
Fantasy Summary
Mobile skater who can accelerate quickly in any direction, and has some playmaking potential. However, a lack of production in Finland so far tilts a projection toward a bottom-pairing blueliner with sneaky upside. A long-term project.
Observations
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June 2022 – The Islanders have made only five draft picks in the first three rounds during the past three years. Malinen exemplifies the kind of late-round acquisition the Isles need to graduate to the NHL to help keep them competitive. Picked in the sixth round (189th overall) of the 2021 draft, the 19-year-old has a skill set that allowed him to play 30 games in Finland’s top men’s league as a 17-year-old. He’s doesn’t avoid physical play and he’s an effortless, mobile skater capable of beating forecheckers and bringing the puck out of his zone. That said, it’s hard to get a read on him because a lack of offensive production is surely why he was available so late in the draft, although it’s unfair to criticize him for getting just three points as a teen facing the hardened men of the Liiga. Still, Malinen totaled a mere four goals and three assists in five international tournaments in the past four years against fellow junior players. His offensive apex came during the 2021-22 campaign when he compiled three goals and 14 assists for JYP’s U-20 squad. He’s expected to stick with JYP of the Liiga in the coming season, when scouts should get a more accurate read on his potential. He’ll need to get stronger to have any chance of succeeding in North America. At this point, he looks like a long-term project. Mark Allan
Stats
Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | TP | PIM | Playoffs | GP | G | A | TP | PIM | |
2017-2018 | JYP U16 | U16 SM-sarja Q | 21 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 4 | | | ||||||
JYP U16 | U16 SM-sarja | 13 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 4 | | | Playoffs | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | |
2018-2019 | JYP U16 | U16 SM-sarja | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | | | Playoffs | 5 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 0 |
JYP U18 | U18 SM-sarja | 41 | 2 | 12 | 14 | 12 | | | |||||||
Finland U16 (all) | International-Jr | 9 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | | | |||||||
2019-2020 | JYP U18 | U18 SM-sarja | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | | | ||||||
JYP U20 | U20 SM-sarja | 49 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 6 | | | |||||||
Finland U17 | WHC-17 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | | |||||||
Finland U17 (all) | International-Jr | 19 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | | |