Kasper Halttunen The Anatomy of a Potential Draft Day Steal

I get asked all the time about how players drop in a draft. Years later, they grumble when a team they dislike gets a second-round steal. One such player could be Kasper Halttunen, drafted 36th overall by the San Jose Sharks.

This guy is humble and quiet off the ice, but that’s not how he plays on the ice. He is a full-blown power forward. Already 6-foot-3 and heading to be over 200 pounds, players have a hard time holding him back.

“Big body, big frame. Go into the corner and win battles. Stuff like that, Halttunen stated.

Last season he played at three different levels of hockey in Finland, and that’s not good for development.

“That was a bit up and down. I couldn’t score at the men’s level, but I grew as a person every day,” Halttunen explained.

His report on the combine was funny. It showed me how his mind works.

“I did good on the bike test. I did pretty well. I didn’t throw up. I almost did,” said Halttunen.

He was very good against his age group proving that in the U18s last year. That was a good measuring stick for him.

“I felt very good out there playing my power game.”

Like most players, the summer is essential. I wasn’t sure where he was going to play next season and never asked him about that.

“It will be a busy summer, and I will be doing a lot of practice. Skating is #1,” Halttunen admitted.

The big Finn announced he would play for the London Knights in the OHL. I’m sure the Sharks are over the moon about it. They can keep a closer eye on him, and he’ll play a lot more games than last year, and he needs that. I don’t think he will be an offensive dynamo, but he will be a solid contributor in a lot of different facets of the game.

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His defense needs some work. That’s something I expect to improve playing for the Knights. A solid power forward in the OHL is Quentin Musty. When Musty would go full speed against Halttunen, the Finn had trouble holding him back. He’s going to get those kinds of battles in the OHL, and I think he’s up for the challenge.

If Halttunen had played more games and had more significant numbers, he would have been a first-rounder. He didn’t, so the Sharks did their homework and made sure they grabbed him early in the second round.

Sharks fans should keep an eye on him this season.