Continuing our look at players form this year’s Champions Hockey League projected to have big futures, we check in on IFK Helsinki’s Miro Heiskanen.

A 17-year-old defenceman is in his first season of senior hockey, Heiskanen played in six CHL games for IFK this season, notching three assists. To date he’s also played in 23 Liiga games as well, putting up 7 points (3+4)

Born in Espoo, Heiskanen has played in the IFK system and was last year voted Rookie of the Year in the Junior-A SM-liiga. He also played in seven games for the gold medal-winning Finnish team at the U18 World Championships last year, getting one assist. In the summer of 2016, coming off the back of 3+11 in 30 games for IFK’s U20 team, Heiskanen was rewarded with a three-year contract with the IFK senior side.

Of Heiskanen, IFK Helsinki say, "Miro is a good kid, a very good athlete and he’s progressing at pace that is amazing. We don’t know what he’s limitations are, if there are any. For now he seems to be heading for a first round pick in the NHL Draft next summer. He has played all season beside Joe Finley. Big Joe has been something like a father figure or an older brother to Miro. So far no one has even tried to hit Miro too hard." With Finley coming in at 203 cm and 116 kg, it's hardly surprising!

On the latest November rankings, Heiskanen slots in #20 on Hockeyprospect.com’s list – the highest player currently playing in Finland. Future Considerations has him 16/31, while at 11/31 on McKeen’s hockey Heiskanen is the second-highest ranked defenceman.