Two Finnish players among picks
Panthers look for skill, toughness on second day of draft.
CHICAGO — The day after selecting Owen Tippett with the 10th overall pick in the first round of the NHL draft, the Florida Panthers continued to add to their roster Saturday with four new players, including two from Finland.
With their second-round pick, the Panthers chose forward Aleksi Heponiemi, 18, a native of Tampere, Fin- land, who scored 86 points in the Western Hockey League last season, setting the pace for all rookies in that league on his way to being named Rookie of the Year.
Heponiemi was listed at 5-10 but only 149 pounds. General Manager Dale Tal- lon is aware that Heponiemi has some work to do in the training room.
“He has great skill, great vision, great hands, a heck of a release and a good shot,” Tallon said.
“He just has to get stronger, that’s all.”
Heponiemi agreed he has to add to his frame.
“I’m still going to grow up, I’m going to get taller and obviously, I am working on my weight all the time, and I am going to get stronger and stronger,” Heponiemi said. “I don’t think it is going to be a problem at all. There are a lot of small players in the NHL at the moment, so I don’t think it is going to be a problem.”
In the third round, the Panthers grabbed defense- man Max Gildon of Plano, lon expressed enthusiasm as Texas, and two rounds later the club heads into develthey chose his world juniors opment camp next week. teammate, defenseman Tyler “Things are kind of turnInamoto. ing around quickly for the
Inamoto, who didn’t have Florida Panthers and we far to travel to the draft from are going to be in this for his home in suburban Chi- the long haul and for a long cago, impressed Panthers time with these players,” executives because of his he said. attitude on the ice. New assistant: Paul
“We were getting to the McFarland was named as point that we were a little assistant coach to work under too easy to play against,” said new coach Bob Boughner. Jason Bukala, the Panthers’ For the past three seasons, amateur scouting director. McFarland, 31, was coach “He’s a relentless competi- of the Kingston Frontenacs tor. He’s a nasty individual of the Ontario Hockey League. around the net and in the cor- Prior to that, McFarland ners, and I think we would worked as a teacher and be lying to ourselves if we accountant before moving felt we didn’t need to add into coaching, Boughner that element back into the said. equation.” “He’s very intelligent,”
In the sixth round, the Pan- Boughner s aid. “That’s thers used their last pick of someone I was looking for. the day to take winger Sebas- Someone who is young, tian Repo of Finland. up-and-coming and a pas-
With the five selections sionate guy. So I’m happy taken over the two days, Tal- to have him.”
McFarland will be joined on Boughner’s staff by former New York Islanders coach Jack Capuano, who was hired Friday.
“I think we have touched all the bases,” Boughner said. “We have some young energy in Paul McFarland and some experience in (Capuano). I’m excited to get going and get the players in town and get to work.”
Boughner on Tippett: Boughner said he has watched first-round selection Tippett since he was 14 or 15 and likes what he sees about the team’s top selec- tion. “I’m very familiar with him. I love his speed,” Bough- ner said. “He has an NHL shot already. I talked to him (Saturday) to come with the mindset of trying to make the team, because you can’t teach what he has.”
Barkov bond: Two of the draft choices spoke of a con- nection to Florida’s top-line center Sasha Barkov, a fellow Finnish countryman.
Heponiemi, who hails from the same home town of Tampere, said he remem- bers watching Barkov while growing up. Heponiemi’s older brother is the same age as Barkov.
Repo played in Tampere and remembered the adulation the town has for Barkov. “He’s like a god there,” Repo said.
Tallon praised scout Jari Kekalainen for his efforts in finding Finnish players.
“We like what they bring to the table,” he said. “They play hard, they are passionate, they play a North American-style game, and they also have a lot of skill and a desire to play in the NHL.”