NHL Prospects Koivu and Floris Debut in Liiga's Pitsiturnaus

Two NHL prospects, Aatos Koivu of the Montreal Canadiens and Jakub Floris of the Nashville Predators, participated in their first competitive games of the 2026-27 season on Friday, August 7th, at the Pitsiturnaus tournament. Koivu played center for TPS Turku, while Floris was a defenseman for Lukko. The tournament, a traditional preseason opener for Lukko, featured six clubs playing two 15-minute halves at Kivikylän Areena. HPK emerged as the winner this year, defeating Vaasan Sport in the final. This event provides an early, low-stakes opportunity to observe the development of NHL pipeline prospects before the full Liiga season commences.

Aatos Koivu: The Shot That Needs to Translate

Aatos Koivu, whose father Saku Koivu is a former Canadiens captain and whose uncle Mikko Koivu is on the TPS coaching staff, was selected by Montreal in the third round (70th overall) of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. Despite his pedigree, the 19-year-old played 46 Liiga games in the 2025-26 season and represented Finland at the World Junior Championship. While he led the TPS under-20 team in goals two seasons prior and debuted in the Liiga at 17, his production has not yet fully matched expectations. His primary asset is a powerful shot, differing from the defensive focus of his father and uncle. However, this resulted in only nine points for a TPS team that experienced significant disruptions throughout the season, including a mid-season coaching change and off-ice issues. One scout expressed a preference for seeing a Canadiens prospect on a different Liiga roster.

At the Pitsiturnaus, Koivu, a right-shot center, played in both of TPS's group stage games—a 3-2 win against Jokerit and a 2-0 loss to Vaasan Sport—and centered a line in each. He sat out the fifth-place game, a 2-1 victory for TPS over Lukko, which placed TPS fifth out of six teams. These short-duration games offer limited insight.

The key question surrounding Koivu entering the season is his offensive output. With a solid frame at 6'1" and nearly a full Liiga season under his belt, his roster spot is not in question. Montreal is looking for him to take on a larger role and translate his shot into more points. His performance and ability to finish chances this season will be more telling than any preseason result.

Jakub Floris: Decisions for 2026-27

Jakub Floris, a right-shot defenseman drafted by Nashville in the fourth round (106th overall) in 2026, is at an earlier stage of development. The 18-year-old played for the host club, Lukko, at the Pitsiturnaus. He participated in all three of Lukko's games: a 1-1 draw with Ässät, a 2-0 loss to HPK, and a 2-1 loss to TPS in the fifth-place game, leaving Lukko in sixth place.

The value of Floris playing in this tournament lies in the competition. Lukko fielded a veteran professional roster, including players like Carl Klingberg. Competing against such a lineup provides Nashville with an early assessment of Floris's ability to adapt to men's hockey.

Floris brings a strong resume for a fourth-round pick. Last season, he recorded 18 points in 38 games for Lukko's under-20 team, ranking fourth among defensemen in the Finnish under-20 league. He was utilized on the power play's bumper position, contributing to his 10 goals from the defense. He also represented Slovakia at the 2026 U18 World Championship, tallying four points in seven games. Elite Prospects projects him as a potential bottom-pairing NHL defenseman, with his skating and physical game being his strengths.

The primary uncertainty for Floris is his team for the 2026-27 season. Shortly after the draft, the Vancouver Giants selected him ninth overall in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) Import Draft, presenting the option of playing in the Western Hockey League (WHL) alongside remaining within the Lukko organization. Elite Prospects suggests the WHL would be a more beneficial environment for him to gain strength and refine his game. The question of where this defenseman with significant potential will play this season is more critical than the results from Rauma.

For Montreal and Nashville, Koivu represents a more established prospect with regular Liiga minutes already secured; his challenge is to elevate his scoring. Floris, being younger and facing a decision about his next team, has the Giants holding his junior rights, meaning the 2026-27 season could involve another year at Lukko or a move to the WHL.