Koivu 2.0: Aatos Koivu puts NHL bloodline on display

The 2025 World Junior Summer Showcase was held from July 25 to August 2, and featured prospects and juniors from Canada, the United States, Sweden, and Finland. A highly anticipated series, the WJSS provides an important platform for upcoming players to secure spots in their countries' rosters for the IIHF World Junior Championship and offers a great preview of the future stars of international hockey.

This showcase is also a great early indicator of how these young stars will perform on the world stage, and a great chance for scouts, coaches, and fans to see how well these athletes can compete under pressure, against elite competition, and develop chemistry with new teammates.

Among many different standout performances, Aatos Koivu made the family name proud, a Finnish forward with significant promise, caught the eyes of scouts and fans alike at this showcase.

1. Who is Aatos Koivu?

-19 years old from Finland
-6'0 and 170lbs
-Played in Finland for TPS U16-20 Akatemia and Finland U18-20
-Drafted in 2024, round 3 #70 overall by the Montreal Canadiens
-Center, renounced as an excellent shooter
-Son of the Canadiens legend, Saku Koivu, and nephew of the famous Minnesota Wild captain, Mikko Koivu

2. Aatos Koivu's Performance at WJSS

Reminding everyone of the spectacular Koivu hockey genes, Aatos was one of the most productive players at this showcase. With 5 games played, Aatos accumulated a total of 7 points (6 goals and 1 assist), finishing the tournament second overall in total points. His performance was recognized across the board as exemplary, standing out as a confident player with the puck, is an excellent two-way player and an extremely impactful center. Referred to as an "absolute revelation," Koivu showed his ability to be dominant on the power play. Finishing off the tournament with an impressive performance on ice, thriving in high-pressure situations with his offensive efforts, his leadership qualities were also evident alongside his growing maturity.

3. Improvement

Grant McCagg had previously mentioned that the Koivu he had scouted mid-winter looked nothing like the player who just played in the WJSS. Looking a lot better, McCagg included that his skating had significantly improved alongside his competitive drive, and he would need to keep getting stronger. Since Koivu is only 19 years old, he has plenty of time to improve. Plenty of eyes will be on Aatos as he develops into an exciting new prospect for the NHL, following in the footsteps of his family.

Future NHL Star?

As Aatos continues to develop, the excitement surrounding his potential grows, especially after this strong WJSS performance. As he prepares for major junior hockey and possibly a spot in Finland's IIHF World Junior Championship, his name will certainly be on the radar for Finland and Canadiens fans, as his recent performance confirms he has the tools necessary to excel in high-stakes, high-competition environments.

Aatos Koivu mentioned thriving in high-pressure situations, which is an excellent characteristic to have with the expectations on his shoulders. Aatos appears to be a player who rises to the occasion and is capable of taking leadership roles on and off the ice.

In the coming years, it is expected that Aatos will not only continue the Koivu legacy but add his chapter to the family story as a future star in his own right, as the world watches, excited to see how far this promising young Koivu can go.