Julius Nättinen

March 2020 – Nättinen has been one of the best players in the Liiga this season. His 52 points in 52 games leads his team by a wide margin and is third in the league, and his 32 goals leads the league by a wide margin. He has done all of that while averaging just 17:16 of ice time per game. Although over three minutes of that has come on the power play, only 12 of his 52 points have come on the power play. Nättinen had a very hot start to the season, scoring 40 points in the first 29 games before cooling off since then. Either way, Nättinen’s strong season should garner plenty of interest from NHL teams; he is arguably the best European free agent out there. After getting his contract with the Ducks terminated and returning to Finland, Nättinen has completely re-invented his game. He used to be a playmaking center but now he’s a goal-scoring winger. This new position and style seems to suit his strengths much better at the pro level and should make his transition back to North America easier. He may not be ready to jump straight to the NHL but perhaps he’s willing to give the AHL another look if he’s given a better opportunity this time around.  Jokke Nevalainen

December 2018 – Nättinen’s contract was terminated on September 25th which means he’s no longer the property of the Ducks who drafted him in the second round in 2015. Nättinen played just one season in the AHL and decided he had enough, so he got his contract terminated and he returned to Finland. He will have a good, long pro career in Europe but his return to North America is very unlikely at this point.  Jokke Nevalainen

June 2018 – Another rookie to the pro game, Nattinen needed some time to adjust. He started to trend downward in his final OHL season and this year in San Diego he played a total of 55 games, scoring 12 points, but a bright spot was that he was only a minus one. He focused more on the defensive side of the puck this season and it showed. He has NHL size to become a checking line center, but with the depth the Ducks have down the middle he will try and keep improving on his game in the AHL for another couple of seasons before getting a serious look at the top level.  Lucas Main

September 2017 – After demanding a trade last summer, Nattinen did not have a season to remember. He only scored 38 points in 51 games and was a minus player on a very good Spitfires team, hopefully it was more of a sophomore slump. Keep tabs on how he responds to that adversity. This third season in North America will determine if he has the tools to make it to the NHL one day or take on the label of “bust”. Lucas Main

September 2016 – Prospect center Julius Nattinen was traded from the Barrie Colts to the Windsor Spitfires. Nattinen scored 22 goals and 71 points during the regular season and eight points in 12 playoff games. Those are good numbers, but reports are he wasn’t happy in Barrie. He showed stretches of brilliance and then would disappear for a few games. You hate to see that in a young player, but I am going to say it was him getting adjusted to life in North America as this was his first season in the OHL. Hopefully he can be more consistent this season under second year coach Rocky Thompson. Lucas Main

February 2016- The points continue to pile up for the young Barrie Colts center Julius Nattinen. He is currently centering a line with two of the top-10 scorers in the OHL, and is doing a phenomenal job in that role. He is now sitting with 51 points in his first 38 games as a Colt, 15 goals, and 36 assists. If his line continues to produce at the rate they are at now, he could finish near the top of the list in scoring in the OHL. Bryan Puffer

January 2016-  Nattinen is able to add some shiny (gold) hardware to his collection after beating the Russians 4-3 in an exciting overtime game. He was held off the score sheet in the contest, but did make some impactful plays that helped will the Finns to victory. Nattinen failed to put up any eye-popping numbers for the tournament, scoring just one goal and adding two assists in the seven games he played. He made most of his impact as a gritty third-line center mucking in the corners and consuming minutes, leaving most of the scoring to be done by the impactful first line. Nattinen will soon be returning (after some celebrating) to the Barrie Colts of the OHL, who are hoping he can bring some of his winning touch to Barrie, as they look to make a run for the Memorial Cup.  Bryan Puffer

January 2016  – The gold medal is within reach for Julius Nattinen and his Finnish team.  They were able to knock the Canadians out of the tournament in a back-and-forth quarter-final game that finished 6-5.  Nattinen potted the fourth goal to put the Finns up 4-3 heading into the third period.  This ended up being the only point he registered in this game.  Following the game against Canada, Finland had the tough task of competing with a highly skilled, and fast Swedish team.  It was a low-scoring affair, but Finland was able to emerge victorious against the Swedish team 2-1.  Nattinen failed to register a point in the semi-final; nevertheless he will compete for the gold medal in his home country.  Bryan Puffer

December 2015- Nattinen and his Finnish teammates started the WJC with a 6-0 victory against Belarus, in which Nattinen was able to register one assist, his only point of the tournament thus far.  He was then held off the score sheet in a 6-4 loss to the Russians in his last contest. Julius is currently skating on the third line receiving mediocre minutes for an above average Finnish squad.  Playing on their home turf, Finland should have extra motivation heading into their games with Slovakia, and the Czech Republic before moving out of the preliminary rounds. Bryan Puffer

December 2015- Nattinen is on a list of 27 players invited to Finland’s selection camp for the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship in Helsinki, Finland. Bryan Puffer

December 2015- The young Finn, Julius Nattinen, has been turning some heads since joining the Barrie Colts of the OHL this past summer.  His 10 goals and 20 assists in 23 games is good for third on his team in scoring, who remain in first place of the OHL Central Division. Nattinen is receiving top line minutes, and is being utilized in all situations.  The future looks bright for the Ducks 59^th overall pick of last years draft, he possesses the size and strength to play at the next level, but needs to continue to grow in the OHL, and with the Finnish National team before he makes the leap to professional hockey. Bryan Puffer

June 2015 – The Ducks took Nattinen 59th. Ducks generally bring their top prospects into the lineup in that age 21-23 range, and this will be no different. Dobber

June 2015- Nattinen is an intriguing talent based on his two-way game and 6-2 frame. Many of coaches strive for young prospects to play a full 200-foot game and Nattinen has shown a knack for that all-the-while having the ability to create some offense. This young Finnish pivot broke into the Liiga this past season with JYP notching three assists in nine games played. With second tier JYP-Akatemia of the Mestis league he had greater success piling in 11G-18A-29pts in just 39 games. When a player his size has average to good skating ability mixed with great puck protection it makes for a prospect of interest and worth taking a gamble on. Finland consistently produces NHL prospects and Nattinen appears poised to hear his name called within the first couple rounds of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. Travis Watson