Health is wealth. This applies to every player in Toronto’s organization, but perhaps nobody appreciates it as much as Roni Hirvonen. Forget missing a couple of games, or even a couple of weeks due to injury, there was real concern last year that the 22-year-old may never play again.
Drafted in the second round of the 2020 NHL Draft, Hirvonen was coming off of a rookie season with Assat Pori of Finland’s SM-Liiga, where he registered 16 points in 52 games. Despite not having much to work with from a size perspective, standing at 5-foot-9 and 178 pounds at the time of his draft, his tenacity and hustle earned him some extra looks that a pure-skill player of the same height may not have gotten. He remained in Finland’s pro league for three more years after that, posting a personal best in goals with 15 in 2022-23. His performance that season ended up leading to his transition to North America, where he’d get the opportunity to adjust to smaller ice and play against more players closer to his age. And while his 13 points in 37 games look like a decent first season away from home, his path to that was about as rocky as one can get for a prospect trying to make a name for himself in a new continent.
Hirvonen had some absolutely horrific luck this past season. It all began at development camp last summer, where he was blindsided by a hard open-ice hit from Nolan Dillingham. The hit was reminiscent of those given out a couple of decades ago by Scott Stevens, and Hirvonen ended up with a severe concussion, forcing him to miss his final summer training and the start of training camp. Despite the setback, Hirvonen worked tirelessly to recover in time for the start of the season, and he succeeded.
We hope Roni Hirvonen is ok. #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/D0X6tVZrec
— TheLeafsNation (@TLNdc) July 8, 2023
Unfortunately, it would get much worse. On October 15th, during only his second AHL game, Hirvonen was struck in the eye by a stray high stick. The blade hit him directly in his eye, causing serious injury. There was concern about permanent damage and the horrific possibility that he might never play hockey again. His vision was compromised, and the outlook was uncertain.
Hirvonen was advised to take it easy—no skating, no workouts, and no activities that could elevate his heart rate. Like any athlete, it would be near impossible to not become discouraged and frustrated as weeks and weeks pass without any change in diagnosis. Fortunately, by the end of 2023, there were signs of improvement. He was eventually cleared to start light workouts and, finally, to return to the ice. As the new year began, Hirvonen simulated a training camp to regain fitness and put him in a place to return.
In the back half of the season, Hirvonen was a consistent presence up and down the lineup for the Marlies. He fit in just about everywhere, and his steady play certainly earned the trust of the coaching staff. He still laced up for 37 games, notching seven goals and six assists. So, where is his game at, and where does he fit in going forward?
Hirvonen is slightly undersized (5’10, ~180), and doesn’t possess blazing speed. He is physically very solid and has underrated strength. His frame makes him more than capable of winning board battles and coming up with loose pucks, and he has a sneaky shot to go with it. For Hirvonen to take another step, he will rely on his smarts and reliable game. A very heady player, Hirvonen has had a knack for being positionally pretty sound and finding the right areas/spots on the ice. He is a very hard worker and also has a bit of pest in him.
For this coming campaign, I sincerely hope he has had a very healthy offseason. If he shows up to camp fully fit and healthy, many will be expecting him to take a big step with the Marlies. He will turn 23 this season, so time is still very much on his side. There will be an opportunity for him to get involved with special teams, and hopefully, he can start scoring at a higher rate. Let’s not forget he put up strong numbers in the Finnish Liiga as a 21-year-old, just over a year ago.
Leafs prospect Roni Hirvonen with some silky mitts 🧤🤯
(🎥: @MapleLeafs) pic.twitter.com/0QnJUfRGUW
— BarDown (@BarDown) July 7, 2023
Ultimately, his ceiling is probably becoming a middle-six winger. Hirvonen’s size will likely prohibit him from playing down the middle. His defensive acumen and willingness to get involved physically will not preclude him from playing in the NHL. If he can continue to improve his skating and begin to contribute more offensively at the AHL level, there is no reason why he couldn’t get a look with the Maple Leafs. If he is in the midst of a strong summer and shows up with zero health limitations, we could see a ‘brand new’ Roni Hirvonen.
