Aapeli Räsänen

June 2022 – A 2016 draft pick coming off a solid 35 points in 58 game season in the Liiga, Räsänen’s time as an Oilers prospect has been a long road filled with ups and downs. The 24-year-old has continued to show that he is typically a middle-of-the-pack producer on any team that he plays on, which does not exactly scream future NHLer. With that said though, he did display some improvement this season and could be a candidate for a contract. Jameson Ewasiuk

October 2020 – After an abysmal 2018-2019 season in which Räsänen was 14th in scoring on Boston College, the young Finnish forward appeared to have bounced back last season. His 24 points in 34 games during the 2019-2020 season on paper are a major improvement from the 7 points in 33 games from the season prior. Räsänen’s offensive production is directly reliant on the quality of players on his team and the quality of the team as a whole. In his three seasons at Boston College, his sophomore season was by far his worst statistically and that can be attested to that team having a less skilled lineup and the team having by far its worst record in his tenure there. The most obvious conclusion is that Räsänen is a complementary player that needs/benefits from more skilled players playing with him. In his three college seasons, Räsänen has never finished better than seventh in team scoring which is also a concern as an NHL prospect. This season, Räsänen finds himself playing on KalPa of the Liiga and he did not record a point in his first game with the team. Overall, the young Finnish forward is a project and I would hold off excitement about his “offensive spike” last season. Jameson Ewasiuk

January 2020 – After an abysmal 2018-2019 campaign in which Räsänen recorded just seven points in 33 games, the young Finnish forward appears to have turned the corner this season recording 17 points in just 15 games to date. He is 3rd on his team in points and 27th in the NCAA this year. It has been four seasons since Edmonton drafted the young Fin in 2016 and he will turn 22 in June and Räsänen could potentially turn pro after this season if he chooses to sign with the Oilers. Jameson Ewasiuk

March 2019 – You never want to see a forward prospect’s offensive production decline but that is exactly what has happened to Räsänen this season. In his first season with Boston College last year, the young Finn recorded 16 points in 32 games (0.5 points per game) but this season he has seen his production decease by more than half as he has recorded a disappointing seven points in 32 games (0.22 points per game) placing him 12th in team scoring. His team has lacked success this season winning just 11 of 34 games to date but still his season has to be seen as disappointing. Räsänen turned heads at the U18s in 2016 and has been pretty productive at the WJC (10 points in 11 total games) but has struggled to make a consistent impact in regular season play in North America the past three years. At this point he has to be seen as a project prospect. Jameson Ewasiuk

June 2018 – Last season, his first at Boston College, Räsänen performed well and recorded four goals and 16 points in 32 games. He also had a solid performance at the WJC with four goals in five games. He has been a consistent performer at international tournament the past couple years and is improving his offensive consistency in season play. The Oilers are going to patient with young Finnish forward and there is still plenty of time for him to keep improving as he just turned 20 in June. Jameson Ewasiuk

September 2017- Aapeli Rasanen had a good season in the USHL this year. The Finnish centreman played in 38 games putting up seven goals and 15 assists. For the 2017-18 season he will be playing in the NCAA for Boston College. Rasanen will need to work on his skating if he wants a shot in the NHL. I expect him to be a big part of the special teams for Boston College. Spencer Pomoty

July 2016 – Aapeli Räsänen is an interesting pick by the Edmonton Oilers. A two-way center that plays with great defensive awareness and can be trusted in key defensive roles. On the offensive side, he’s a player that possesses great vision, silky hands, and will look to move the puck before taking the shot.  Räsänen is coming off of a successful season with the Tappara U20 team, where he finished 3^rd on his team in scoring with 38 pts (19G-19A). He then topped off his season with a gold medal at the World U18’s where he represented Finland. He finished the tournament with 9 pts (3G-6A) and scored two crucial goals, including the game winner with 37 seconds left against the Americans to push Finland into the finals. At the draft Räsänen was taken 50-80 slots later then most scouts had him ranked. Räsänen will be tested this upcoming season on North American ice as he will suit up for the Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL. Brayden Sullivan