Kalle Väisänen – Team Finland
Kalle Väisänen is a versatile forward prospect for the Rangers, taken in the fourth round of the 2021 draft (#106 overall). After starting this season in the Finnish junior league where he had five points in four games, the 18-year-old was promoted to TPS Turku of Liiga where he has played 25 games with one goal and four points.
Väisänen has not seen a lot of minutes with Turku, not surprisingly considering his age. He succeeds Rangers prospect Lauri Pajuniemi and top pick Kaapo Kakko, as both played for Turku in Liiga.
The Rangers are going to let Väisänen develop in Europe. He’s got size at 6’4″, 181 pounds and will fill out as he gets older. He’s a right shot forward who can play all three positions, a skill that will help him as he gets older.