Just Who Is Aapeli Rasanen?

Fans of the Edmonton Oilers, may I introduce to you Mr. Aapeli Rasanen?

Birthplace: Tampere, Finland
Age: 18
Shoots: Right
Position: Center
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 196 lbs.

The Oilers selected Rasanen in the the sixth round of this year’s draft with the 153rd overall pick. Some people are very high on Rasanen–including Craig Button, who had him ranked #52–so this looks to me like a smart selection (a steal?).

During the 2015-16 season, Rasanen tallied 19 goals and 19 assists in 50 games in the Finnish U-20 league. He also represented Finland in the 2016 U18 Championships, scoring 3 goals and adding 6 assists in 9 games and leaving the tournament with a gold medal.

I must confess that my scouting of Rasanen has been limited to one YouTube video. But based on the little I’ve seen and what I’ve read, I’d say that his strengths are passing, defense, and faceoffs and that his weakness is skating. He’s described as an average skater. Corey Pronman, who had Rasanen ranked #56, had this to say about the Finnish forward:

Rasanen’s point totals weren’t too gaudy this season in the top Finnish junior league, but he’s been an important part of the Finnish 1998 age group the last few years. He’s a very smart center who can slow the game down and create chances while appearing to exert minimal effort. He can deke defenders, but he’s more effective making quick passes and beating opponents with pace. Rasanen is at his best as a playmaker, but he takes his shots when he gets a lane and has a decent cannon when he does so. His skating is his most noticeable hole to me; his top gear is below average, and he can have trouble pushing defenders back too far off the blue line on a rush. He is quite good defensively, often being leaned on for critical defensive situations and faceoffs.

In the video below, you can check out Rasanen in action during the 2016 U18 Championships. You’ll also see a lot of another Oilers’ draft pick: Jesse Puljujarvi.

In the upcoming season, Rasanen will be playing for the Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL and will probably end up getting an NCAA scholarship. He’s also expected to compete in the World Juniors for Finland.

One side note: Four of the Oilers’ draft picks were in the top 100 of several scouting lists. Below is a comparison of where the Oilers picked each player and how they were ranked by Button, Bob McKenzie, and Pronman. (I should also add that Philip Berglund, whom the Oilers took with the 91st pick was ranked #61 by Lowetide.)

Player (draft position)/Button’s ranking/McKenzie’s ranking/Pronman’s ranking
Jesse Pujujarvi (#4)/Button’s #3/McKenzie’s #3/Pronman’s #3
Tyler Benson (#32)/Button’s #44/McKenzie’s #39/Pronman’s #18
Markus Niemelainen (#63)/Button’s #58/McKenzie’s #38/Pronman’s #68
Aapeli Rasanen (#153)/Button’s #52/unranked/Pronman’s #56

Bottom line: The Oilers got great value when they selected Rasanen with the 153rd pick and appear to be making better use of their non-first round picks.