Pikkalainen will impress.
Kasper Pikkalainen, selected by the New Jersey Devils in the third round (85th pick) of the 2024 NHL Draft, had the rare opportunity to play in three different leagues last season and feels well-prepared to make the Finland roster for the 2025 World Junior Championships.
“I think it was a pretty tough season,” the right winger told NHL.com, “the La Liga game was different from the U-18 game because the La Liga players are bigger and the game is faster, but I think it helped me improve my game.”
“Being selected for the Finland national junior team means everything. Playing at the World Junior Championships would be a dream come true, but I’m not thinking too far ahead at the moment.”
Pikkalainen (6-foot-2, 190 pounds) had 28 points (12 goals, 16 assists) in 34 games for the TPS U-20s, one assist in one game for the TPS U-18s and no points in five games for TPS in Liiga, Finland’s top professional men’s league. He also had seven points (two goals, five assists) in 12 U-20 playoff games.
His father, Ilkka Pikkalainen, was selected by the Devils in the seventh round (218th overall) of the 2002 NHL Draft. He recorded four points (one goal, three assists) in 31 games in his only NHL season, 2009-10.
“I was too young to remember much about my dad’s time with the Devils, but he had a laugh when the team drafted me,” Kasper said.
Pikkalaninen, a power forward, will play for Red Deer of the Western Hockey League this season. He was selected by the Rebels in the 2024 CHL Import Draft and signed with the Rebels on July 3.
“I want to work on my skating. The game in North America is so fast, so I think that’s one of the areas I need to improve,” he said. “When I’m playing at my best, I’m shooting the puck and making plays.”
