New Jersey Devils Prospect Update: Lenni Hameenaho, the Man With the Golden Helmet

As of October 2nd, Lenni Hameenaho was 7th in the Liiga in points with eleven in his first eight games. This post compares Hameenaho’s hot start to last season and updates on everything else going on around the Devils prospect pool.

Last season, Lenni Hameenaho earned an early spotlight on this update with a red hot start of six goals and seven points in his first eight games for Assat in the Liiga.

Apparently, that was nothing.

This season, Hameenaho has been scorching hot with eleven points in those same eight games, a pace which gives him a Dobber PNHLe score of 102, quite literally off the charts in terms of projection.

Of course, it’s only eight games and Hameenaho slowed his pace as the season wore on last year. One should expect his numbers to come back down to earth at some point. Still, Hameenaho has established himself as a legit scoring threat in a competitive professional league. It is hard to forget the winger is still only 19-years-old.

Hameenaho earns his bread driving the net, something the Devils could always seem to use more of. Here he is applying his craft for a clutch game-tying goal late in the third

You may notice in the video that Lenni Hameenaho is wearing a golden helmet. Why a golden helmet? In short, each team’s highest scorer wears one in the Liiga. For a longer explanation of the history behind it, check out this video by SidelineSwap Hockey. Like most things sports these days, sports betting is involved.

How long will Hameenaho wear the golden helmet? Time will tell. For now, the teenage net driver seems to be enjoying the ride. Devils fans hope it lasts.

Around the Pool:

• Hameenaho isn’t the only Devils prospect dominating the Liiga. As of Sunday night, goaltender Jakub Malek was leading the league in GAA (1.50) and second in SV% (.937). Malek has started the season 5-1, losing only to Hameenaho’s Assat. Malek sported a 2.32 GAA and 915 SV% last season in 27 games.
• 2024 Devils draftee winger Herman Traff scored his first career SHL goal in his first SHL game of the season. Traff has two points in three games to start the year.

• Utica Comets defenseman Topias Vilen suffered an injury in the Devils game against the Rangers on September 30th and is expected to miss several weeks.
• Daniel Amola of the Hockey Writers had this interview with first round pick defenseman Anton SIlayev. The towering defender has four points in his first ten KHL games this season, all assists.
• Russian winger Arseni Gritsyuk has been a machine to start the season with seven points in his first nine games including this beauty.

• Russian defender Daniil Orlov scored his first KHL goal of the season on this rush. Watch him motor and pick his spot.

• Winger Cam Squires scored two goals in a 5-2 loss in Cape Breton’s opening game this season.
• This summer’s first round pick, Anton Silayev is racking up big minutes in the KHL to start the season and has four assists in ten games.

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