Minnesota Wild Draft Aron Kiviharju 122nd Overall – Hockey Writers – Wild Prospects

With the 122nd pick of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, the Minnesota Wild selected Aron Kiviharju from HIFK Liiga.

About Aron Kiviharju

Aron Kiviharju actually didn't play hockey during his draft year outside of the U18 World Championship where he had three assists in five games. Considered one of the best defensive prospects entering the 2024 class, it's a shame he underperformed. Although he's undersized defensively at 5-foot-10, 165 pounds, he doesn't let that stop him. He is intelligent and sound on both ends of the ice, and has the vision to be an effective defender at the professional level.

Related: 2024 NHL Draft: Live Tracker

Kiviharju only played seven games in 2023-24 in the Liiga, and unfortunately it was a struggle for him. However, he did not have time to develop his game. In the long run, what small defenders like him need anyway, there is a world where he can be a top four defender. His ability inspires him to be able to achieve this.

Excerpt from THW's profile

“The first thing that stands out about Kiviharju is his skiing. I wouldn't call him a skater, but he is a smooth and patient skater. He uses that skating to move the puck into the neutral zone in transition, something that today's NHL defensemen need to have in their repertoire to be successful.

“One of the highlights of Kiviharju's game is his passing. He can stretch the ice with passes from the defensive end, but he also uses his passing ability in the offensive end to help set up quality scoring opportunities. Part of that passing ability comes from Kiviharju's intelligence. He won't force a pass if it's not there, but if he finds open space, the pass is usually on tape. If not, that's where he'll use his skating to move the puck in transition.

Related: 2024 NHL Draft Guide

“Kiviharju is also a stickhandler and manipulative, perhaps less than that. He'll use his sticky grip when skating out of the defensive zone to get oncoming forecheckers out of the zone, or he'll use it to create space for himself in the offensive zone when there may not be much space available.

A full player profile can be found here.

How This Affects Wildlife Programs

The Kiviharju draft day fall is over. Late in the fourth round, the Wild got arguably the biggest steal possible in the class. Combined with Zeev Buium, they got two of the strongest defensemen in the 2024 NHL Draft, even if they're a little undersized. With Brock Faber in the system and with a special offense, Minnesota is in an incredible spot. Draft day winners and losers don't usually stand still, but it looks like the Wild are one of the biggest winners. Kiviharju was very important, given the fact that very few people—if any—had him below the second-round grade.