Jesse Pulkkinen 2024 NHL Draft Profile

It’s that time of the year for The Win Column’s NHL Draft Rankings and Draft Profiles! The 2024 NHL Draft will take place on June 28 and 29 at The Sphere in Las Vegas. Next on our list is over-ager defenceman, Jesse Pulkkinen.

Who is Jesse Pulkkinen?

Player	Position	Handedness	Height	Weight
Jesse Pulkkinen	D	Left	6’6″	216 lbs

Pulkkinen’s on-ice production

Year	Draft Relative	League	Team	GP	G	A	P
2019-20	D-3	U16 SM-sarja Q	JYP U16	24	5	2	7
		U16 SM-sarja	JYP U16	15	3	7	10
		U17 SM-sarja	JYP U17	2	0	2	2
2020-21	D-2	U18 SM-sarja	JYP U18	23	2	1	3
		U18 Mestis	JYP U18 Atakemia	1	0	1	1
2021-22	D-1	U18 SM-sarja	JYP U18	40	11	17	28
		U20 SM-sarja	JYP U20	2	0	0	0
2022-23	D+0	U20 SM-sarja	JYP U20	43	0	4	4
2023-24	D+1	U20 SM-sarja	JYP U20	18	11	17	28
		Liiga	JYP	29	2	6	8
		Mestis	KeuPa HT	6	2	2	4
		WJC-20	Finland U20	7	1	2	3

As a 15/16 year-old in 2019-20, Pulkkinen split time between two U16 teams for JYP in Finland. With the SM-sarja Q team, Pulkkinen played 24 games, producing 5 goals and 7 points. He improved in the SM-sarja, putting up 10 points in only 15 games. Pulkkinen also had a 2 game stint where he scored 2 points with the U17 team.

Being one of the older and better 16 year olds to start the 2020-21 season, Pulkkinen jumped to the U18 team. With the U18 team, his production dropped. In the 23 games he played, Pulkkinen only scored 2 goals and 3 points. He played one game in the U18 Mestis and put up a matching 1 point.

The 2021-22 season is the year Pulkkinen needed in terms of scoring. Staying with the U18 team, Pulkkinen suited up for a full 40 games. He goal scoring and point getting numbers both saw rises as he finished with 11 goals and 28 points, which was a huge increase from the prior year.

In his draft year, 2022-23, Pulkkinen received promotion to the U20 team. His production took a huge hit, only picking up 4 points in 43 games. This made it so Pulkkinen wasn’t even listed in rankings or drafted. No one really knew who he was. If he wanted to be drafted, Pulkkinen needed a huge D+1 year.

Finally onto this season, Pulkkinen needed to show how good he truly was. He dominated the U20 league, putting up 11 goals and 28 points in just 18 games. Those are numbers you would see from a forward, not a defenceman. Pulkkinen was then promoted to the pro league in Liiga. There he played 29 games and produced 8 points. Before received that promotion, he was loaned to KeuPa HT in Mestis for 6 games where he put up 4 points. Pulkkinen was also invited to play for his country of Finland at the World Juniors. Finland went on a run to the bronze medal game where they lost 8-5 to Czechia. In Finland’s 7 games, Pulkkinen scored 3 points.

Pulkkinen’s strengths

Puck control

Pulkkinen’s puck control shines and is the main skill in his offensive toolset. He displays smooth and quick movements with his hands to navigate the ice. He can fake out defenders and get by them with his fast ability. Cutting to middle while making fancy moves and keeping the opponents to the outside is something Pulkkinen loves to do. Pulkkinen can keep control of the puck at the line and either dash forward with his skills or cycle. He controls play in the offensive zone, by working his way around defenders or pulling them. His big frame helps as well, and paired with some great poise makes him fantastic at protecting the puck. Even in the defensive zone this skill can come in handy with retrieve the puck or starting a breakout.

Physicality

When a player is 6’6 and 216lbs, it’s expected that they will be strong in the physical sense. Pulkkinen fits the expectation and can dominate with his physical play. Many types of hits can be thrown by Pulkkinen, many end up with the opponent on the ice. He’ll join puck battles and very often win out with his opponent having a very difficult time dealing with his strength. He can apply pressure to the puck carrier and then lay them out when the chance is there. Pulkkinen engages in net battles and isn’t afraid to sacrifice his body.

All-around play

Pulkkinen plays pretty good at both ends of the ice. In the offensive end, his skill set is obviously highlighted by his puck control but he has other valuable traits as well. Pulkkinen doesn’t struggle with passing or shooting. His passes and shot aren’t often creative but are effective enough to apply pressure and produce points. He knows how to put on pressure in the offensive zone and can skate the zone well. Then at the other end with defence, Pulkkinen stands out more. When defending on the rush, Pulkkinen can use his solid mobility to keep the player close and close his gaps. He doesn’t often give the opponent much space to make a move while on the rush. In the zone, he uses his physical dominance to apply pressure to the opponents. Pulkkinen also does good with man coverage and hardly ignores his assignment.

Pulkkinen’s areas of improvement

Does too much

With his size and puck control, it makes sense that Pulkkinen is confident but sometimes he appears to be too confident. He wants to make the play on his own, so he’s only looking for the play where he can use his body and control to produce. By doing this, he looks off many opportunities to pass the puck that will generate higher danger. Pulkkinen will keep the puck for so long with the idea that his strength makes him untouchable, but then opponents will then start to apply pressure and he’ll lose the puck. Sometimes, he’ll make a poor decision trying to go for the flashier play that’s all him over the simpler one. This can cause problems as pressure will not be generated or possession ends up changed.

Pulkkinen’s comparables

Pulkkinen is a really hard player to draw a comparable for. His skill set is very unicorn like as there’s not many, if any, big defenceman with great hands and offensive aggression in the NHL. The best comparison I can think of is Nikita Zadorov. Zadorov is also 6’6 with a big frame. He plays a more stay at home game with a physical presence similar to Pulkkinen’s. Zadorov can get the confidence to charge in offensively, displaying a solid set of hands and threat like Pulkkinen. It’s not to the same extent or as common as Pulkkinen would but it’s best I can think of.

Fit with the Flames

The Flames do need defencemen and Pulkkinen would be an interesting addition. He plays a rounded game and doesn’t have a stronger focus on one side of the puck. All the Flames current top defensive prospects typically do have one focus. Offence with Poirier, Brzustewicz, and Morin, and defence with Grushnikov. Pulkkinen’s skill set could be a very good add as you could develop him to be more physical, more offensive, or a mixture. Being an overager, Pulkkinen may be a step ahead in terms of development, which a re-tooling team may find attractive.

Summary

Jesse Pulkkinen is one of the most interesting prospects in this year’s draft. He’s gone from being a nobody in his draft year to a borderline first-round pick. His skill set is not like one we have seen in the NHL. He brings a big frame and physical play but also a fantastic set of hands and offensive aggression. Pulkkinen has good defensive composure but his offensive decision making could use work. I feel the sky is the limit with Pulkkinen’s skill set but a realistic projection is a second-pair, two-way defenceman that can play special teams. There is some risk with him being an over-ager and sudden development, so it will be interesting to watch.

Risk: 3.5/5

Reward: 4/5

NHL Comparable: Nikita Zadorov

Projection: Second pair, two-way defenceman

Check out all of The Win Column’s individual player profiles of selected 2024 NHL Draft prospects:

Drew OstmoenMay 19, 2024

5 minutes read