2002 NHL Entry Draft

Joni Pitkanen

JONI PITKANENFinland

PHILADELPHIA • ROUND: 1 OVERALL: 4

Previous Team: Oulu Karpat (SM-Liiga)

Pre-Draft Rankings

NHL Central Scouting: 1  Midterm Rank: 1

The Hockey News: 4    Red Line Report: 4

Vital Statistics

Position: D • Height: 6-3 • Weight: 202 • Shoots: Left
Birthdate: Sept. 19, 1983 • Hometown: Oulu, Finland

Pre-Draft Notes

Central Scouting Report: A strong skater with good acceleration ... excellent agility with good lateral movement ... an intelligent player who anticipates the play very well ... has very good puck-handling and passing skills ... plays at a very good overall skill level ... a tough competitor with a good work ethic ... very reliable in the defensive zone ... primarily a finesse player who can be punishing in the corners and in front of the net.

THN Draft Preview: Joni Pitkanen played his second season as a regular in the Finnish league and showed good offensive qualities. At one time he was the leading scorer on his team -- as an 18-year-old defenseman. He's calm, consistent, and makes few mistakes. He's also ultra-competitive. Pitkanen likes to be challenged physcially. He's not shy about sacrificing his body and is not easily intimidated.

Red Line Report: Had breakthrough season in SM-league. A pure talent who shows sheer joy for the game. In his junior days, had a reputation of being a coach killer who wanted to be on ice all the time -- has matured a lot since. Complete package with great size, effortless acceleration, puck skills, a mean, nasty edge, and hockey sense. A bit undisciplined at times, loves to gamble with puck. So far he's gotten away with that because of his superb mobility. Despite big frame, he's still a raw physical specimen, hasn't really started serious training regimen. Natural talent got him this far, now he must show more professional attitude towards training. Can play a strong, physically imposing defensive game and offensive talent, particularly booming point shot, is obvious.
Projection: Physically intimidating No. 1 d-man. Style compares to Ed Jovanovski.

Pre-Draft Quotes

It is hard to believe he is only 18. There are no really, really strong points, but the best thing is there are no weak points. He is pretty good with the puck.

-- Anonymous NHL GM, Hockey News Draft Preview

He skates well for his size and moves the puck well and is overall a pretty good package. He is not as good a skater as Bouwmeester, but he moves well and can shoot the puck.

-- Anonymous NHL Scout, Hockey News Draft Preview

He's naturally competitive. He can grab the puck and go. He grew up in that competitive Finnish system and is a smart guy. He has played a lot of pressure hockey.

-- Anonymous NHL Scout, Hockey News Draft Preview