Story Summary
Finland head coach Antti Pennanen has pointed to HPK defenceman Miska Kukkonen as a Liiga player who has drawn interest from NHL scouts. Pennanen said Kukkonen’s ability to play a hard, physical game at his best was attracting attention.
Kukkonen, 26, has recorded three goals and five assists in 17 games for HPK this season. Buffalo selected him in the fifth round of the 2018 NHL Draft, but the Sabres’ rights expired after no NHL contract was signed.
Pennanen made the remarks while assessing a turbulent start to the Liiga season, in which three head coaches have been dismissed and another has ended his coaching career early. He said the pressure was being felt across clubs, with the threat of relegation testing the resilience of entire organisations.
Key Facts
- Finland head coach Antti Pennanen said NHL scouts were interested in the physical potential Miska Kukkonen can show at his best.
- Miska Kukkonen, 26, has posted three goals and five assists in 17 Liiga games for HPK this season.
- Buffalo drafted Miska Kukkonen in the fifth round of the 2018 NHL Draft, but the club’s rights to him have expired.
- Pennanen also highlighted Daniel Mäkiaho as a positive surprise among the Liiga players selected for the EHT.
- Pennanen praised Lukko‘s Peetro Seppälä for his all-round defensive play and his contribution to the club’s success.
- Three Liiga head coaches have been dismissed during the opening two months of the season, while one has ended his coaching career early.
IHM Discussion
Pennanen’s comments place Kukkonen among the individual Liiga performers catching attention during an unsettled opening to the campaign. The Finland coach did not present Kukkonen as an unknown prospect: the defenceman was drafted by Buffalo eight years ago and impressed during national-team camp last spring, even though he did not earn a World Championship place.
What stands out in Pennanen’s assessment is the emphasis on Kukkonen’s physical ceiling. It sits alongside a productive start at HPK, where he has eight points in 17 appearances. Pennanen also named Mäkiaho and Seppälä when asked about Liiga players, underlining that his focus was on individual performance rather than claiming the league’s overall standard has improved.
Why It Matters
The remarks give Kukkonen’s opening months at HPK added context. His NHL draft rights have lapsed, so any future NHL opportunity would not be tied to Buffalo. For now, the firm facts are his production in Liiga and Pennanen’s view that his physical game has drawn scouting interest.
Pennanen’s wider assessment also reflects the difficult environment around the league. He felt the early standard of hockey had fallen below his expectations, while suggesting short preparation time and heightened pressure may have been factors. With relegation a live concern, he said the strain extends beyond benches and dressing rooms to the organisations as a whole.
Mini Q&A
Why is Miska Kukkonen linked with NHL scouting interest?
Antti Pennanen said Kukkonen’s ability to play a hard and physical game at his best had interested NHL scouts.
Does Buffalo still hold Miska Kukkonen’s NHL rights?
No. Buffalo drafted Kukkonen in 2018, but its rights expired when no NHL contract was signed.
Coach Mark Comment
Kukkonen’s case has a useful bit of perspective: Buffalo drafted him in 2018, yet he is now being noticed for what he is doing in Finland rather than for an old draft position. Pennanen’s reference to his physical game is specific. A defenceman earns that reputation by being difficult to play against repeatedly, not through one big collision. The eight points add substance, but the hard edge is the detail scouts will keep watching.
IHM Final View
Pennanen’s assessment offers a clear snapshot of a Liiga season shaped by heavy pressure and uneven early play. Within that picture, Kukkonen has become one of the players drawing attention, combining eight points for HPK with the hard, physical qualities Pennanen believes NHL scouts have noticed.