Otto Kivenmäki

October 2020 – Kivenmäki had a strong showing in his first full Liiga season with Ässät, picking up five goals and 16 assists through 53 games. He is a small, elusive forward who skates very well and has good puck handling ability. Kivenmäki is a very intelligent player who reads the play well at both ends of the ice, and though he is more of a playmaker than a shooter, he has become more aggressive with the puck on his stick as he gains confidence in Finland’s top league. Look for him to be a key contributor for Ässät in 2020-2021 as he prepares for the eventual leap to North American hockey. Nick Richard

December 2019 – The Red Wings swung for the fences with their last pick of the 2018 draft, selecting Otto Kivenmaki in round seven. Kivenmaki is a tiny player with loads of offensive skill and speed. At only 5-8 and 137 pounds, Kivenmaki is a long-term project and long-shot to make the NHL, but he has the acceleration, agility, speed, and skills to create offense. It’s his size and defensive game that will hold him back. If he can improve on his positioning and find a way to become an effective 200-foot player, Kivenmäki has the makings of a great sleeper pick.  Mark Hillier