New York Rangers prospects in Finland show potential

Tarmo Reunanen (D) – 2016 4th round, #98

The Rangers signed Reunanen to an Entry Level Contract last June or they would have relinquished his rights and he would have become a free agent. He just turned 22 years old and has spent the last two seasons as a top defenseman for Lukko in Liiga.

He has had two consistent years offensively with 25 points last season and 19 points in the abbreviated campaign this year.  He scored  five times including this goal last month, a wrist shot from the top of the faceoff circle in a 7-0 win over KalPa.

Lukko finished second in Liiga and Reunanen average 19:21 minutes per game on the second defense pairing.   There had been some talk of him making the Finnish national team at the World Championships, but now that has been cancelled like all international tournaments.

Reunanen is a left handed shot with decent size at six feet, 180 pounds.   He got a long look in training camp in September before being loaned to Lukko for this season.

The trade of Brady Skjei has opened the left side of the Rangers’ defense a bit and that may mean an opportunity for Reunanen.  At his age with two full years of heavy defense minutes on one of the better teams in Finland, the Blueshirts may want him to play in North America, especially with Marc Staal and Brendan Smith both going into their final contract years.

The Rangers prospect pool in Finland isn’t large, but Pajuniemi and Reunanen both have a shot at making a move to North America in the coming season.  Aaltonen will definitely spend more time in Europe.  There is one thing for sure.  If either Pajuniemi or Reunanen can make the jump, there’s no doubt that Kaapo Kakko would enjoy the company of one of his countrymen in the coming years.