Alex Lintuniemi
| Birthday: 1995-09-23 | Position: D |
| Eligible for draft: 2014 | Shoots: Right |
| Drafted: 2014 | Height: 6-3 |
| Acquired: 2nd round (60th overall), 2014 | Weight: 227 lbs. |
Probability of Success
- D
History
2010-11: Alex Lintuniemi played 27 games for the HIFK U18 team in Helsinki as a 15-year-old and appeared in seven games with the Finland U16 team. He scored 3 goals with 12 assists and had 8 penalty minutes in B juniors play. Lintuniemi had no points and 4 penalty minutes with the Finland U16 squad.
2011-12: Lintuniemi moved from HIFK to cross-town rival Jokerit — appearing in three games with the club’s U20 team and winning a B junior championship with the U18 team. He was +1 with 1 assist with the Jokerit U20 team. Lintuniemi scored 4 goals with 17 assists and had 24 penalty minutes in 37 games for the Jokerit B junior team during the regular season and scored 2 goals with 5 assists and 8 penalty minutes in 11 playoff games.
2012-13: Lintuniemi made his pro hockey debut — playing with Kiekko-Vantaa in Mestis — and was a team captain for the Jokerit U20 team as a 17-year-old. He also skated for the Jokerit U18 team in the B juniors playoffs and represented Finland in the 2013 U18 World Junior Championship. He was minus-3 with 1 goal, 2 assists and 6 penalty minutes in 11 Mestis games. Lintuniemi scored 4 goals with 10 assists and was minus-6 with 76 penalty minutes in 38 games for the Jokerit A junior team. He scored 4 goals with 4 assists and 6 penalty minutes in 10 games during the B juniors playoffs and was +3 with 2 assists and 8 penalty minutes in seven games as Finland won a bronze medal at the WJC. Lintuniemi was the second player taken in the 2013 CHL Import Draft when he was selected by the Ottawa 67’s.
2013-14: Lintuniemi was one of three players to skate in all 68 games for the Ottawa 67s in his first season in the Ontario Hockey League. He scored 4 goals with 17 assists and had 26 penalty minutes while finishing minus-38 on a team that finished last in the OHL’s East Division. Ranked 187th amongst North American skaters in the Central Scouting final rankings, Lintuniemi was selected by Los Angeles in the second round (60th overall) in the 2014 NHL Draft.
2014-15: Lintuniemi made his professional hockey debut with the AHL’s Manchester Monarchs and signed a three-year entry-level deal with Los Angeles in April 2015 following his second season with the OHL’s Ottawa 67s. He also skated for the Finland U20 team at the 2015 World Junior Championship in Canada. Lintuniemi had 1 assist and was -1 in four regular season games with the Monarchs. He did not appear in any playoff games during the club’s Calder Cup championship run. Lintuniemi scored 7 goals with 29 assists and was -5 with 22 penalty minutes in 58 regular season games for Ottawa. The 67’s finished second in the East Division and lost to Niagara in a first-round playoff series. Lintuniemi scored 1 goal with 2 assists and was -7 with 2 penalty minutes in six playoff games. He was scoreless and -1 with 2 penalty minutes for Finland in the WJC. The defending champions finished seventh after a 6-3 loss to Sweden in the quarterfinals.
2015-16: Lintuniemi is skating for the ECHL’s Manchester Monarchs in his first pro season. A wrist injury in November required surgery which kept him out for over two months and he has steadily worked his way back into shape since returning to the lineup with the East Division-leading Monarchs.
Talent Analysis
Lintuniemi is a huge defensemen who likes to play a physical game. While his skating could still stand to improve, he has above average stick handling and passing skills. Lintuniemi is sometimes inconsistent in his own end, preferring to go for a big hit rather than a safe ride out, but his decision process should improve as he gains experience. In his second year of junior hockey with the Ottawa 67's he has been more active on the offensive end. While nothing really jumps out about his game other than his large frame, Lintuniemi's aptitude in several areas compares favorably with other defensemen his age.
Future
Lintuniemi is in his first season of pro hockey in 2015-16 — relegated to the ECHL with a deep group of veteran minor league defensemen skating for Kings' AHL affiliate Ontario. The 60th player taken in the 2014 NHL Draft, the former second-round pick possesses an attractive combination of size, skating ability and offensive tools. His defensive play has been inconsistent at times and his willingness to compete at a steady rate remains a challenge.
