Winnipeg Jets: Kristian Vesalainen has Multi-Point Night for HPK in Finland

The Winnipeg Jets have placed many players on loan across Europe. Jets prospect Kristian Vesalainen had a great game last night for his club HPK.

For the players around North American professional hockey that were not fortunate enough to make the playoffs or make their NHL team’s postseason roster, it has been a long time since they have participated in game action. To combat this the Winnipeg Jets loaned out many of their younger players to clubs around Europe, whose season’s have just begun or are beginning, to get some gametime.

One player that the Jets loaned out was forward, Kristian Vesalainen. The Jets moved Vesalainen back to his home country to play for HPK who compete in Finland’s Liiga. Liiga is the top division in the Finnish hockey pyramid.

Last night HPK faced off against Kärpät. Kärpät has the likes of Jesse Puljujarvi and Jussi Jokinen on their roster and Vesalainen performed extremely well.

Vesalainen had one goal and one assist and finished the contest with a +1 plus/minus in 19 minutes and 42 seconds of ice time. It is great to see the twenty-one year old in a big role for his new team and that he is performing well.

Vesalainen is off to a hot start this season. In three games he has three goals and two assists. If he keeps performing well, he will definitely be turning heads around the Winnipeg Jets coaching staff and could make a case for himself to earn a roster spot in 2021.

The Jets drafted Vesalainen in the first round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. In 2018-2019 Vesalainen did play in 5 games with the Jets, where he had five assists. The Jets subsequently moved him down to the Manitoba Moose, where he dressed in 22 games. Then later in the year, the Moose loaned Vesalainen to finish up the season with Jokerit in the KHL (Russia).

Last year, Vesalainen played the whole season in the AHL with the Manitoba Moose. In 60 games he had 12 goals and 18 assists, but he did not impress with his -16 plus/minus.

Winnipeg Jets Fans: Do you think Kristian Vesalainen has a shot of making the Winnipeg Jets this upcoming season? Leave your comments below!