When I sat down to carry out an early check on the 2026 design class of Finland, I started with the Oscar Hemming Buzz. His move to the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) means that we have to wait for new tape for his progress, so I went back to my Hlinka notes and one name stood out.
Juho Piiparinen is a 17-year-old, right-shot defender who is already playing with Tappa’s senior group and seeing Power-Play (PP) time. When I considered which NHL teams should select him, two came for the same simple reasons. The Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings both need help on the right and have the choices to prepare him late in the first or early round. This is a look at where Piiparinen is today, and why the Blackhawks and Red Wings should keep him on their draft list.
Why Piiparinen?
Two reasons. Firstly, the demand for right -handed defenders (RHD) is high around the competition. Secondly, Piiparinen is not just a projection; He gets an early look with Tappa’s men’s group. In the 20 August friendly vs. Mestis Club Pyry drew Piiparinen the primary assist on a Power-Play goal. That is a small but useful instructions. Tappa’s match report and statistics magazine mention him in the line -up and on that scoring game.
Related: 2026 Draaf-Expanded Staftten during the Hlinka Gretzky Cup
Tappa’s preseason slate also included Jokerit on August 22 and HPK on 4 September, reinforced that he could be considered in the senior mix, not just U20. For a 17-year-old that is a big problem. A common trend under NHL level Finnish players is that at a young age they often become members of the Adult League (Liiga), instead of being assigned to the U18 or U20 teams, similar to the current career path of Piiparinen.
Snapshot of players
Name: Juho Piiparinen
DOB: August 10, 2008 (17 years old)
Shooting: Right
Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 203 pounds
Club: Tappela (League/U20)
Contract: Until 2026–27 (T device)
Provisional version: 2026 eligible (first)
Fast Take is Piiparinen
The right shooter has a professional framework and makes calm puck decisions. The calling card from Piiparinen is picking up, early shoulder control, small fake to open a lane and a sturdy first through the middle. His bustle defenses shows tight holes and a good stick, with selective physical stops. His attack today looks like PP2 distribution instead of PP1 creation.
What we learned at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup
Multiple scouting sales points had a similar version: Piiparinen is a mobile, space-eating defender whose bread and butter defending zone play, with balance and efficiency under pressure. Daily faceoffin their day 1 cover, noted that he was a liquid skater while FC Hockey Placed various game reports with reference to he played tough minutes in all situations. McKeen’s Preview has also framed him as a familiar, composed defender who will probably wear the fine-dead/late game workload.
Related: Finland in the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup-one fourth place with learned lessons
Tournament: 0-3-3 in five games (per reconnaissance databases). The point total is modest; The value is in transitions and denialquencies, figures that stand in line for which teams are looking for RHD prospects.
What we see after Hlinka Gretzky (preseason)
August 20 – Pyry vs. Telachta (friendly): Piiparinen noted a PP -Helper on the goal of Emil Järventie
Use collection meals: Good exposure on the pp.
August 22 – Tappela vs. Jokerit (pre -season event): Part of the Senior president scheme of Techela. Use collection meals: Repeated senior group looks.
September 4 – HPK vs. Telachta (friendly): Mention on competition and scores sites (Tappela won 3-2).
Use collection meals: Running trust through Kamp.
Six Category Scorecard Post-Hlinka Gretzky
Figures on a scale of 1-9; Forward weights applied (skating 20% / skates 20% / Pass 15% / Handling 15% / Sense 20% / physical 10%). A breakdown of the assessment system can be found here.
| Category | Weight | Score | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skating | 20% | 7.2 | Smooth pass and width cover. First three steps from pivot points that still develop under heat. |
| Shooting | 15% | 6.6 | Low removable shot from the point. Looks more like PP2 trigger support than a Finisher. |
| Passing | 20% | 7.6 | Pick up planning, outputs of medium lane, firmly pass through the traffic. |
| Settlement | 10% | 6.9 | Clean collects and small fakes. No High Deke Volume player at the Blue. |
| Feeling | 20% | 7.5 | Early gap reads, switch timing, horsepower -consciousness, calm of late shift. |
| Physically | 15% | 7.3 | Strong pins and box -outs. Selective contact that Cycli ends without haunting hits. |
Weighted total 7.24 out of 9
Letter Grade B+
Where Piiparins can improve and grow: Earn real Liiga minute past a seventh Defenseman look, get pp2 confidence and make outputs that hold versus men.
