SUNDAY FEATURE: A deep dive into Winnipeg Jets Prospect Kristian Vesalainen

WINNIPEG, Manitoba - The pieces seemed to be in place for 20-year-old forward Kristian Vesalainen to have a breakout year with the Manitoba Moose this season.

After a 2018-2019 campaign that saw Vesalainen split his time between the AHL and KHL in peculiar fashion—in which the Finnish forward recorded eight points in his first eight games with the Moose, only to then opt to head overseas and play for Jokerit (KHL), before eventually returning to the Jets’ AHL affiliate in March for the teams’ final 14 games of the season—many had pencilled Vesalainen into the Jets’ top-nine for the 2019-2020 season.

But after a lacklustre performance at training camp, Vesalainen was sent to the Moose for the start of the season and given his showing during NHL preseason action, along with the fact that the Jets are quite deep up front as it is, it didn't seem like Vesalainen’s re-assignment would be a quick pit-stop. It was clear he had work to do to get to the big leagues. However, considering the potential Vesalainen displayed in his rookie campaign—recording the seventh highest point per game total of any U-20 AHL skater (0.59)— not to mention the strong cast of forwards slated to be with the Moose this season, there was good reason to believe that he’d be able to take a big step forward this season.

“Obviously, [I am] one year older and know how things roll here. I think it’s going to be easier for me,” Vesalainen told InsideAHLHockey.com during the first week of the 2019-2020 regular season.

But 29 games into this season, it has been far from smooth sailing for the Jets’ 2017  first round pick.

Vesalainen, who has recorded six goals and 13 points through 29 games of action this season, had a real slow start to the season offensively. He was held without a goal through the first nine games of the season and it wasn’t until November 23rd in a game against the Toronto Marlies that he recorded a primary point at even-strength. Vesalainen has struggled to maintain consistency in his game. When he’s having an off game, he can become invisible.

“He was junk the night we played them,” one AHL head coach who recently faced off against Vesalainen told InsideAHLHockey.com.

As it turns out, this year hasn’t been easier at all for Vesalainen.

Now, there’s no doubt that Vesalainen is immensely skilled and those around the league are well aware of that. The tools are there. He’s got a howitzer of a shot, high-end vision and a powerful stride to go along with his 6’5 frame. Vesalainen’s abilities on the power play are indisputable, with four of his six goals on the year having been scored on the man-advantage.

“When he has time and space, he can be lethal,” said one AHL general manager who faced off against Vesalainen within the past month.

But at five-on-five, he’s struggled to not only get shots off quick enough, but furthermore, make a significant impact.

“We want to see him being productive at five-on-five as well,” explained Moose head coach Pascal Vincent.

You could make the case that Vesalainen’s struggles at five-on-five—with just 5 even-strength points this season—are a product of his prolonged amalgamation to the North American ice surface. In hindsight, perhaps Vesalainen’s decision to return to Finland last season set his development back a bit. As Vincent noted, there’s a real learning curve for young European snipers like Vesalainen.

“Finding the space for him to release [the puck],” Vincent said. “It takes some time. More-so for the guys that are used to play on the big ice surface.”

But even with all the question marks in Vesalainen’s game, you’ve got to remember he’s just 20-year-old. The Jets organization, for the most part, has drafted extremely well in the first round—Mark Scheifele (2011), Jacob Trouba (2012), Josh Morrissey (2013), Nikolaj Ehlers (2014), Kyle Connor and Jack Roslovic (2015), Patrik Laine and Logan Stanley (2016), Kristian Vesalainen (2017) and Villie Heinola (2019)—-which to some degree may have tainted fans expectations.

“When you look at a high first round pick like Ves, [who is] highly skilled, you expect him to produce right off the get-go,” Moose forward Seth Griffith pointed out. “But you know, Pasy and the coaching staff do a great job with him. It’s not all about points, right? It’s about playing the right way. By playing the right way, the points will come.”

The Winnipeg Jets are very patient when it comes to the development of their prospects, with the organization putting an added emphasis on their players being a polished product once they’re called up. They focus on the little things that are paramount to a player taking that leap from the AHL to the NHL. And it appears Vesalainen has bought in to that. He knows what he has to work on. For the Jets, having a player as skilled as Vesalainen buy in to the process is a massive step in the right direction for them.

Vincent draws parallels between what Vesalainen’s mindset is like through his early season struggles to the speed bumps Kyle Connor experienced in his first year pro. Connor’s first 10-15 games weren't very good and Vincent said he knew exactly why and it’s that type of self-evaluation that’s key to growth.

“Ves’ case, it’s the same thing,” Vincent said. “He knows when he plays a good game. He knows when he makes a mistake and he has his daily routine in place and he’s sticking to his plan. He’s going to be fine. He’s going to be a real good player.”

Vesalainen’s maturity is beyond his years. He’s been playing professional hockey—be it in Finland, Sweden or North America— since the age of 16. Having had to live on his own at such a young age and adapt to several different countries, Vesalainen understands the importance of discipline. And that, as Vincent says he’s learned throughout his tenure with the Jets organization, is one of the most crucial first steps.

“What to eat, what time to go to bed, what to do in order to get physically and mentally ready to play a hockey game at this level and to perform. Once they know that, they can evaluate themselves properly,” Vincent said.

From the Jets organization's point of view, Vesalainen is doing all the right things.

“That’s the whole purpose of this league, right?” said Moose defenceman Cameron Schilling. “To be able to learn the little things that guys have taken years to develop and then hopefully you get to the NHL and hopefully have an easy transition.”

For now, any sort of scrutiny on Vesalainen as a prospect is way too premature. His biggest task, for right now, is to be able to impact the games consistently. And the Moose think that's on the horizon.

“I think it’s just a matter of time in this case, as far as being more productive,” Pascal Vincent said.