Currently, an unsigned UFA, Miettinen is a middling NHL journeyman who doesn't shoot nearly enough (he has averaged just 1.88 shots per game in his NHL career) to help your fantasy team. Ignore him on draft day.
Though liable to surprise waivers-scouring fantasy owners every so often with an isolated hot-streak, Miettinen is by no means reliable enough to commit a draft pick toward, but the veteran winger offers experience to the Winnipeg franchise. He registered 13 points in 45 games for Winnipeg last year, but is just two seasons removed from a 22-goal. 42-point campaign with Minnesota.
Miettinen had a career-high 20 goals last season, but don't expect much improvement at age 30. He's good to score about 40 points a season, but doesn't add much elsewhere for fantasy purposes. He doesn't get a ton of power play time, penalty minutes or help with the plus/minus category.
Last season, Miettinen had the best year of his career, and played his first full season. Even with that, he only managed 44 points and 15 goals. Miettinen also doesn't play on the power play, doesn't put up much in the way of a plus/minus rating, and is already 29 so don't expect him to improve his point totals much. A point total in the low 40s is probably the best you could hope for in regards to Miettinen.
Miettinen was drafted by the Dallas Stars in the 7th round of the 2000 NHL entry draft. The Finn’s resume features time spent with HPK Hameenlinna of the Finnish league, Utah and Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL, and most recently, three and a half seasons with the Dallas Stars. Last season, No.20 played in 69 games and pitched in 15 goals and 19 assists which were career highs. Miettinen manages a physical game with all-around capabilities. When it comes to fantasy hockey, Miettinen performs well enough to warrant consideration as a low end forward with 2008-09 on the horizon.
Miettinen has been a disappointment for those expecting more from the former Finnish Elite League MVP. Once considered Dallas' top prospect, Miettinen enters 2007-08 running out of chances to stick as anything more than a depth NHLer. He's been given repeated chances to take on a more prominent role as a top six forward and has faltered every time.
Expected to provide more than the 11 goals and 20 assists from a year ago, this could be Miettinen's last chance to land a spot as a scoring winger with the likes of Loui Eriksson, Junior Lessard and Vojtech Polak coming up through the system.
Various injuries always seem to sideline him, but he's being looked at to fill a left wing position on one of Dallas' top two lines. Watch his role in camp.
