck Under Pressure
Despite strong takeaway numbers, Somervuori is careless with possession, averaging 5.3 giveaways/game in U20, 5.7/game at the Hlinka, and 7/game at Five Nations. He attempts to do too much in tight quarters and hasn’t yet learned how to simplify. His 0.5–0.67 completed passes to Grade “A” chances/game is respectable but doesn’t offset the turnover risk yet.
4) Needs Strength to Survive North American Style
With limited faceoff ability (41%), no physical intimidation, and poor performance in puck recoveries (1 or fewer loose puck recoveries/game in both international events), Jere is not yet built to handle the board play and pressure required to play in the NHL. That could change—but it will take years of hard work and focused development, not months.
Projection & NHL Outlook
Jere Somervuori is a long-term investment pick—an intelligent, skilled, puck-transporting winger who lacks the physical maturity and consistency to be impactful at a pro level right now. He’ll need multiple seasons of focused development, including detailed strength training, to unlock his true ceiling. However, the hockey sense, skating, and defensive tools are in place, and his late birthdate suggests more growth is still coming.
If he gains 20–25 pounds of functional strength over the next 2–3 years, Somervuori projects as a potential middle-six NHL winger with penalty killing value and secondary scoring upside. If he doesn’t develop physically, his skill set may plateau at the European pro level.
Draft Grade: 4th–6th Round
NHL Projection: Third-line energy winger with speed, transition threat, and defensive value
Floor: European pro playmaker with no NHL impact
Boom/Bust Potential: High—projection heavily tied to physical maturation
Somervuori is a worthy late-round draft bet for clubs with strong development pipelines. If you can give him time and patience, there may be a very nice payoff.
Photo credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images