Matias Vanhanen

June 2026 – Vanhanen was drafted by the New Jersey Devils with the 37th overall pick in the 2nd round. of the 2026 NHL Draft. Chris Babos

October 2025 – Vanhanen checks a lot of modern winger boxes. He drove HIFK U20 at a point-per-game clip and was named U20 SM-sarja Rookie of the Year, then earned five Liiga games before crossing to Everett as a first-round CHL Import pick. Early WHL tape already shows the habits that translated in Finland: shoulder checks through neutral ice, support routes under the puck, and quick wall-to-middle bump-outs that spring rush chances. He also pops on the power play as a connector, drawing pressure and slipping pucks into the slot, and he has touch around the net, as the U18 bronze-game hat trick for HIFK’s juniors underlined. The growth items are adding lower-body strength to win more net-front space and pushing shot volume, so defenses must honor his release, not just his distribution. If the North American reps stick and he earns secondary power-play usage behind Everett’s top line, the path to an NHL middle-six translator with mid-50s point potential is there; if the finishing stalls, he still profiles as a reliable bottom-six play-driver who can help on entries and retrievals. Andrew Epps