VALTTERI PUUSTINEN

2024-08-17

Scout: Chris Collier

Skating:

"Good

+ Valtteri hits his top speed very quickly, but has average top speed overall

+ Quick, nimble, and an incredibly high motor.

+ Puustinen never stops moving in the OZ and is tough to keep up with as a defender. If you make his skating distance into a rate stat, he’s in the 77th percentile of distance traveled per 60.

"

Passing/Handling:

Below Average

Rushes to get the puck off his stick. Tends to pass the puck before surveying his options, leading to some questionable decisions. At the AHL level he is a completely different player, however. With the added time and space that the AHL allows, he always looks calm and composed. He needs to adjust he speed and spacing of the game in the NHL before we see any of his playmaking abilities show in a meaningful way

Clearly prefers to be off puck when possible. Never chooses to take on a defender 1-1 and rarely dekes. Very simple stickhandler

Shooting:

Average

+/Puustinen has a great shot when given time and space but struggles with accuracy when rushed.

+ Has a great one timer that he loves to wait backdoor to receive.

Needs to shoot for rebounds more often. Valtteri aims his shots at the top corners, which often results in the puck going out of play or he misses the net entirely.

Needs to become a more intentional, cerebral, shooter to improve his goalscoring and finishing abilities. Can sometimes shoot seemly just to get the puck off of his stick and avoid a turnover

IQ (Vision, Anticipation, Panic/Poise):

Good

+/Valtteri has high highs and low lows

+ Elite off puck player. Constantly moving and pulling defenders out of position. Puustinen is a true “waterbug” type of hockey player. Without proper communication from his opponents, he exploits the spaces to set himself up for one timers or a quick slap pass cross crease.

+ Excellent positioning defensively. Gets all that he can for his small size (5’9) and is often pressuring and putting puck handlers in poor positions.

+ Great rebound anticipation

Very poor poise when puck handling and being pressured. Need to see better decision making and a willingness to handle the puck near defenders on a consistent basis before taking the next step offensively.

Forechecking:

Good

+ Valtteri’s extremely high motor helps make him a great forechecker

+ Great at positioning himself on the forecheck as the weak side attacker. If his opponent attempts a dump pass or a pass along the boards, he’s always there to force the turnover

Defense:

Good

+ Handles defensive responsibilities very well and is great at rotating with his defensemen when needed.

+ Great communicator and has very predictable movements and positioning while defending. Almost never leaves teammates in a tough spot by puck chasing or getting pulled out of position.

Lack of size means he has little physical presence and can be pushed around when rotating into the slot.

Best Asset:

High motor. His ability to move around the ice with such pace is invaluable as a forward to force creativity into an offense and cause havoc for defenders.

Biggest Concern:

Poise while puck handling. Without growing his game to become a more comfortable puck carrier, I don’t see coaches having the patience to keep him in the NHL.

Top Tier/Role Potential:

Tier 3 Wing. 2nd/ 3rd line PP1. 20g-25a with low bash

Justification for Top Tier Assessment:

Puustinen’s poor playmaking ability and panic on the puck sets a hard ceiling on his place in the lineup. 2nd line PP1 is obtainable if he has a playmaker center, and he can grow comfortable with the speed and spacing of the NHL.

50th Percentile Tier/Role:

Tier 3 Wing. 3rd/ 4th line PP2. 15g-20a with low bash

Justification for 50th Percentile Tier Assessment:

Valtteri is already capable on the powerplay with the extra time and space, making him a likely candidate for PP2. He’s a very sound bottom 6 winger who’s defensively responsible and has offensive upside as well.

Stylistic Comparable:

Conor Sheary

Scouts Final Thoughts and Additional Stats/Info:

Puustinen is an amazing story and unlikely success, as a 7th round pick all the way back in 2019. It’s great to see his talent realized and for him to get his chance in the NHL. He’s exactly the kind of bottom 6 player that all fans love.

Games Scouted:

23-24 Season