San Jose Sharks prospect Kasper Halttunen boasts a dynamic shot and is set to embark on his first full season of professional hockey.

SHD held an exclusive interview with the 20-year-old before the Sharks’ first game of the 2025 Golden State Rookie Face-Off.

Halttunen talks about the 2025 off-season and what he does in his free time

Max Miller (MM) – What has the off-season been like, specifically mentally and off the ice? How has that changed for you?

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Kasper Halttunen (KH) – I think that being more like that, the coaches can trust me on the ice. I want to be out there when we’re up by one goal and there are two minutes left in the game. I want to earn my spot over there. Those are some of the things that I’ve been working on a lot. All the pressure. How to handle all the attention, all that kind of stuff, when it comes to pro hockey and the next level.

MM – Let’s move away from hockey a little bit. What’s Kasper Halttunen like away from the game of hockey? What’s the summer like when you’re relaxing with your buddies in Finland?

KH – I love hanging out with my friends. Love to play golf with them. Have some fun and cook some good steaks, some summer food back home. Enjoy the summer and the long nights. [I’m a] positive social guy that loves to hang out with my buddies. I’d say it’s pretty easy to hang out with me. Not too awkward at times.

MM – Since you were with the Barracuda at the start last year, how much did Jack [Thompson] and Ethan [Cardwell] maybe take you golfing?

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KH – I didn’t play with them at all, except for one tournament that we had. I think I played almost every single day that I had a chance. Filip Bystedt, Luca Cagnoni, and Jake Furlong were there. We played a lot.

MM – What’s your handicap?

KH – I think I just got down to four. It’s getting better.

MM – Ethan is a pretty good golfer, but of the others you just mentioned, are you the best of the bunch?

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KH – I should be up there. There’s some good golfers on the team, but I should be up there.

Halttunen on his hockey inspiration

MM – Growing up in Finland, we’ve seen a ton of players come through. Who was your hockey inspiration that you loved watching in the NHL?

KH – Well, as a really young kid, obviously, Teemu Selanne. Watching him win the Stanley Cup. I don’t remember much about that. Watching his movie that he made in Finland. That gave me a lot of extra boost. Guys like Rantanen and Laine, I watched a lot.

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MM – I don’t know how much you remember from the last time NHL players were in the Olympics? Do you remember how much of that? How cool is it that that could be on the table for you in your career?

KH – I mean, 100% that’s true. In Finland, we’re really proud of our national team, and that’s a huge thing in Finland; whether it’s the Olympics, the Four Nations, or the World Championships, it doesn’t matter. We always support our own. That’s a huge dream of mine to put that jersey on someday and hopefully play in the Olympics. I mean, that’s my goal. That’s been a huge dream of mine, too. Whether it’s World Juniors, whatever, I’m on the junior national teams, too. It’s been awesome.

Favorite hockey goals of Halttunen’s career

MM – What’s your favorite hockey goal you’ve ever scored, or even, like a top three? There’s been some iconic moments. A hat trick. Consider that as one, if you want, because you’ve scored a few of those.

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KH – I would say I could list all the goals and big games in finals and stuff like that. But I know, I know we lost the game, but my first year in London, Memorial Cup Final, that first goal kind of got us going. That felt really good.

KH – Last year’s OHL Finals game five at home. Those two felt really good in front of the home crowd, which felt unbelievable.

KH – Then, probably scoring against my first World Juniors, scoring against Sweden. On the power-play, there is a kind of silence in a crowd. That felt really, really good.

Editor’s note: Video is set to start right at Halttunen’s goal

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The San Jose Sharks are getting a player with an NHL-calibre shot in Halttunen. He is likely to play for the San Jose Barracuda this season, but could earn his NHL debut depending on his play.

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