At 18th overall in the 2026 NHL Draft, the Washington Capitals selected Oliver Suvanto.
Suvanto was asked if he enjoys the physical part of the game. “Yeah, (it makes me) really happy,” Suvanto replied. “I think I noticed it a few years back that I’m a big, strong guy, and I can use it as a strength. All of you know that playing hockey against the big guy who (plays physically), it makes you feel uncomfortable. So, I want to be that guy. I want to be big and mean."
He added that he's watched Tom Wilson, one of the toughest players in the NHL, saying, “He's a great player, but he's maybe too tough for me."
Suvanto believes he's most effective when he utilizes his strength and size to his advantage, saying, “I'm one of the biggest guys my age, so usually that's a strength that can make the difference in my style of hockey,” he said. “Just started using that and then noticed that the players don’t like to play against me sometimes.”
Capitals' assistant general manager Ross Mahoney said they envision Suvanto “being a second-line center for us in the near future.”
Last season, with Tappara Tampere in the Finnish Liiga, Suvanto scored two goals and added nine assists for 11 points through 48 games. His 11 points were the most by a player 17 or younger playing in Liiga.
With their U18 team in the 2024-25 season, he scored 11 goals and added 31 assists for 42 points through 42 games, maintaining a point-per-game average.
With their U20 team last season, he scored three goals in three games. At the U20 World Junior Championship with Finland, Suvanto scored two goals through seven games.
Suvanto is expected to return to Tappara on loan for the 2026-27 season.
Add us as a preferred source on Google