Born: 1998-05-25
Team: Charlotte Checkers (AHL)
Position: Left Wing/Center
Shoots: Left
Height / Weight: 6-1 / 188
After a somewhat slow start to the 2019-20 season, Carolina Hurricanes prospect Janne Kuokkanen has elevated his game and been productive for the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers over the past month. He is an integral part of the team’s power play, his deft puck handling skills and crafty passing stand out while playing with the man advantage. A smart playmaker who reads the game well, Kuokkanen’s hockey sense is his best asset. The winger thinks the game at a high level, both with and without the puck. He rarely forces the game or makes overly complicated plays. Although not very physical, he has shown a high work rate this season. He is light on his skates and can use his speed to apply back pressure. Kuokkanen has put up 14 points in the past 13 games and I think there is a pretty good chance that he’ll be called up by the Hurricanes – sooner rather than later. January 12, 2020