Design range and timeline
Draft ranking today: Safest projection is 15th-25th General.
Timeline: Two -year runway is realistic: Draft in 2026 → another year in Finland → NHL auditions in 2028-29With an earlier arrival possible if Liiga Minutes peaks this season.
Piiparins must find its fit
Both the Blackhawks and Red Wings have schedules that stand in line with a steady two-to-three year of runway for a top defense prospect, which fits on a 17-year-old who can bring clean outputs, inpoarts and fine-kill value before he sees every moment on the second PP unit. The pace of Chicago benefits from a quiet first pass, while the structure of Detroit rewards reliably in the zone game.
Team -specific fit: Chicago Blackhawks
Why the Blackhawks should save: Chicago has just added a second asset of the first round 2026 via the Seth Jones trade with the Florida Panthers (conditional; slides until 2027 if Panthers do not first have their 2026). This flexibility will be able to tackle them in a player in a player without forcing the top of the board.
Fit on the depth card: With the right-hand side evolving and young left-wing defenders already in place, the game of Piiparinen, Zone denial, First-pass Reliability, stable horsepower, make him a “glue RHD” archetype that supplements Chicago’s skills.
Draft Capital Math (2026): Chicago currently mentions two first-rounders (that of their own and florida) and several seconds. That is ammunition to select in the teenagers/20s or to exchange as piiparins in the middle of the first layer lands.
What Hawks Fans say: On HFBOardsFans who discuss the 2026 class repeatedly mark large, mobile RHD as a priority. Piiparinen appears in those conversations as a size/defense/poise match.
Team -specific fit: Detroit Red Wings
Why red wings should save: The fan base has been vocal about a steady, skating-first defender in the teenagers/20s is “exactly what this team needs”; Choose an on-brand profile for piiparins such as Detroit in the middle of the first round.
Fit on the depth card: The blue line of Detroit has leaned itself in Rangy, composed movers under general director Steve Yzerman. Piiparinen projects RHD as a second pairs that can eat PK minutes and stabilize high-skill partners.
Draft Capital Math (2026): Detroit currently has its 2026 first and second round picks; They have moved their 2026 fourth Rounder in the John Gibson Trade. That keeps the assessment door ajar if he takes off in the teenage years.
What Wings Fans say: Red wings HFBOards Threads emphasize the desire for winners of defensive zone with NHL feet. Piiparin surfaces in those lists and discussion quips (the jokes “yzermometer” already fly).
How he helps – and how fast
Year 1 after concept (2026-27): Top-four Liiga minute, heavy horsepower, spot PP2, track output success rate versus men.
Year 2 (2027-28): North American Transition (American Hockey League or NHL appearance of the 3rd pairs) with a PK roll.
Year 3 (2028-29): Full-time NHL defender from the second to third parties that can be used if the NHL team wants to bring players into the mix instead of developing younger players for a long-term rebuild; Use looks like a minute of eating, mistakes-an-Matchup piece that frees Puck-Movers.
Piiparinen’s concept stock
Piiparinen is the type of right-shot defender that can help NHL teams to win within two or three years after they have been drawn up. The translation markings are already there: controlled outputs, early gap-dead and steady PK lectures, with sufficient Blue-Line balance to grow to more use on the second PP unit.
If his preseason holds Liiga use and he can move the puck under the pressure of men as he did at the Hlinka Cup, then expect Piiparins to be arranged in the late first until an early second round. The Blackhawks and Red Wings must keep him circled as a realistic target whose timing and role fit with both graters. Let your thoughts fall about where you would take him and which clip changed his mind.
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