Kiviharju is the player on this list who has been on the scene the longest. Due to the time he has lost in his draft year following ACL surgery, his past context is also particularly relevant because of the role it will play when he’s selected.
He made the leap to Finland’s top junior league at 15 and didn’t just play but excelled, immediately becoming one of its most productive defensemen and even wearing a letter on his jersey. He then played and starred at the U18 worlds three times — first in Germany at 16, topping Finland’s blue line with six points in six games to help steer them (figuratively, but also literally steering the game on the ice) to a silver medal; again in Switzerland (still as an underager), where he was the best defenseman on a team that disappointingly lost in the quarters; and now once more in his return from injury on home ice in Espoo as captain. He also led the Finns to bronze at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, again as an underager. Last season, after an excellent preseason with TPS, it looked like he might play his way into becoming the youngest full-time player in Liiga and at the world juniors. But then he struggled to establish himself, bounced between levels and was one of the final cuts for Finland’s under-20 national team. This season, after making a move away from TPS to join HIFK for his draft year, he established himself as a top-six D, played on both special teams, scored his first pro goal, and then got hurt (he would have been a top player for a Finnish world junior team that could have used him on the back end, too).
He was always going to need a big year in order for teams to use a high pick on a diminutive defenseman, which makes the time lost that much more impactful and added pressure for him to perform at U18 worlds (where he was good and played a huge role but didn’t dominate). I still like him in the late first round, but even then, many NHL scouts would be hesitant taking him there.
I’m a fan of the way Kiviharju plays the game and he’s undeniably one of the smartest players in the draft. He manages play in front of him with impressive poise and comfort, directing and influencing play all the way down the ice. He effortlessly advances play under pressure inside his own zone, side-stepping forecheckers to headman pucks. He walks the line beautifully, with a knack for shaping shots through to the net. His first touch on the move is always perfectly caught. He’s clever. He processes the game faster than the opposition and sees things that others don’t see. And he’s a intelligent defender who gaps up well and gets pucks going the other way quickly with little bump passes and exits in order to offset some of his size limitations.
He’s definitely most noticeable breaking the puck out of his own zone, where his little carries and outlets make a big difference. He shows deception across the line though as well, although there are times when I’d like to see him look to attack and take charge himself in the offensive zone a little more. It can look like he’s always trying to set up the next heady little play instead of just commanding it. When he does really attack, he usually accomplishes what he’s looking to as well because he’s hyper aware out there of the way the play develops. Cerebral is the perfect word. He can lack a separation gear and quickness in straight lines, which can result in a lot of resets and concerns about the translatability of his game at his size, but he’s quick and comfortable through his crossovers and usually makes the right play when he does have to turn back and regroup. He reads the game well defensively to break up plays with good timing, too. He also plays his off-side comfortably. I still like him and think his tactile game (eyes always up, picking teams apart) and high IQ will win out. He’s quietly competitive, too. But the lost year could hurt his development, projection and status. He’s going to need to add another gear as well, probably.