With their second-round selection in the 2024 NHL Draft, the Edmonton Oilers have drafted Eemil Vinni 64th overall. He spent last season primarily with JOKP of Mestis in Finland.
Eemil Vinni player profile
Vinni has shown to be a reliable goaltender in his time working his way up through the junior leagues in Finland. His numbers are not out of this world, but his continual progression and frequent playing time show that his performance is worth watching. He has regularly been a member of the U-18 and was on Finland’s U-20 team this past season but did not make an appearance.
| Season | Team | League | GP | GAA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021–22 | HIFK U20 | U20 SM-sarja | 19 | 2.66 |
| 2022–23 | HIFK U20 | U20 SM-sarja | 32 | 2.80 |
| 2023–24 | JOKP | Mestis | 37 | 2.72 |
Analyzing the pick
Consistency and reliability are two huge and important traits of a goaltender, and so far, Vinni has shown he can provide this. He is a well-rounded goalie with solid positioning and mechanics. Although he may tend to play it safe and not challenge or play aggressively that often, he is active enough that his mobility is not a concern. He also knows when to pick his spots, so the aggressiveness in his game is carefully selected rather than given all the time.
Throughout the net, he has solid coverage. His major weak spot is on the blocker side. This will be the area that needs improvement before he can progress to the NHL.
He is believed to have one of the higher ceilings of any goalie in the draft partly due to a unique style that shooters may not expect.
What’s next for Eemil Vinni
The Oilers are in no immediate need for a goalie, thus there is no rush for Vinni to progress through the system. This is for the best as goalies have no predictability in their development curves and often take much longer to become fully ready. But the belief in Vinni is that he will be able to make an impact in North America and within the Oilers system within a few years.
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