IIHF

Fantasy Summary

Kiviharju is an intelligent puck-moving defenseman who anticipates play ahead of professional competition on a regular basis, but still has physical habits to learn and muscle to put on before making an NHL lineup.


Observations

Click to Expand

July 2024 – Kiviharju was selected 122nd overall by the Minnesota Wild. Mark Henry

April 2024 – It’s been almost six months since the last time Kiviharju saw game action before today (Apr. 18th, 2024) as he played a U18 exhibition game against the Swiss. Recording 1G + 1A he was back to playing his own strengths, passing the puck extremely well while maintaining composure. The upside with Kiviharju is clear, he’s one of the best passers and smartest hockey minds in this year’s draft. The concerns we had before his injury are still present. His game lacks physicality and he doesn’t possess as offensively high-end tools as some of his puck-moving defenseman peers. Nonetheless, his upside keeps him in close proximity to our first round. Anni Karvinen (April Rankings: 34th)

 

November 2023 – Aron Kiviharju was one of the earliest names to pop up from this draft class, and for a good reason. He’d been playing with older age groups, producing well and showcasing some highlight-reel-worthy skill. Despite making his debut in the Liiga at just 16 years old, his development has encountered some setbacks. He’s been battling some injuries and having some difficulties in translating his offensive game to the Liiga level. It’s fair to point out that he hasn’t gotten a lot of power play deployment that could have helped him to elevate his offensive game. Despite these challenges, Kiviharju’s strengths remain evident. He thinks the game on a level only few can. He anticipates plays exceptionally well and makes smart decisions with and without the puck. He’s a great passer and has showcased strong, deceptive playmaking skills on the blueline on a junior level. His defensive game relies heavily on his stick work and the physical side of the game is something he really needs to work on. That said, it’s a rare occurrence that a defenseman can play significant Liiga minutes in his draft year so it’s safe to say the potential is imminent. Anni Karvinen (November Rankings: 13th overall)

Attributes
Fantasy Upside 8.0
NHL Certainty 8.0
Country FIN
Position D
Roster Type Europe
Shoot/Glove Left
Date of Birth January 25, 2006
Height 5‘10”
Weight 185 lbs
Drafted 2024 Round 4; Overall: 122

Stats

 Season Team League GP G A TP PIM      Playoffs GP G A TP PIM 
 2015-2016 Finland Selects U12WSI U127 4 610 4|        
 2016-2017 Finland Selects U12WSI U127 2 1012 19|        
 2017-2018 Finland Selects U12WSI U127 5 611 -|        
  Finland Selects U13WSI U139 2 79 -|        
 2018-2019 TPS U16U16 SM-sarja8 0 44 0|        
  Finland Selects U14WSI U148 4 1721 -|        
 2019-2020 TPS U16U16 SM-sarja Q30 13 2841 2|        
  TPS U16U16 SM-sarja16 3 1619 0|        
 2020-2021 TPS U18U18 SM-sarja4 0 22 0|        
 2021-2022 TPS U18U18 SM-sarja4 2 24 0|        
  TPS U20U20 SM-sarja35 7 2330 8|Playoffs6 1 34
  Finland U16 (all)International-Jr5 2 68 0|        
  Finland U18WJC-186 0 66 0|        
  Finland U18 (all)International-Jr8 0 77 0|        
 2022-2023 TPS U20U20 SM-sarja22 2 1820 8|Playoffs8 1 56
  TPSChampions HL4 0 00 0|        
  TPSLiiga21 0 33 2|        
  Finland U18 Hlinka Gretzky Cup5 1 56 0|        
  Finland U18WJC-185 0 77 0|        
  Finland U18 (all)International-Jr17 3 1619 0|        
  Finland U20 (all)International-Jr4 0 22 0|        
 2023-2024 HIFKLiiga7 1 12 0|        
  Finland U18WJC-185 0 33 2|        
  Finland U18 (all)International-Jr7 1 56 2|        
  Finland U20 (all)International-Jr6 0 22 4|        
 2024-2025 HIFKLiiga20 3 47 4|        
  Finland U20 (all)International-Jr2 0 11 0|        

Highlights