Prospect Info: #118 Mikko Vainonen - D

[AtlantaWhaler]

Out of Finland. HUGE. 6'2" 222Lbs.

[I Will Son]

Yesss

[BigFatCat999]

Originally Posted by AtlantaWhaler

Out of Finland. HUGE. 6'2" 222Lbs.

Let's see, big, nordic. Are you sure he's not a goalie?

[Top 6 Spaling]

Excellent. We needed some big defenseman to compliment Ellis and Blum. (assuming he's actually good enough to make the NHL)

[vsk92]

Nice pick

I think he plays in the SM liiga this year for IFK

[IFK]

Originally Posted by vsk92

Nice pick

I think he plays in the SM liiga this year for IFK

Yes he will. Also he is some puck skills, but he is more shut down d-man and had a mean streak and he is a natural leader. He are so good in own end and give good first passes. For me, he is like a new Jere Karalahti, he is so similar, but don't have a drinking/drug problems like Karalahti. He was also captain in U18 championship Finnish team and won gold in HIFK junior A this year. I think he is absolutely steal. I think he go latest 3 round, but could go early second too. You get great prospect!

[maplepred]

Very excited about this guy! Was rated to go early second round.

[Top 6 Spaling]

Preds are money in the 4th round. Can't wait to see how good this guy is.

[braindead]

Originally Posted by IFK

For me, he is like a new Jere Karalahti, he is so similar, but don't have a drinking/drug problems like Karalahti.

Karalahti was a beast. I loved that guy. That is exactly the prospect we need for our D. I'm pumped over this pick.

[Legionnaire11]

This draft reminds me a lot of 2004 (minus Radulov of course)... I was so excited by Meidl, Fugere, Niskala, Balan, Kulyash, later on Santorelli... much later on Pekka Rinne...

Now, Rinne is a beast for sure, but in the 8th round that's just a darn lucky pick. The rest of the draft ended up producing nothing. Hope I'm wrong and 2 or 3 of these guys make it, i'm just not excited yet.

[Hustlechuck24]

This guy is very exciting. A good addition.

[SLake]

Hearing that along with '11 draftee Simon Karlsson, that Vainonen is expected to be drafted in the CHL draft tomorrow and will come over to play junior hockey next season.

[Woodhouse]

Vainonen goes sixth overall in the CHL Import Draft to Kingston of the OHL:

Sean Lafortune ‏@SeanLafortune
Mikko Vainonen goes to Kingston. Figured yesterday that could be the guy. Said at the NHL Combine he wanted to come over to the CHL

Link: https://twitter.com/SeanLafortune/st...70868012322817

[kypredsfan]

Originally Posted by Woodhouse

Vainonen goes sixth overall in the CHL Import Draft to Kingston of the OHL:

That's very good for him. Hopefully he'll pan out.

[Suddz17]

Vainonen will have a great opportunity to play a lot in Kingston. He'll most likely be on the first pairing and he will play 25-30 minutes a game. Plus Kingston's coach is Todd Gill who played over 1000 games in the NHL.

[jusu11]

Hopefully OHL is the right place to him and he could really pick up some minutes. If evrything goes well this guy is really knocking NHL doors in the future!