Coming in at No. 14 on our summer Top 25 Under 25 is Heikki Ruohonen. After the Flyers traded up to grab Ruohonen with the 107th overall pick in 2024, the Finnish center has developed well to this point. He’s had a plan in place since the draft– one year in the USHL before making the move to Harvard University last season– and has now worn a letter for Finland in the 2026 World Juniors.
No. 14: Heikki Ruohonen
2025-26 Primary League/Team: Harvard University (NCAA ECAC)
2025-26 Statistics: 6G 13A 19PTS in 28 GP
Age as of 9/15/2026: 20 (6/19/2006)
Acquired Via: 2024 NHL Draft — Round 4, Pick 107
How did Ruohonen’s 2025-26 season go?
Ruohonen debuted in the NCAA for Harvard in his age-19, draft-plus-two season. Despite being one of the younger players on the roster and missing six games, Ruohonen was tied for third on the team in scoring with 19 points. The consistency in the game log stands out, as there was only one stretch of three or more games that the young center wasn’t on the scoresheet. He was also a very respectable 47 percent in the faceoff circle in nearly 500 attempts over his 28 games, including a 17/22 performance against Boston College.
He was given the “A” for Finland in the 2026 World Juniors, where his goal– assisted by fellow Flyers prospect Max Westergård– helped eliminate the United States in the quarter-final round before a shootout loss in the semi-finals. He explained that leadership has come pretty natural to him, given that he’s worn letters for Finland at almost every level to this point. In his second World Junior tournament, Ruohonen would lead the team in scoring over seven games, tallying three goals and six assists, as well as being named “player of the game” in the win over the USA.
Ruohonen, in his media availability at Flyers development camp this year, said he was able to spend a lot of time working on getting stronger. He also mentioned a big focus on shooting from different areas on the ice and using his improved strength to become a better, “more economical” skater– using his energy more wisely. As a defensive matchup center, Ruohonen’s scoring numbers are pretty encouraging, and he’s positioned himself well for a breakout in 2027.
What are we expecting from Ruohonen this season?
Of the top eight Harvard scorers not named Ruohonen, four are leaving the school. Three are listed as centers. He’ll have plenty of responsibility if he doesn’t already, and should have a big chunk of the ice time to provide a bump in scoring if nothing else. He’s got a little momentum going as a prospect, and it would be really nice to see him continue to grow. His faceoff percentage as a young player is encouraging with the volume he’s already been given, and it’s good to know that someone in the organization might have some upside there if he’s able to take another step in that department.
At the end of the day, it’s not about the raw totals with prospects, especially at a rapidly changing NCAA level where it’s hard to determine what’s actually a good baseline to reach given the talent fluctuation from the CHL. Obviously we don’t want to see any declines there, but the main thing should be developing physically in the weight room and getting some confidence going offensively. A really exciting outcome would see Ruohonen become a major piece at Harvard the way Alex Bump was so noticeable at Western Michigan, but if he doesn’t blow the doors off, it’s not the end of the road for him.
How does Ruohonen fit in the Flyers’ organization?
As of now, he doesn’t. Then again, they’ve got more forwards right now than they know what to do with, so something’s got to give. Realistically, he’s got some work to do to carve out a role. Jett Luchanko is just one of several centers drafted above Ruohonen looking to make the leap within the next year, with Jack Berglund and Cole Knuble already joining professional ranks. That’s without mentioning Jack Nesbitt, who the organization has effectively invested two first-round picks to bring in, and the center room starts to look pretty crowded for a guy drafted in the middle rounds.
HIGHLIGHT REEL HEIKKI 🇫🇮
— Harvard Men's Hockey (@HarvardMHockey) March 7, 2026
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It’s not out of the question that Ruohonen makes a statement this year and gets a little Berglund bump up the rankings. We haven’t even mentioned any of the centers at the NHL level, though, and he’s got to unseat three or four of these guys to get a decent look. It’s likely he’ll get a shot with the Phantoms first when his college career is over, and he isn’t pressuring the organization to sign him anytime soon while he develops in the NCAA. The Flyers are aiming to be pretty good by the time that comes– he’ll have to have a massive year to get on a (hopefully) contender-quality roster. That said, you can never have enough quality centers, especially on entry-level deals. If he pans out, they’ll make room.
What do we think Ruohonen’s ultimate NHL upside is, and how likely is it that he gets to something approaching that?
Third-line center seems like the safe bet on Ruohonen’s ultimate ceiling. While not the most exciting, to get that from a fourth-round pick is still great value, and it does seem like he fits the mold of what the Flyers view as a responsible center type.
Look no further than Noah Cates for a good example of Ruohonen’s archetype. He feels like a high-floor player that coaches feel good about, so it would be pretty disappointing if he’s not able to at least get to the NHL in some capacity. Cates has followed a somewhat similar path to the Flyers– fifth-round pick, USHL, four years in the NCAA before signing– and has really carved out a nice career for himself, nearly reaching 50 points this past year.
Ruohonen should stick at center long-term, making him that much more valuable. This NCAA season will go a long way towards finding out about his actual upside. He’s physically ready; 6’2″, 215 is a large boy at any level. Hopefully he’s able to put some more points on the board this year and get people really talking about him.
How we voted
…at No. 14:
| Brad | Heikki Ruohonen |
| Cole | Maksim Sokolovskii |
| Evan | Jack Berglund |
| Jason M | Shane Vansaghi |
| Kelly | Carson Bjarnason |
| Kurt | Nathan Quinn |
| Maddie | Heikki Ruohonen |
| Readers | Maksim Sokolovskii |
| Ryan G | Maksim Sokolovskii |
| Thomas | Shane Vansaghi |
…for Heikki Ruohonen:
| Brad | 14 |
| Cole | 20 |
| Evan | 25 |
| Jason M | 17 |
| Kelly | 16 |
| Kurt | 22 |
| Maddie | 14 |
| Readers | 19 |
| Ryan G | 15 |
| Thomas | 16 |
