We’re just 2 days away from the NHL Entry Draft, which means we’re just 2 days from finding out that even if I wrote 40 of these I’d somehow still not have covered the player the Leafs are going to pick, because my entire life is Leafy. We’ll strike another name off the list though, with hulking centre Julius Miettinen.
Julius Miettinen
Position: Centre, Left Wing
Shoots: Left
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 207lbs
For starters, it’s obvious that Miettinen already has pro size. He can be a bit of a bull on the ice, especially in front of the net where he’s nearly impossible to move. He has good hands and is willing to dig in for tips and rebounds and he’s good at putting the puck in the net from in close. His passing game is one that will also get him noticed, as he finds his teammates with cross crease passes that others might miss. His smooth skating stride allows him to be a heavy and effective forechecker and backchecker, as both aspects of his game are above average. It’s his defensive game that will serve him well if he makes the NHL though, as he cuts off passing lanes and routes to the net well.
Miettinen is already a well rounded player, as he does so many things well. The thing that’s keeping him from being a much higher pick than the 2nd rounder he’s currently projected as is simply the fact that his offensive game isn’t as high end as the skaters above him. His floor is that of a 3rd or 4th line centre, but the ceiling of a player that shows his work ethic and two-way game is high as well. While he may never be a 1C in the NHL, a checking 2C isn’t out of the question either. One thing is for certain and that’s that you win with players like Miettinen playing on your roster.