2023 NHL Draft: Getting to know Kasper Halttunen

Depending on who you ask, Kasper Halttunen was a steal for the Sharks at 36 overall. The strange thing about Halttunen was not so much that the Sharks took him but that he was all over the board for scouts. Halttunen was ranked as high as 19th by Recruit Scouting and 25th by Craig Button. While Smaht Scouting had Halttunen at 52nd and Elite Prospects dropped him as low as 71st.

Position: Right Wing
Age: 18
Date of Birth: June 7, 2005
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 207 lbs.
Shoots: Right
2022-23 HIFK U20 SM-Sarja: 18 games, 24 points (18 G, 6 A)
2022-23 HIFK Liiga: 27 games, 1 point (0 G, 1 A)
2022-23 Finland U18 Hlinka Gretzky Cup: 5 games, 3 points (1 G, 2 A)
2022-23 Finland U18 WJC-18: 5 games, 10 points (6 G, 4 A)
2022-23 Finland U18 International Jr: 16 games, 20 points (10 G, 10 A)
2022-23 Finland U20 International Jr: 3 games, 3 points (1 G, 2 A)
2023-24 Team: HIFK Liiga

Halttunen did not put up impressive numbers with HIFK Liiga this past season. In 27 games, he had just a single point. But fans should also remember that Halttunen was literally a boy playing in a man’s league. Halttunen turned 18 in June and so was just 17 while playing in the top tier in Finland.

As our friends at Eyes on the Prize pointed out, Halttunen was in “…that weird limbo that can happen with rookie players who are too good to be playing junior hockey but are still adapting to the pace and physicality required to make an impact at the senior level.”

What do scouts say about Halttunen’s game?

CBS said Halttunen has “…about as much upside as you can find at this point of the draft.” Which is why he was a good pick for San Jose at 36. He’s a big kid with a heavy shot. If there’s a downside, it’s that he is easily pushed to the perimeter of play.

“Halttunen is a potential home run for San Jose if everything clicks, but he’s going to have to figure out a way to impact games on a more consistent basis moving forward,” wrote CBS.

While Halttunen’s overall impact on the team is unpredictable now, Elite Prospects believes that Halttunen’s one-timer could strengthen a team’s power play.

“Kasper Halttunen possesses a heavy shot, also has the handling skills, the reach and moments where he plays a physical, power forward game, where he drops his shoulder and runs through defenders’ hands to try and get to the game. He’s got a one-timer from the left half wall that power plays can be built around,” wrote Elite Prospects.

Halttunen’s heavy shot can be witnessed in these clips. His one-timer has a way of finding the back of the net and he’s not afraid to go in close to rifle the puck past the goaltender.

Halttunen is not the most mobile of forwards, but Last Word on Sports’ Kyle Pereira thinks that it’s an issue size. It’s possible that if Halttunen grows into his frame, he’ll be a force on the ice.

“Outside of his long strides, his skating mechanics are awkward. While he is one of the youngest prospects in a large frame he may not be comfortable in just yet, it’s something that still needs adjustments,” wrote Pereira. “That’s especially true when his agility is impacted by those mechanical errors. Again, as he gets used to his growing body, this should work itself out. But he may never truly unlock that next gear, which again is not a problem, due to his size.”

If Halttunen can work through some of his mobility issues, he has the potential to be a strong power forward in the NHL. Nick Richard of Dobber Prospects believes Halttunen is a potential NHL scoring threat.

“Powerful winger with a great shot and a nose for the net. Needs to add quickness but already moves well for a player his size and could develop into a unique scoring threat in the NHL,” said Richard.

What’s next for Halttunen?

Next season will be a big one for Halttunen according to Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis.

“He’s big, has a powerful wrister and has produced at all levels up until Liiga. Next year will be a big one. A bit more maturity will help take his game up another level next year, but he hits as hard as anyone, and that’s fun to watch,” said Ellis.

Halttunen attended the prospect camp at Sharks Ice in early July. He assisted on Team Teal’s third goal of the night.

In the shootout, Halttunen tried a few moves on netminder Magnus Chrona, but could not get it past Chrona.

Halttunen will return to Finland to play with HIFK Liiga next season. It will likely be a season or two before Sharks fans see him in a teal jersey playing for the San Jose Barracuda.

Despite the wait, it’s nice to imagine Halttunen eventually finding his way to the Sharks and potentially on a line with some of the other new prospects. Imagine Halttunen, who Pereira calls a “shoot-first player through and through” on a line with Quentin Musty, who describes himself as someone who likes to dish the puck and Will Smith, who has a high end hockey IQ. It could make a potent top line in the NHL. It will be exciting to see what this trio might be able to do the next five years.