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Prospect update: How are the baby Rangers doing?

By Steve Paulus

New York Rangers prospect Zac Jones #24 of the Massachusetts Minutemen celebrates his goal (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images)
New York Rangers prospect Zac Jones #24 of the Massachusetts Minutemen celebrates his goal (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images) /
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Finland’s Lauri Pajuniemi (Photo by Erik SIMANDER / TT News Agency / AFP) / Sweden OUT (Photo by ERIK SIMANDER/TT News Agency/AFP via Getty Images) /

Liiga re-starts following a pandemic pause

Hockey in Finland has been hammered by COVID-19.  Liiga, the top pro league, suspended play on December 2 and just resume played on Wednesday.   The next tier league, Mestis, has suspended play until January.

Lauri Pajuniemi (RW) – 2018 5th round – # 132

The Rangers have high hopes for Lauri Pajuniemi who was an outstanding scorer for TPS last season.  This year, hampered by a leg injury, he got off to a rough start, but has been heating up, despite the pause in play.

TPS took on the Pelicans in the first game back from the pause and Pajuniemi pickedup where he left off, scoring his fifth goal of the season.  The Pelicans prevailed, 3-2 in overtime. Pajuniemi’s second period goal tied the score at 1-1.

With the goal, the right winger continues his hot scoring.  He now has five goals and seven points in 12 games and has scored five goals in his last seven games.

TPS is in fifth place in Liiga with a record of  7-8-4 (w-l-t) with 3 overtime wins for 32 points, 10 points out of first place.

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

Defenseman Tarmo Reunanen and HPK have not played since November 28 with their next game scheduled for December 28.  The question is whether the Rangers want Reunanen to come to North America for training camp.  There’s been no word out of Finland where the HPK website reported that his teammate,  Kristian Vesalainen,  has returned to be at the Winnipeg Jets camp.   Reunanen signed his Entry Level Contract last year and if the 22-year-old is going to make his North American debut, this should be the season.

HPK is mired in last place in Liiga.  Reuanen jhas played seven games with a goal and as assist, four penalty minutes and a plus/minus rating of -1.   He was promoted to Liiga after tearing up the Mestis league and with HPK he is playing  a lot, averaging 24:48 minutes of ice time, second most on the team.  In those seven games he has 30 shots on goal.

Leevi Aaltonen (LW)  – 2019 5th round – # 130

Forward Leevi Aaltonen didn’t make Finland’s WJC team so he will be returning to IPK in the Mestis league.  They have suspended play until January, so Aaltonen will have some time off.

The 19 year old speedster started the season wth KalPa in Liiga, but wasn’t seeing much ice time so he was sent to IPK. In five games there, Aaltonen had three goals and six points.  He’s been averaging 15:21 per game and  has 12 shots on goal.

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