Hameenaho signed his entry-level contract with New Jersey and is going to be pushing for a bottom-six spot on the opening night roster for the Devils in 2025-26. At the age of 20, the Devil’s late second-round pick in the 2023 draft has already become a nearly point-per-game player competing against men in Liiga, represented his Nation at the World Juniors twice, and featured in a top-six role for Finland at the World Championships in 2025. While not the strongest professional league, the Finnish brand of hockey typically translates well to the North American game, and he has built on his intelligence, which led to his being drafted in the second round. If he is not playing full-time for the Devils next season, don’t be surprised to see him producing above half a point per game at the AHL level and pushing to be the first call-up in case of injury.

Since he was drafted, arguing against Hämeenaho’s development has been hard. Whereas his skating ability was previously a major concern, he has taken strides in improving his straight-line speed and acceleration. There is room for improvement, but it is no longer the detraction to his otherwise highly cerebral, offensively productive game. There is a world in which Hämeenaho makes the jump to garnering NHL minutes if he continues his dominance in Liiga.

Not many 2023 draft eligibles grew their games more than Lenni Hämeenaho this past season. Although he played in Finland’s top league as a draft-eligible, Hämeenaho went under the radar for modest stats and average skating. The speed has taken some improvement, but even bigger in his progress is how much more dominant Hämeenaho is offensively. Hämeenaho quickly jumped out of the game, being one of Finland’s top point producers in Liiga as a teenager. Although he quieted down in the second half, he continued being a productive player and had a strong playoff with 12 points in six games. He’s still a bit away from the NHL but has the offensive skill to be a middle-six NHLer if he can get quicker.

Hämeenaho was selected 58th overall by the Devils.

Hämeenaho has had a strong start for the season, playing for Ässät’s Liiga squad. He now has four goals and nine assists through the first 28 games of the season, and after Christmas, he will be joining Team Finland for the upcoming World Juniors. Hämeenaho is currently the third-leading scorer for Ässät, and his season-long pace of 27 points would be quite impressive for a draft-eligible player. Hämeenaho is listed 6-0 and 174 pounds, but when you look at him, you feel like he’s bigger than that. He can play physically and goes to the dirty areas of the ice. He doesn’t create much in the offensive zone but plays a lot in front of the net, where he is very good – battling hard, creating screens, and fighting for loose pucks. Hämeenaho is a solid skater, but he needs to add quickness and separation speed. He has some solid puck skills and a good shot, but he hasn’t been a volume shooter in his Liiga career. Hämeenaho looks like a good prospect with a safe floor, but he also has some intriguing upside and untapped potential.