At one point, the New Jersey Devils and prospect analysts had huge hopes for winger Samu Salminen. The Helsinki, Finland native made an interesting decision after the Devils took him in the third round of the 2021 NHL Draft. He decided to go play hockey at the University of Connecticut, better known as UConn.
Salminen was originally supposed to go to the University of Denver two years ago, but issues with admissions caused him to switch schools before ever playing a game for the Pioneers. He was going to go to a championship program, but he attempted to be a big fish in a little pond, instead.
Things never fit with UConn. The start to his first season was delayed by visa issues, keeping him in Finland until the end of October. He was also supposed to slowly enter the lineup once he did finally make it to the Northeast, but the Huskies were forced to shove him into the lineup immediately when Ty Amonte got injured.
Two years later, and matching 17-point seasons, Salminen is hoping going back to where it was supposed to begin will help salvage what was a promising career.
The biggest issue for Salminen is so much of his game is predicated on confidence and poise. He was the captain for many U18 and U20 Finnish teams. His hockey IQ was well beyond his years. What he lacked in the pure skill some of his fellow prospects possessed he made up for in hard work and intensity.
Salminen is one of the rare European prospects who chose a path to the NHL over continued career in his home country. He’s been away from Finland for two years, and he’s committed to a third now with Denver. However, if the end goal comes with an NHL entry-level contract, it will all be worth it.
What should we expect from Salminen this season? He’s a fantastic center, excelling in the faceoff circle and always finding open space on the ice. He’s fearless enough to spend time right in front of the net when necessary, and he can provide great options for his Denver teammates.
David Carle is one of the greatest hockey coaches on the planet. He can get the most out of all players. If Salminen is going to be an NHL player one day, Carle is going to figure out how to make it happen. He can’t cry over spilled milk. It may have taken longer than he expected or hoped, but he’s in the best place to make the most of his career.
If he turns into something, the Devils center prospect depth doesn’t look as bad. If he comes to the Utica Comets next year or the year after, he can continue to learn from good coaching, this time with Kevin Dineen.
Salminen is far from busted as a prospect. He has a lot of hockey left to play, and he’s in a great position to live out his dream of an NHL career.