Lenni Hameenaho – 2023 Second-Round Pick
Lenni Hameenaho wasn’t exactly an exciting pick when the Devils took him in the second round. There were other players analysts liked better. It’s not like Hameenaho was a terrible pick, but he was missing a lot of the upside teams look for in the second round. He isn’t going to score 40 goals even in the best-case scenario. He won’t be a 100-point player. However, Hameenaho is a safe player who can do a lot right.
The Devils likely saw a player who has an incredibly high floor. The ceiling is another topic for another day. Hameenaho is decent defensively, can hold his own with passing, plays all phases of the game when needed, and can provide a little physicality.
He had 21 points in SM-Liga last season. He also had two points in five games at this year’s U20 World Junior Championships.
Things got exciting after the draft. Hameenaho was quite good during the Devils prospect camp. Then, he took it up a notch at the World Junior Summer Showcase. He had seven points in five games, leading the entire tournament. There was an aggressiveness to his game we didn’t expect to see. Now, we need to see if that type of play will continue during the regular season.