Montreal Canadiens fans will soon get a chance to see one of their top prospects up close. After this weekend’s games in Finland, Jesse Ylonen will be loaned to the Laval Rocket for the remainder of the season. The 20-year old forward currently plays for the Lahti Pelicans of Finland’s top league. Unless the Canadiens want to sign him to his entry-level contract right away, he will likely play under a tryout contract with Laval through the end of the year.
Selected 35th overall in 2018, the talented Ylonen has shown he can compete at the highest level in Finland, scoring 27 and now 22 points in consecutive seasons for the Pelicans. Add in a gold medal performance at the 2019 World Juniors and you have the making of a very interesting prospect. An excellent skater not only in terms of speed but also lateral quickness, it will be interesting to see what kind of role he is given in the AHL.
The Rocket are currently sitting in fifth place in the AHL’s North Division and have just a single player with at least 15 goals (Charles Hudon, who has 27). Perhaps the young Finn can give them a boost offensively.
Very happy Ylonen is coming over. His contract with Lahti apparently ends after this season so he’ll be free of any potential restriction to sign his ELC with Montreal. Looking forward to see him play with Kotkaniemi down the stretch with Laval.
son of Juha Ylonen who played for Phoenix or Tampa Bay 91-04 good little player in his day.
It’s his son!
Thanks Gavin seen after reading more on Elite prospects almost didn’t get it in ,
You know the rules, G! Finish the ol’ candy bar, THEN hit submit! :)
Telemarketer has to call to sell me something didn’t want to buy, can’t chew candy bar had some toothies pulled yesterday.
Dude had 22 points in 53 games pretty bad to be honest
He also plays on a horrendous team that has jettisoned 5 of it’s top 9 forwards and it’s top D. He’s 4th in team scoring, 2nd in goals all while playing 3rd line minutes as a 19 year old in a league that is notorious for sticking teenagers on 4th lines and playing 4 minutes a night.