Top 2024 Draft Prospect to Miss 4 Months After Surgery

A huge blow to one of the top expected prospects for the 2024 NHL Draft, as 17-year-old Aron Kiviharju has undergone surgery for a knee injury and will be out four months. 

Bad news from beautiful Helsinki: 17 year old Aron Kiviharju suffered knee cap injury in practice. Out till February. The good news: Aron’s knee was operated on by sports surgeon 👨‍⚕️ Lasse Lempainen. Kid will come back stronger pic.twitter.com/32xo5A8ckr

— Jouni Nieminen 🇺🇦 (@OnsideWithJouni) October 4, 2023

Kiviharju, playing in Finland, was considered the 3rd-best defenseman available in next June's draft, and the No. 7 overall prospect. 

With this injury, he'll be out until February, and will of course also miss the World Juniors, another prime showcase for prospects. 

Per Daily Faceoff, Kiviharju has been hyped as far back as the age of 11 (!), but up till now, that status has held true. He made the Finnish U-16 ranks at the age of 13, and then was the country's top player at the U-18 Worlds last year. 

An excellent skater and "an active puck-mover", he'll now have just a couple of months of action to cement his prospect status before the '24 Draft. 

Photo: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports