A major development involving a top Detroit Red Wings prospect and he's leaving the organization
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Another Detroit Red Wings prospect will be heading home to Finland despite arriving in the city for this year's development camp.
AHL is not an option for this prospect, as he never wants to be in the American League.
Jesse Kiiskinen, the 19-year-old forward acquired from Nashville last year, signed his entry-level contract with Detroit, but under the terms of his agreement with HPK Hameenlinna in the SM-liiga, he'll be loaned back to Finland if he doesn't crack the NHL lineup right away next Fall.
It's a situation that has become pretty common with European prospects. Much like Anton Johansson, who will suit up again in Sweden for Leksand IF this season, Kiiskinen is still bound by his European deal.
Red Wings director of player development Dan Cleary made it clear they're in no rush in a recent interview:
"He had a good season in HPK and we expect him to have another strong season. Then we'll see him in North America next year."
Kiiskinen's commitment to the game is undeniable. He actually learned he'd been traded to Detroit while completing his mandatory military service back home in Finland.
Just minutes before heading out on an overnight exercise in the forest, his phone buzzed with the news of the Detroit-Nashville trade:
"Like 10 minutes before you are going to the forest and going to leave to stay in the tent. You get the call like, yeah, you have been traded. I was like, okay, great."
On the ice, Kiiskinen has shown he's more than capable of taking the next step. Despite missing 14 games due to injury last year, he still led HPK in scoring with 14 goals and 44 points.
Here's how he described his style on the ice before saying what he'd need to imprive:
"I think I'm still like a scorer and like a shoot-first player. Maybe the stats don't show that because I had a lot of assists and more than goals, but I like to still make plays and make a goal"
"I still love scoring and have loved that all my life."
"I think I have to improve my skating still. I'm not maybe the fastest skater, so I have to get that better.
That's the biggest improvement (needed)."
"I still love scoring and have loved that all my life."
"I think I have to improve my skating still. I'm not maybe the fastest skater, so I have to get that better.
That's the biggest improvement (needed)."
If he can do that, it won't be long before playing for the Red Wings is more than just a dream.
Previously on Red Wings Insider
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 10 | 116 ANSWERS A major development involving a top Detroit Red Wings prospect and he's leaving the organization Do you think Jesse Kiiskinen will play for the Detroit Red Wings in two years? | ||
| Yes | 67 | 57.8 % |
| No | 49 | 42.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
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