Miettinen wrapped up his WHL career with a solid 35 goal, 41 assist campaign for 76 points in 52 games. His point total sat him 21st in the league, but of the 20 names ahead of him, nearly all of them played 60 or more games, giving him the eighth-place point per game rate in the league.

Miettinen finished the 2024-2025 campaign with 11 goals and 28 assists for 39 points in 36 games, marking the second consecutive season he broke the point-per-game plateau. Miettinen is a big-bodied, two-way centre who projects as a complementary middle-six pivot at the next level. He put three shots per game on net in the post-season, scoring six times and adding three assists in 13 games. Miettinen will likely put pen to paper on his ELC in due time and return to the WHL for one more season before taking his talents to Coachella Valley.

Miettinen capped off his WHL rookie campaign by breaking the point-per-game threshold, potting 31 goals and 36 assists for 67 points in 66 games. Measuring just by players who started under the age of 18, his point totals put him in the top ten and his goals in the top five. Though he isn’t as highly regarded as others in that same range- fellow Kraken prospect Berkly Catton, as well as top ten draft pick Tij Iginla- Miettinen likely went through your prospect draft unclaimed and could make a savvy stash as we watch how he grows his game in his sophomore season.

Miettinen helped to lead the dominant Everett Silvertips to the Memorial Cup final, where he and fellow draft favourites Carter Bear and Landon DuPont fell to the Kitchener Rangers. Though the 20 year-old centre would have likely preferred to cap off his Junior career by hoisting the Memorial Cup, he can carry that hunger into the AHL after dominating the WHL.

Despite being a less flashy name than some WHL prospects, Miettinen certainly deserves some attention for our fantasy rosters. He projects as a middle-six, likely third-line pivot in the NHL, but his underlying numbers show a player who excels at all facets of the game. According to Instat, Miettinen ranked in the 90th percentile in nearly every important category when accounting for per-game pace- goals, assists, points, scoring chances, faceoff performance and play driving. He carried a 70% primary assist rate and also won 70% of his puck battles and finished in the top third for takeaways and blocks.

What does that mean for us as fantasy managers? We still need to see how his game translates to professional hockey, but his 6-4, 207 lbs frame will help cushion the physical translation to older and larger competition. Miettinen’s WHL game was strong in all areas of the ice, and this helps us imagine a solid floor at higher levels. If he isn’t deployed in the Kraken’s top six, he can lean on his physical stature and defensive abilities to continue to earn a roster spot in the NHL. If an injury bug hits the team, Miettinen appears to have the offensive gusto to capably fill a spot in the top six.

In deep leagues where a potential strong third-line player can have value, Miettinen should be near the top of our shopping list this offseason. Expect to see him step back a bit offensively in the AHL this season, but track his progression as the year goes on while he acclimates- there is a likely NHLer here.

June 2024 Miettinen was selected in the second round, 40th overall, by the Seattle Kraken in the 2024 NHL Draft. Hadi Kalakeche

Julius Miettinen is a 6-3 two-way forward who stands out for his forechecking, playmaking, and net-front positioning. Miettinen’s strong stick work and body positioning make him adept in winning back pucks off dump-ins and extended in-zone sequences. Miettinen always looks to move pucks across the slot, complemented by his smooth rush game and slick hands. Without the puck on his stick, Miettinen funnels to the slot and demonstrates a solid blend of power and soft skill to get high-quality shots and deflections or to make dangerous passes. Miettinen projects as a high-end, dependable bottom-six piece. Luke Sweeney

February 2024A 6-3 Finn playing in the WHL, there are a lot of exciting aspects in Miettinen’s game, even if he is a project. Miettinen wins many puck battles—mainly below the O-zone goal line—is a good skater and puck handler and looks to make a lot of plays into the middle of the ice. He’s also carved out a successful role at the net front for Everett’s powerplay. However, he struggles in his end and doesn’t create chances at either the volume or success rate you would like to see. It might take some time, but his toolkit makes Miettinen a player to watch. Luke Sweeney