NHL Prospects Shine in European Playoff Runs

Young stars from Detroit, St. Louis, Nashville, and Seattle make impact for clubs in Sweden and Finland

Apr. 3, 2026 at 4:00am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting fragmented hockey players and action, rendered in bold, vibrant colors that capture the energy and intensity of the playoffs.Young NHL prospects from North America are making an impact on the international hockey stage, elevating their play in the European professional playoffs.Today in Detroit

Several top NHL prospects have elevated their play in the European professional hockey playoffs, helping their teams advance deep into the postseason. Players like Noah Dower-Nilsson (Detroit Red Wings), Ondrej Kos (St. Louis Blues), Kasper Kulonummi (Nashville Predators), and Kim Saarinen (Seattle Kraken) have stood out with strong performances in Sweden's SHL and Finland's Liiga leagues.

Why it matters

The success of these NHL draft picks in the European playoffs showcases the depth of talent being developed overseas and the increasing global nature of professional hockey. Teams are scouting worldwide to find the next wave of stars, and these young prospects are proving their readiness to potentially make the jump to the NHL in the near future.

The details

Dower-Nilsson had 4 points in 6 playoff games for Frolunda in Sweden's SHL before their elimination, Kos has 7 points in 4 playoff games to help Ilves reach the U20 SM-sarja final in Finland, Kulonummi had 4 points in 5 playoff games for Kiekko-Espoo in the Liiga, and Saarinen has a 1.46 GAA and .952 save percentage in 7 playoff appearances for HPK, also in the Liiga.

  • Dower-Nilsson's season ended on April 3 as Frolunda was eliminated from the SHL playoffs.
  • Kos and Ilves will play in the U20 SM-sarja final starting on April 15.
  • Kulonummi and Kiekko-Espoo were eliminated from the Liiga playoffs in the first round.
  • Saarinen and HPK trail Tappara 2-1 in their Liiga quarterfinal series as of April 3.

The players

Noah Dower-Nilsson

A 20-year-old right wing prospect selected by the Detroit Red Wings in the 3rd round of the 2023 NHL Draft, who had 4 points in 6 playoff games for Frolunda in the SHL before their elimination.

Ondrej Kos

A 20-year-old forward prospect selected by the St. Louis Blues in the 3rd round of the 2024 NHL Draft, who has 7 points in 4 playoff games to help Ilves reach the U20 SM-sarja final in Finland.

Kasper Kulonummi

A 22-year-old defenseman prospect selected by the Nashville Predators in the 3rd round of the 2022 NHL Draft, who had 4 points in 5 playoff games for Kiekko-Espoo in the Liiga before their first-round elimination.

Kim Saarinen

A 19-year-old goalie prospect selected by the Seattle Kraken in the 3rd round of the 2024 NHL Draft, who has a 1.46 GAA and .952 save percentage in 7 playoff appearances for HPK in the Liiga.

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What they’re saying

“These young prospects are proving their readiness to potentially make the jump to the NHL in the near future.”

— Aaron Vickers, NHL.com Writer

What’s next

Kos and Ilves will play in the U20 SM-sarja final starting on April 15, while Saarinen and HPK continue their Liiga quarterfinal series against Tappara.

The takeaway

The strong playoff performances of these NHL prospects in Europe showcase the growing global talent pool that teams are tapping into to find the next generation of hockey stars. Their success overseas bodes well for their future NHL potential.