Ht/Wt: 6' 2"/203 lbs
Position: RHD
Team: Tappara (Liiga)

Juho Piiparinen's Player Profile

Adam Kimelman - NHL.com - June 8th: "The right-handed shot played most of the season in Liiga and rarely looked out of place against older, more developed competition, with a plus-6 rating in 10:15 of ice time in 29 games. Expect him to have a bigger role next season, with the potential for being a dependable defense-first parter for a more offensive-minded partner."

Mike G. Morreale - NHL.com - June 8th: "The right-handed shot (6-1, 201) is considered a defensive-minded defenseman capable of shutting plays down and controlling the space in front of his net and along the boards. Piiparinen, who compares his style to Ekblad, is a fine skater with good edgework."

Scott Wheeler - The Athletic - June 3rd: "Piiparinen's game doesn't grab you with dynamic skill or elite skating, but he's an August birthday who’s already very polished, is a superb athlete, and has shown more offense at Finland's junior level; he has played a more reserved/vanilla style at the pro level and at times internationally. Effectiveness is the name of his game."

Steven Ellis - Daily Faceoff - April 14th: "Piiparinen isn’t flashy, but he’s calm and collected in his own zone and is generally reliable defensively. I was hoping to see him put up more offense this season, but his game is more about shutting opponents down with his mobility. He’ll make a good fit alongside someone more offensively minded."

Will Scouch - Scouching.ca - April 13th: "Piiparinen is rarely out of position, rarely making mistakes, is fluid on his feet, and drives very efficient defensive zone results, with flashes of offense that come out in ways that, while I’m not sure he’s going to be a big time NHL scorer, are impressive nonetheless. As a depth defenseman with good range, a great mind, and a diverse array of areas where he’s comfortable, Piiparinen might be another one of those defensemen in this class who you don’t notice a ton, but next thing you know he’s played 700 games and is a millionaire."

Dauton Reimer - The Hockey Writers - March 25th: "He’s an incredibly responsible defender who uses an enviable combination of strength, positioning, awareness, and intelligence to prevent breakouts, create turnovers, and protect his goalie. He uses his 6-foot-3 frame very smartly, and while he’s not afraid to throw a big hit, he isn’t reckless."

Scott Wheeler - The Athletic - March 17th: "He gaps and defends well. He moves well. He has a pro frame and game. His puck movement is clean and efficient. His reads are consistently sound. He projects as a really solid two-way D who should continue to develop and add some more dimension to the strong foundation he has already established."

Jason Bukala - Sportsnet - March 17th: "Piiparinen isn’t going to move the needle a great deal offensively, but he gets to pucks ahead of opponents most of the time, launches the attack via stick-to-stick outlets and has the agility and vision to make subtle plays in the offensive zone. Not to mention the fact he’s a highly coveted right-shot defenceman with size and length."

Steven Ellis - Daily Faceoff - March 13th: "He’s good when he keeps things simple, but he can also rush the puck up the ice and lower the boom when needed. Piiparinen has played decent hockey against men, and his international action has been solid, too. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a team pick him five to six spots higher."

Peter Baracchini - The Hockey Writers - March 10th: "No matter who he’s going up against, he’ll shut you down as his defensive reads and positioning is his greatest strength. He shows great gap control and keeps defenders to the outside on the rush. He’s quick to take time and space away effectively and does a great job of not letting attackers get by him."

Smaht Scouting - February 27th: "He’s also got some impressive hands, able to make quick pivots and walk opposition both pressuring him in transition and at the offensive blue line. He’s also shown flashes of high hockey sense in nearly every viewing I’ve had of him, whether it be providing assistance for teammates in puck battles all along the ice, moving pucks to open areas for teammates to skate into, or using stick and body management in puck battles to win pucks with ease that other players would likely struggle to."

Sam Cosentino - Sportsnet - February 25th: "It's also given him confidence to add more on the offensive end, although his projection is not as a big-time point getter, but more of a complementary, safe and sound partner. This should not be viewed as a bad thing, but his true value is defending, playing simple, moving pucks accurately and efficiently and eventually eating big minutes. "

Tony Ferrari - The Hockey News - February 23rd: "He is very positionally sound in his own end, showing excellent tracking and awareness. Once he gets the puck, he can efficiently move it to his forwards. His skating is good, and he has the size and length to defend in the corners or in front of the net."

Juho Piiparinen's Stats

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