Today, we spotlight Oliver Suvanto, a defensive center in the SHL, and one of the younger players in this year’s NHL entry draft.
Oliver Suvanto was born on September 3, 2008 in Turku, Finland. Son of Harri Suvanto, a longtime player in the Finnish Liiga, Oliver followed his father’s footsteps and made the jump to Tappara last season, potting two goals and nine assists in 48 games. While the production does not jump off the page, it’s important to remember this is a young seventeen year old playing
in an adult league, and Suvanto was a point per game player in 42 contests playing for Tappara’s U18 team in the year prior.
At 6’3’ and 209 pounds, Suvanto already has an adult frame to play in the top leagues. Most consider Suvanto to be a relatively safe bet to play in the NHL one day, at least as far as prospects go that aren’t first overall picks. We’ll see why in a moment.
Rankings
Most rankings have Suvanto’s name being called on draft day in the latter half of the first round with a few early outliers. Here are some examples compiled by Elite Prospects.
Ranked #17 by CONSOLIDATED RANKING
Ranked #9 by CAM’S CONSENSUS
Ranked #14 by TSN/CRAIG BUTTON
Ranked #18 by THN/FERRARI
Ranked #22 by THN/KENNEDY
Ranked #17 by MCKEEN’S HOCKEY
Ranked #3 by NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING (EU Skaters)
Ranked #16 by DRAFT PROSPECTS HOCKEY
Ranked #13 by SPORTSNET/COSENTINO
Ranked #26 by SPORTSNET/BUKALA
Ranked #28 by SMAHT SCOUTING
Ranked #17 by DOBBERPROSPECTS
Overall, there is a very good chance that Suvanto should still be available when it’s the Devils turn at the podium. So, what do people say about the Finnish forward?
Owen H. of the Hockey Writers wrote the following in his draft profile of the prospect:
His combination of size, speed, and resiliency on his feet could make him an elite two-way center in the NHL.
The biggest strength is his movement. Of course, he’s big and strong, but he’s also able to move with the ease of a smaller winger in tight areas. He has a great feel for where his linemates are, great puck control, and he absorbs pressure from defenders extremely well. He’s a great skater for a player his size, and he has a great sense of positioning.
A few other quotes about Suvanto selected by Owen H. in his article.
“He represents a “coach’s dream” archetype. A player who prioritizes winning the shift over personal flair. With his blend of physical dominance and defensive maturity, he is poised to become a staple in a professional lineup, offering the kind of versatile, stabilizing influence that is essential for success in modern, high-stakes hockey.” – Jeremy Rivet, McKeen’s HockeyDraft Blog
“What immediately sticks out about Suvanto, and is the main reason why he is already trusted to play second-line minutes in a high-end pro league, is that he is defensively skilled. Suvanto excels as an on-puck defender. He uses his stick really well to knock the puck away and his frame to separate attackers from the puck.” – Aidan Carlson, Substack
So, what are Suvanto’s downsides? In a word, offense. The consensus seems to be that Suvanto lacks the ability to generate shots and scoring chances one would hope from a first round pick, and his playmaking, though decent, is not quite where it should be for a high pick.
Devils fans may recognize this knock, as it was similar with Lenni Hameenaho when he made the jump to the Liiga in his pre-draft year. How much of Suvanto’s lack of offense is him trying to survive in the higher league at such a young age and how much is it a permanent flaw in his game remains to be seen. Of course, Hameenaho is looking like a steal, but as a second round pick. At the first half of the first round, is Suvanto the right player for the Devils?
A Little Video
My Thoughts
I really like Oliver Suvanto. One comparable that keeps popping up in his profiles is another former 12th overall pick, Anton Lundell. I think the comparables are fair. Suvanto seems to project as a strong, physical, middle of the lineup defensive center, who will probably top out in the 40 to 50 point range, and should be ready for the NHL sooner than most mid-first round picks. Suvanto has one more year left in his deal with his Liiga team.
So, should the Devils select him? That’s hard to say, and depends largely on who else is available. Personally, I would like a little more offensive flair from a 12th overall pick, but the Panthers have won two cups with Lundell as part of their lineup, and the third line center role has been a difficult spot for the Devils to fill with consistency. Suvanto may not be flashy, but he gets the job done. There’s something to be said for that.
What do you think? Post your comments below.
