Otto Kivenmaki
#Liiga
— Red Wings Prospects (@DRWProspects) November 27, 2021
- Kivenmäki 2+0, +/- 0, 3 SOG, 18:30 ice time, 2nd star in a 6-4 win
Kivenmäki has 5 points (3+2) in his last 3 games.#LGRW pic.twitter.com/YulurTgwl7
Age: 21
Draft: 2018, Round 7, #191 Overall
Current Team: Pelicans, Liiga
Position: RW/C
GP: 25
G: 5
A: 8
PTS: 13
PM: 2
+/-: -1
Otto Kivenmaki has been on fire during the last three games he has played for Pelicans (Liiga). In his last three games, Kivenmaki has scored three goals and five points and yesterday, Kivenmaki earned the 2nd star of the game during a 6-4 victory.
The odds were always against Kivenmaki because of his diminutive size. Kivenmaki has gained weight since his draft year but, he is still quite small (5’9, 172 lbs) to play North American professional hockey.
In his draft year, Kivenmaki scored 37 points in 37 games in the J20 SM-liiga. In 2018-19, Kivenmaki scored 35 points in 23 games in a return to the J20. He also scored 16 points in 34 games playing for Assat (Liiga). In 2019-20, his first full season in Liiga, Kivenmaki scored 21 points in 53 games. Last year, Kivenmaki scored 18 points in 29 games with a +7 rating.
It is unlikely that Detroit will retain Kivenmaki’s rights after the June deadline. Kivenmaki will likely continue his playing career in Liiga.
Prediction: Kivenmaki is not signed by Detroit and will become a free agent.