Kokkonen signed a one-year contract for the 2025-26 season overseas in the SHL with Linköping HC. He is an NHL unrestricted free agent after the Toronto Maple Leafs did not extend him a qualifying offer before NHL free agency this summer. In three seasons since returning to North America at the start of the 2022-23 season, Kokkonen had never made his NHL debut with the Toronto Maple Leafs. If he is on your fantasy roster, find a younger, higher upside prospect to replace him and move on. Chances of Kokkonen coming back to North America for a third time are low, and an NHL debut is highly unlikely even if he did.

Kokkonen is a high effort player with good puck mobility, but he doesn’t seem to have a dominant game at either side of the ice that limits his potential. He’s not overly big either. Kokkonen has his moments but doesn’t consistently look like a top prospect. The type of defenseman who’s good at most, not great anywhere. Might be a 6/7D but 50/50 on if he’s a full-time NHLer in the future.

After beginning his year with the Newfoundland Growlers in the ECHL, Kokkonen has since been called up to the Toronto Marlies and has become a minute muncher on the back end. The Finnish defenseman is averaging 21 minutes a night for the Marlies while being a key player on their penalty kill. Kokkonen has a good first pass and isn’t afraid to join the rush, but his offensive ceiling is limited. He projects to be a bottom-pairing defenseman at the NHL level who can be relied upon to kill penalties. After already seeing Filip Král and Mac Hollowell getting their shot with the Maple Leafs earlier in the season, Kokkonen should not be too far off at seeing a similar chance if injuries strike the big league blueline once again.

After a late-season offensive surge with the Marlies in 2021-22, there was some hope that a move to a new club in Liiga would help unlock more offense in Kokkonen’s game. That never really materialized in his first season with the Pelicans organization, but he continued to display solid defensive abilities and maturity beyond his years, earning a three-year entry-level contract with the Maple Leafs back in March. Kokkonen should be a staple on the back end for the Marlies in 2022-23, and his advanced defensive game could make him a depth option for the Leafs sooner rather than later.

Kokkonen’s North American debut has been impressive. He was handed regular top-pairing duties and adapted rapidly, losing his jitters after a couple of games and quickly gaining the confidence to explore the offensive side of his two-way game more than most expected. His 7 points in 11 games was the highest per-game pace of any Marlies defenseman, and his performance earned him more time on PP2 as his tryout went on. His calmness at both ends of the ice is evident in all situations. He signed a 2-year contract in Finland earlier this season, but this strong performance may throw a wrench in previous plans. The Marlies have a logjam but Kokkonen’s quick assimilation while playing meaningful minutes makes him worthy of making room for.

Toronto has signed Kokkonen to a PTO and the 2019 third-round-pick is poised to join the Marlies for a stint. He has reportedly re-signed in Finland for two more years so don’t get your hopes up about an imminent North American transition. That being said, he saw a career-high 21:51 aTOI in 2020-21, good for 11th in Liiga, and a peek at whether he can handle those kinds of minutes in North American pro would go a long ways to projecting his outlook in the crowded Maple Leafs organization.

Kokkonen has won bronze with Team Finland at the 2021 WJC and was named as one of the team’s top three players of the tournament. He only had one point through 7 games, but as we know, his specialty is steady, reliable defensive and transition play. If he can translate his game to North American ice, he has top-four potential.

Kokkonen will wear an ‘A’ for Team Finland at the WJCs. He may not jump off the screen with flashy plays, but keep an eye out for his calm and smart work, and you will see why he is a rising prospect at the moment.

2020-21 may be Kokkonen’s last “under the radar” campaign as a Leafs prospect. The 19-year-old (already in his third season with Jukurit and wearing an “A”) still isn’t putting up numbers that will put him on any fantasy rankings but he is seeing serious minutes (over 21 minutes per night on average) against tough competition and still coming away with strong possession stats. He is smart and effective and is certainly on track for a North American look as soon as there is room for him on the Marlies. As expected, he has been included yet again in Team Finland’s WJC roster. Hayden

Kokkonen has finished the 2020 WJC with two goals in seven games and earned Player of the Game honors in Finland’s semifinal loss. He was not overly dominant in the tournament but showed his ability to adapt to slow and fast-paced contests. Still just 18, he will likely play an even bigger role for the Finns on next year’s squad.

Kokkonen recovered from injury with minimal time missed, and has spent the majority of the 2019-20 campaign in Finland’s top league as expected. His 3 points in 20 games certainly doesn’t jump off the page, but strength is in his 200-foot play and his overall game has been strong enough to earn a spot on Team Finland for the WJC tournament. Strong play on the world stage would boost his fantasy stock, but he wont be contributing for your fantasy squad for at least two seasons so value him accordingly.

A lingering “upper-body injury” has Kokkonen sitting out from play so far in Liiga’s preseason. Missing time in the top Finnish league would be a speed bump in his development, so watch out if this drags on into the fall.

Kokkonen has been drafted 84th overall by the Maple Leafs.

Kokkonen was officially measured at 5-foot-11.25 and 200 pounds at the NHL Draft Combine.

Kokkonen has been a full-time player in the Liiga this season. He has 10 points in 21 games which is historically good production for a 17-year-old defenseman. Kokkonen is a reliable two-way defenseman who does everything well but doesn’t excel in any aspect of the game. He isn’t a flashy player by any means but he gets the job done both offensively and defensively. He’s very mature for his age both physically and mentally which has allowed him to play a significant role at the pro level. Kokkonen should be a lock for the World Juniors.