The Boston Bruins selected defenseman Urho Vaakanainen with the 18th pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft on Friday.
Urho Vaakanainen
Position: Defense
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 188 lbs
Age: 18
Club: JYP (Liiga)
Nationality: Finnish
| GP | G | A | P |
|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
The smooth-skating D-man entered the draft as the eighth-ranked European skater with strong first-round potential due to his solid defensive game and sharp puck-moving skills.
At only 18, Vaakanainen has already developed into a reliable defenseman, but one of his main criticisms has been his lack of offensive output. The young Finn registered only six points last season in Finland's top professional league, but could still be an excellent addition to an NHL club looking to improve its blue line with a defensive-minded rearguard.
Vaakanainen also has international experience playing for team Finland, registering one goal and four penalty minutes in six games at the 2017 World Junior Championship. His time spent playing internationally and in Finland's top flight should have Vaakanainen well prepared for the NHL's big stage.