6. Jesse Ylonen
Unless Cole Caufield plays some games with the Laval Rocket this season, Jesse Ylonen will be the most skilled player to lace ’em up for the Habs’ AHL affiliate in 2020-21. The Finnish right-winger has surprised quite a few fans who may have written him off after some struggles in the Finnish Liiga in the past two seasons.
In his first 19 games in North America, Ylonen has accumulated 7 goals and 14 points, which is tied for 1st in team goals and is second in points; and he only turned 21 in October. His shot has been on full display on the Rocket powerplay, he has scored three one-timers from the left circle in the past week and his release is simply *chef’s kiss*:
Jesse Ylönen aime vraiment cet endroit de la patinoire! C'est son troisième but en deux matchs.
— Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) March 26, 2021
Jesse Ylönen really likes shooting from there on the ice! It's his third goal in two games. #gorocket pic.twitter.com/ML5jdLKwpr
This kind of vision for soft ice and especially a one-timer as quick as this makes Ylonen one of the premier forward prospects in the organization; he has a shot at cracking the Habs’ roster in training camp next season. Another right-wing goalscorer, whatever will the Habs do with such an abundance of this resource?
According to Joel Bouchard, Ylonen has also made huge strides in his offence-to-defence transition game and his playmaking has been better than advertised. Ylonen has been playing a complete and offensively-dynamic game for the Rocket and is showing night-in, night-out that he is a significant part of this team’s future.