Projected 2024 top pick changing teams due to management
While everyone's focus is currently on the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, for good reason, 2024 could be an intriguing one, with Finnish defenceman Aron Kiviharju projected to be a top-three pick, possibly even go first overall.
The 17-year-old has spent his entire youth career in the TPS Turku system and made his Liiga debut this season with them, appearing in 21 games in the top men's league in Finland.
TPS Turku's season came to an end last week as they lost their best-of-three wild card series to Porin Assat and it appears this season is the last Kiviharju will play for them.
According to Finnish reporter Sasha Huttunen, Kiviharju is likely leaving TPS Turku, with others noting that he isn't happy with the team's current management situation. Potential destinations for him next season include HIFK, Lukko or the Canadian Hockey League, once he's selected in this summer's Import Draft.
Note: the following was translated from Finnish by DeepL.
As mentioned, Kiviharju has skated in 21 games for TPS Turku in Liiga this season, recording three assists and two penalty minutes, while also putting up 20 points in 22 games for their U20 team.
| G | A | PTS | ||
| Mikko Rantanen | 1 | 3 | 4 | |
| Jake Debrusk | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Valeri Nichushkin | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Anthony Cirelli | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Jonathan Drouin | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Sebastian Aho | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Ivan Barbashev | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Matt Duchene | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Samuel Girard | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Dylan Guenther | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Oliver Kylington | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Anton Lundell | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Jonathan Marchessault | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Patrick Maroon | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Brock Nelson | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Lukas Reichel | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Marco Rossi | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Kiefer Sherwood | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Tomas Tatar | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Matthew Boldy | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Complete stats | ||||
| STANDINGS 2024-2025 | ||||||
TOP 10 | GP | W | L | OL | PTS | |
Jets | 20 | 17 | 3 | - | 34 | |
Wild | 19 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 29 | |
Hurricanes | 19 | 14 | 5 | - | 28 | |
Devils | 22 | 13 | 7 | 2 | 28 | |
Capitals | 19 | 13 | 5 | 1 | 27 | |
Golden Knights | 20 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 26 | |
Maple Leafs | 20 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 26 | |
Rangers | 18 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 25 | |
Panthers | 20 | 12 | 7 | 1 | 25 | |
Flames | 20 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 25 | |
| Conference | Cumulative | ||||||