Jets Select Fin Vesalainen With First Pick

With their first pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, the Winnipeg Jets selected Kristian Vesalainen from the Frolunda Indians in the Swedish Elite League (SHL).  Vesalainen helped Frolunda win the Swedish Elite title and the European Champions Hockey League championship.  His production dipped a bit in his second season with Frolunda, but his IIHF U-18 tournament contributions, helping Finland win the silver medal, put him back in the scouts field of vision.






The question now becomes, what number will he wear?  True North will allow him to wear #10, as they did with Evander Kane (and Andrew Copp) and Bobby Hull's old #9.  Kane did personally ask Hill for permission.  Bryan Little wore #10 in Atlanta before relocating to Winnipeg in 2011, but, out of respect for Dale Hawerchuck, Little changed to his current number 18.  Will Vesalainen do the same?  I hope so.  Personally, I don't think anyone who wears a Winnipeg Jets jersey now or in the future should wear 9, 10, 14, 15 or 25.  (Hull, Hawerchuck, Ulf Nillsson, Anders Hedberg or Thomas Steen)  Teemu Selanne would be a no-brainer for this list if he had played anymore time with the Jets.

The Jets won't retire any numbers in the future.  They will, however, much like the Toronto Maple Leafs, have "honoured numbers" that will hang from the rafters at Bell MTS Place.