https://liiga.fi/fi/pelaajat/32707368/vilen-topias

Fantasy Summary

Sturdy defensive defenseman with issues on the passing side. Strong but under-utilized shot, great anticipation and stick-checking off the rush. Likely a bottom-pair or depth defenseman, but could add tools to his game in the next few years.


Observations

Click to Expand

November 2023 – After what I felt were mixed results in the preseason for Vilen, he’s quickly turned it around in Utica, moving up fron the bottom-pair to the first-line in only a few games, Vilen has shown strong offensive awareness and looks quicker and more alert on the ice. His NHL upside didn’t seem so projectable to start this year but there looks to be hints of bottom-four potential if he continues on his current pace. – Austin Kelly

December 2022 – Vilén has been exceeding all expectations this season with Pelicans, as he’s already scored 10 points in 21 games, which is almost double his last season’s total (in 50 games). He’s got a lot bigger role with the team and some PP time on the blue line in his team’s 2nd PP unit. He’s been developing his offensive and on-puck game a lot, and will likely be one of Finland’s leading defenders in the upcoming World Juniors. Eetu Siltanen

March 2022 – Vilén’s six points in 50 games to date in the Finnish Liiga represent a decrease in production compared to his draft year, although the Pelicans haven’t truly been putting together a special season so far. The prospect still needs to improve his clunky puck skills in order to make a net positive impact at the next level, but is still 18 and has a bunch of time ahead of him. Hadi Kalakeche

July 2021 – The New Jersey Devils drafted Vilén with their 129th overall selection in the 2021 NHL Draft. A stocky, rangy defensive defenseman whose offensive tools lack finesse, Vilén mostly relies on short passes or dump-outs to break the puck out of his zone and seems a bit clunky with the puck. His skating is decent, and his anticipation allows him to close off scoring chances more than efficiently. Vilén will continue his development with the Lahti Pelicans in 2021-2022, and will try to add more offensive tools to become a more well-rounded defenseman, but projects as a bottom-pairing blueliner as he stands right now. Hadi Kalakeche

Attributes
Fantasy Upside 3.5
NHL Certainty 5.0
Country AUS
Position D
Roster Type Draft Eligible
Shoot/Glove Left
Date of Birth April 1, 2003
Height 6‘0”
Weight 194 lbs
Drafted 2021 Round 5; Overall: 129

Stats

 Season Team League GP G A TP PIM      Playoffs GP G A TP PIM 
 2017-2018 Pelicans U16U16 SM-sarja Q23 4 1014 8|        
  Pelicans U16U16 SM-sarja17 1 34 6|Playoffs5 0 00
  Pelicans U18U18 SM-sarja2 0 00 0|        
 2018-2019 Pelicans U16U16 SM-sarja Q10 1 67 6|        
  Pelicans U16U16 SM-sarja1 0 00 0|        
  Pelicans U18U18 SM-sarja37 2 68 32|Playoffs2 0 00
  Finland U16 (all)International-Jr14 3 36 4|        
 2019-2020 Pelicans U18U18 SM-sarja6 2 02 6|        
  Pelicans U20U20 SM-sarja40 4 711 16|Playoffs1 0 11
  PelicansLiiga1 0 00 0|        
  PeliitatMestis3 0 11 0|        
  Finland U17WHC-174 1 01 0|        
  Finland U17 (all)International-Jr18 2 57 2|        
 2020-2021 PelicansLiiga35 3 58 6|        
  PeliitatMestis6 0 11 0|        
  Finland U18WJC-187 0 44 4|        
 2021-2022 Pelicans U20U20 SM-sarja1 0 22 0|Playoffs1 0 00
  PelicansLiiga50 0 66 12|Playoffs3 0 00
  Finland U20 (all)International-Jr8 0 22 2|        
 2022-2023 PelicansLiiga41 9 817 6|Playoffs18 4 59 31 
  Utica CometsAHL0 0 00 0|Playoffs1 0 00
  Finland U20WJC-205 0 11 0|        
  Finland U20 (all)International-Jr12 1 56 2|        
 2023-2024 Utica CometsAHL45 2 1921 14|        
  Adirondack ThunderECHL6 3 710 2|        

Highlights