Player's Profile
Picture Courtesy of Holly Gunning
- Name: Joonas Nattinen
- Position: C
- Shoots: Right
- Height: 6-2
- Weight: 183 lbs
- Birthdate: 1991-01-03
- Eligible for Draft: 2009
- Drafted: 2009
- Hometown: Jamsa, Finland
- Acquired: 3rd round (65th overall), 2009
- Playing In: Pro
Joonas Nattinen
Prospect Grade: 7.0 D (About Prospect Grades)
Profile Contributed By: HF Staff
History
2006-07: In 30 games with JYP U18 (Jr. B SM-sarja), the center potted 10 goals and 35 points.
2007-08: Nattinen played most of his hockey with JYP U18 (Jr. B SM-sarja) netting 14 goals and 48 points in 34 games. He also tallied a pair of goals and as many assists in six games with Team Finland at the WJC-18.
2008-09: The Finn played for several teams this season, spending the majority of it with the Blues U20 and seniors squads. In 30 games with the U20 team, he tallied nine goals and 38 points, but failed to register any points in 14 games with the top Blues club in the SM-Liiga. He also skated with the Finnish U18 and U20 teams in their respective WJC’s; he won the Bronze Medal with the U18 squad, scoring a goal and four points in the process. Expect to see him back with the Blue next season.
2009-10: Nattinen would return to the Blues for a sophomore season in SM-Liiga. In 23 games, he would add 3 assists and 4 penalty minutes.
2010-11: One of the top forwards for Finland's national junior teams the past few years, Nattinen had a tough season as a 19-year-old making the transition from the junior level to the SM-Liiga. He was slowed by the effects of an achilles injury and saw limited time in eleven games with his own Espoo Blues club and finished the season on loan to HPK. In 21 regular season SM-Liiga games he had 2 assists and was -8 with 12 PMs. He had an assist and was +1 in one playoff game for HPK. Nattinen also represented Finland at the 2011 World Junior U-20 Championships, scoring 3 goals in six games. Nattinen signed a three-year entry level contract with the Canadiens in May 2011.
Talent Analysis
Nattinen is a smart player who reads the play well on both sides of the ice and likes to create plays. Though he possesses good size, he is not particularly willing to play with physicality and needs to improve his strength.
Future
Working his way into the professional circuit in his native Finland has been a difficult process for Nattinen. He has also had to recover from an injury to his achilles tendon. Nattinen signed a three-year two-way contract with Montreal on May 26, 2011.
Stats
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Profile Last Updated: November, 13th 2011
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