Prospects in Finland
Three more prospects in the Rangers organization are playing in Liiga, the top professional league in Finland.
 Leevi Aaltonen (W) – 2019 5th round, #130
18-year old Leevi Aaltonen made some news when he was selected to go the Team Finland WJC training camp.  Aaltonen signed a two year contract with KalPa of Liiga after a success career in the developmental league in Finland.
He has played in 19 games for Liiga, notching two assists.
Lauri Pajuniemi (RW) – 2018 5th round, #132
Blueline Station published a story about Pajuniemi and the fantastic season he is having. Click here to read it. Pajuniemi has become an offensive force for TPS Turku and is one of the top scorers in Liiga.  He has seven goals in his last seven games and added two assists. He now has 13 goals and 4 assists for 17 points in 23 games. Pajuniemi would be a lock for the WCJ team, but at age 20 he is a few months too old.
 Tarmo Reunanen (D) – 2016 4th round, #98
The Rangers took a long look at Reunanen after signing the defenseman to his Entry Level Contract in June. The Blueshirts had to sign him or they would have relinquished his rights so a return to Liiga was always in the cards.
Reunanen is the top defenseman for Lukko, but isn’t scoring as much as he did last season with one goal and five assists in 19 games. He was recently named to the Finnish national team playing in the Euro Hockey Tour’s Channel One Cup tournament in Moscow this month. He stands a good chance of playing for Finland in the IIHF World Championships in April.
Reunanen could have a future with the Rangers if they are willing to bring him over from Europe next season. He will be turning 22 in March and it’s getting near decision time for the Blueshirts and the Finnish blueliner.
It’s all positive news for the Rangers prospects playing in Europe. The next action will be the Channel One Cup in Moscow with Tarmo Reuanen playing. After that, all eyes will be on the WJC Tournament in the Czech Republic at the end of December. As many as six Rangers prospects could be playing in that showcase.