Predators pick Joakim Kemell 17th overall

The Nashville Predators chose Joakim Kemell with the 17th overall pick of the 2022 NHL Draft.

Joakim Kemell

Position: Right wing
Height: 5-foot-9
Weight: 176 pounds
Age: 18
Club: JYP (Liiga)
Nationality: Finnish

(Stats source: EliteProspects.com)

Kemell, the reigning Rookie of the Year in Finland's top professional league, joins Kaapo Kakko, Patrik Laine, Artturi Lehkonen, Teuvo Teravainen, and Mikael Granlund as other recent players to win the award in their draft-eligible season.

The diminutive winger has also enjoyed success on the international stage, leading Finland with six goals and eight points in five games at the 2022 U18s, helping Suomi win bronze.

Kemell is an explosive skater with a high motor who plays bigger than his size. He knows how to find the back of the net and plays a well-rounded game.

What they're saying

TSN's Bob McKenzie and The Athletic's Corey Pronman both listed him as the No. 7 prospect in their final draft rankings.

"(Kemell) is an attacking, goal-scoring winger who plays a dynamic, high-energy, albeit inconsistent, game," McKenzie wrote. "Some scouts view him as a legit threat to crack the top five - he ranged from as high as No. 4 to as low as No. 14 in our survey - and one suggested he’s a candidate to develop into the best player in the entire draft because of a high offensive ceiling."

Pronman used Los Angeles Kings winger Viktor Arvidsson as a player comparable.

"He brings skill and speed to his shifts, showing the ability to carry the puck up ice and create chances for himself and his teammates," Pronman wrote. "Kemell can pass the puck very well, but his shot is his main weapon. You can set him up from mid-range and he can finish. He lacks size, but he plays hard, showing no fear of engaging physically to win back pucks or to take a hit to make a play. He projects as a very good top-six winger who will score a lot of goals in the NHL."

Tap here to watch some of Kemell's highlights.