Jesse Pulkkinen: Towering Prospect, NHL Potential
Defenseman Calle Odelius Showing Promise, Growing Pains
Captain Anders Lee Still Leading Islanders On and Off Ice
Bridgeport Islanders Triumph Over Penguins for Consecutive Wins
Third Period Outburst Helps Bridgeport Islanders Top Hershey Bears

Jesse Pulkkinen: Towering Prospect, NHL Potential

Jesse Pulkkinen: Towering Prospect, NHL Potential
Joey McAuliffe Islanders Prospects

The New York Islanders entered the 2024 NHL Entry Draft focused on replenishing their depleted prospect pool. They selected three players before the third round: forwards Cole Eiserman and Kamil Bednarik, and defenseman Jesse Pulkkinen. Tracking Eiserman and Bednarik’s development is straightforward since both play for Boston University in the NCAA. North American Islanders fans can easily follow their progress by watching college hockey broadcasts.

Pulkkinen, on the other hand, presents a different challenge. Playing across the Atlantic in the SM-Liiga—Finland’s top professional hockey league—he remains something of a mystery to the casual Islanders fan. Few have the tools or the willingness to watch Finnish pro hockey in the early hours of the morning. This raises an important question: Who is Jesse Pulkkinen? What kind of player is he, and what can Islanders fans expect when (or if) he transitions to North America?

Pulkkinen’s most striking attribute is his size. Standing at an imposing 6’6” with an impressive wingspan, he’s hard to miss on the ice. Despite his massive frame, Pulkkinen skates decently well and uses his size effectively to play his gaps and maintain an active stick. What makes these traits exceptional is how he applies them at just 19 years old while competing against grown men in Finland’s highest professional league. This context is critical when evaluating his performance. Pulkkinen, at minimum, holds his own against seasoned competition.

His defensive responsibilities are only growing too. He began the season on the third d-pairing for Jyp Jyväskylä but has recently been bumped up into the second pairing.

His defensive range alone makes him difficult to evade. At times, Pulkkinen can force forwards onto their backhand and drive them back to the blue line with persistent stick-checks. This combination of reach and mobility has earned him the label of “unicorn.”

Moreover, he’s shown flashes of offensive confidence, occasionally jumping into the play to create scoring chances for himself. While he doesn’t always find the back of the net, seeing a young defenseman display such boldness is encouraging.

That said, Pulkkinen’s game is far from polished. To succeed in the NHL, he must refine several key aspects. For starters, he needs to better utilize his size in physical battles. Despite his towering stature, Pulkkinen rarely imposes himself on incoming forwards. A player of his size should be capable of clearing opponents from the crease and dominating puck battles along the boards. Incorporating more physicality into his game would elevate his defensive impact significantly.

Pulkkinen’s decision-making also requires improvement, particularly when he joins the offensive rush. His aggressive pinches into the offensive zone often occur at inopportune moments, leaving his defensive partner vulnerable to counterattacks. While his speed allows him to recover in Finland, NHL players are far quicker and far less forgiving of such mistakes. Pulkkinen must also develop a quicker read of the play. Too often, he reacts a half-second late, whether attempting a pass or making a defensive adjustment. These split-second delays frequently result in turnovers, mistakes that NHL coaches will not tolerate.

Despite these shortcomings, Pulkkinen’s potential is undeniable. His combination of size, mobility, and confidence gives him a foundation that most young players can only dream of. With time, he could grow into a formidable force on the Islanders’ blue line.

featured image courtesy of Dobberprospects

special thank you to X-User @primejakey

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