Julius Miettinen

Big centre-forward with great size, and offensive capabilities. A boom-bust type prospect as so far he has shown inconsistency in the pace of his play, which has limited his scoring production. Played defense the first seven years of his hockey-playing career in Finland before being moved to center. A strong reliable hard and heavy presence in his own end when playing centre, closing off middle ice.  Has good mitts and hockey IQ.  He is also strong net-front, and a big visual obstruction for goaltenders, and his balance and skating are high end, althiough he sometimes is too heavy on his heels and is less fluid, but still has lots of power being his strides.  He has looked much more engaged as the season goes on. When he is going, he looks like a late first rounder, and should certainly come off the board by the 3rd round. When he is not taking shifts off, he can make that smart pass in traffic and is able to find his way to the net. The question becomes is he a possible second line winger or simply a third line centre option? He was one of the four nominees for the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy, presented annually to the WHL Rookie of the Year.

                                                     --Bill Płaczek--