Jets loan prospect to Finland

The Winnipeg Jets announced today that they have loaned forward prospect Kristian Vesalainen to HPK in Liiga, Finland's top division. Vesalainen will return to the Jets prior to training camp for the 2020-21 NHL season.

The #NHLJets have loaned forward Kristian Vesalainen to HPK of the Finnish Elite League. Under the parameters of the agreement with HPK, Vesalainen will return when the 2020-21 season begins in North America.— Winnipeg Jets PR (@WpgJetsPR) October 21, 2020

Vesalainen, 21, was drafted in the first round, 24th overall in the 2017 NHL entry draft. In 5 career NHL games, he has 1 point (1 A), 0 penalty minutes, and is a +/-0.

He spent the 2019-20 season with the Jets AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose. In 60 games with the Moose, Vasalainen had 30 points (10 G, 20 A), 10 penalty minutes, and was a -16.

Internationally, Vasalainen has represented Finland on multiple occasions, most recently at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships. In 5 games, he had 6 points (2 G, 4 A), 2 penalty minutes, and was a +6 as Finland finished sixth after losing to the Czech Republic in a shootout in the quarter-finals. Vesalainen had a three point game (1 G, 2 A) during the quarter-final but it wasn't enough to get the Finns into the semi-finals.

A big body at 6'4", 207 lbs, Vesalainen could add to an already massive lineup that Winnipeg has, with four forwards at 6'3" or higher. He possesses an excellent stickhandling ability, and very good vision. Expect to see Vasalainen in the Jets line-up full time during the 2020-21 NHL season.

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