Draft Prospect Profile: Juho Piiparinen - RD

Draft Prospect Profile: - Juho Piiparinen - RD

 

Height:  6-3    Weight: 203              

DOB: 10-Aug-08     Age:  17

 

2025-26  Tappara          Liiga                      29-0-3-3

2025-26  Tappara U20  U20 SM-Sarja       15-1-12-13

2025-26  Finland           WJC-20                 4-0-1-1 

 

Central Scouting Preliminary Ranking:  IS #6
Central Scouting Final Ranking:   IS #6 

Lines.com:  https://www.lines.com/nhl/drafts/player/juho-piiparinen

 

Notes: Good sized defenseman who is young for this draft class.  Got some games for Finland in the WJC.  Focus is on defense; offense still developing.  Near a point per game in U20, not scoring yet in Liiga.  Rated as late first, early second round for 2026 draft.

Elite Prospects: https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/925157/juho-piiparinen

The Hockey Writers:

https://thehockeywriters.com/juho-piiparinen-2026-nhl-draft-prospect-profile/

 "Juho Piiparinen is one of the best defensive defensemen in this year’s draft class. Although he’s among the younger prospects this year, he’s incredibly mature and intelligent, using his hockey IQ to constantly put himself in the right position on defense. His smooth and fluid skating, highlighted by mobility and speed, helps with this as well. He is a true puck-hunter, constantly chasing down loose pucks and hounding opposing puck-carriers, often erasing chances in the process. He can defend in all three zones and knows when to use physicality to cause turnovers and win puck battles, but just as importantly, he knows when to step back and take a less aggressive approach as well. 

 

 "Piiparinen’s offensive game doesn’t stand out as much, but he still does some things well on that end. He absorbs hits well, able to keep plays going through contact. He also uses his positioning here as well, anticipating where pucks will be to help sustain possessions. His smarts show up in his puck-moving — while he doesn’t always make the high-risk, high-reward passes, he will make the steady play to keep the offense flowing, even if it doesn’t always directly lead to a goal. He doesn’t offer a big shot from the blue line, but like so many other parts of his game, he’s all about timing, understanding the right moments in which to put a puck on net.

Game Highlights 2025-26: 

https://faceofffactor.substack.com/p/2026-nhl-draft-profile-5-juho-piiparinen