2011 Draft Prospect Profile #39: Miikka Salomäki

Position: Right Wing
Age: 18
Date of Birth: March 9, 1993
Place of Birth: Raahe, Finland
Ht: 5-11 Wt: 195
Shoots: Left

Miika Salomäki isn't going to remind anyone of a prolific scorer, but he plays a decent two-way game at a young age. He made the jump to FInland's SM-liiga at just 17, and put up respectable numbers for his age. Central Scouting has him ranked as the 7th European skater heading into the draft. Salomäki isn't a big kid, and will need some seasoning both back in Finland and in the AHL before he's considered an NHL prospect, but he's a solid skater who plays hard each and every shift. He's drawn comparisons to our own Samuel Pahlsson for his ability to match up with other top-line players.

2010/2011 Regular Season Stats:

Scouting Report (The Scouting Report):

"Salomäki spent the majority of the season in the SM-Liiga and wasn’t out of place playing in Finland’s top men’s hockey league. He also had an impressive showing at the World Juniors as a 17-year-old and quickly established himself as a gritty player who was willing to sacrifice his body despite being a little undersized. Salomäki is a solid offensive contributor but when you factor in his grit and willingness to compete, he can certainly find a role at the next level with that combination."

Why he'd be a good fit in Columbus:

It's hard to say whether Salomäki would be a good fit in Columbus or not. He doesn't yet possess much of an offensive game, and with Scott Arniel's desire to move to a three-scoring/one-checking lineup, it's hard to see where Salomäki would fit into that system. Down the road, he could be a decent energy/checking winger who will occasionally pot you a goal, perhaps a more polished Derek Dorsett who doesn't fight and take as many penalties. Unlike Dorsett, however, he's young enough to have some offensive potential to develop at the next levels. He will need some seasoning both in his home land and in North America, so any projections of Salomaki will be for several years down the road.

Miika Salomäki Season Highlights: