Winnipeg Jets overseas prospects report VIII

With the only pro hockey being played these days taking place overseas we will provide a regular update on what is happening with Jets prospects or players under contract with Winnipeg who are playing in the KHL, SHL, Liiga, DEL, DEL2, Slovakian league and HockeyAllsvenskan.

Note:  Due to new COVID restrictions Liiga has suspended until December 19th.  This impacts five players tied to the Jets organization although both Ville Heinola and Henri Nikkanen have made the preliminary Finnish rosters for the World Junior tournament in Alberta.

Players on loan:

1. David Gustafsson

Tingsryds AIF (HockeyAllsvenskan) 16 GP 7 goals 10 assists, averaging 18:55 of ice time per game.

Change since last week:  He told me on Thursday that he was dealing with a minor injury. It ended up costing him two games this past week.  His squad is back in action tonight so we will have to see if he plays or if he remains on the shelf with a lower-body injury. Update:  He is missing his third game as he won’t be in Tingsryd’s lineup tonight.

2. Ville Heinola

Lukko Rauma (Liiga): 19 GP 1 goal 13 assists, averaging 19:55 of ice time per game.

Change since last week: 1 GP 0 goals 0 assists. average ice time up 9 seconds.  He will be heading to Red Deer to compete in the World Junior tournament for Team Finland.

3. Mikhail Berdin

St. Petersburg SKA (KHL): 6-3-2, 2.49 GAA .916 save%

Change since last week: 0GP. Since November 16th he has dressed as a backup just once in seven games for his SKA squad.  Not an ideal situation for the goalie prospect to not be playing games. Update:  He is getting the start tonight for SKA.

4. Leon Gawanke 

Eisbären Polar Bears (DEL):  4 GP 0 goals 1 assists.  Played 17:49.

Change since last week: 0 GP 0 goals 0 assist.

5. Joona Luoto

IFK Helsinki (Liiga): 19 GP 5 goals 4 assists, averaging 18:13 of ice time per game.

Change since last week: 2 GP 0 goals, 0 assists, average ice time down 5 seconds.  Games are suspended until December 19th.

6. Arvid Holm

Farjestads BK Karlstad (SHL): 5-6-1, 2.70 GAA .918 save%

Change since last week: 0 GP no wins no losses. His team is back in action on Thursday.

7. Kristian Vesalainen 

HPK (Liiga): 10 GP 4 goals 4 assists, averaging 19:52 of ice time per game.

Change since last week: No games played.  Games are suspended until December 19th.

8. Skyler McKenzie

EHC Freiburg (DEL2):  6 GP 3 goals 1 assist.

Change since last week: No games played.

9. Marko Dano

Trencin Dukla (Slovak League):  2 GP 2 goals 1 assist.

Change since last week: As I reported last Wednesday Dano had surgery and is out indefinitely.

Other Jets prospects in Europe:

1. Santeri Virtanen

SaiPa Lappeenranta (Liiga): 17 GP 2 goals 4 assist, averaging 16:47 of ice time per game.

Change since last week:  No games played.  Games are suspended until December 19th.

2. Henri Nikkanen

Jukurit Mikkeli (Liiga): 15 GP 2 goals 5 assists, averaging 18:54 of ice time per game.

Change since last week: No games played.  Games are suspended until December 19th. He will likely be heading to Red Deer to compete in the World Junior tournament for Team Finland.

3. Simon Lundmark

Linkopings HC (SHL): 14 GP 0 goals 3 assist, averaging 13:09 of ice time per game.

Change since last week: 3 GP 0 goals 0 assists, average ice time up 7 seconds.

4. Anton Johannesson

HV71 J20: Hasn’t played a game yet this season.

Change since last week: None.  Murat Ates of The Athletic Winnipeg reported that the Jets 2020 5th rounder is recovering from surgery on his foot.

In my chat with his countryman David Gustafsson he gave me his coles notes on the Jets 2020 5th rounder.

5. Daniel Torgersson

Frölunda HC J20 (J20 Nationell): 10 GP 4 goals 5 assists.
Frölunda HC (SHL): 2 GP 0 goals 0 assists, averaging 3:22 of ice time per game.

Change since last week: None.  In that same report from Murat wrote this about the the Jets 2nd rounder from 2020 “Initial reports suggested a four to five month recovery but I’m also told it’s possible he misses the full SHL season.”.

In my chat with his countryman David Gustafsson he gave me his coles notes on the Jets 2020 2nd rounder.