Maenpaa is a solid center that uses his hockey sense to find open spaces all over the ice or set up a teammate with speed in the right moment. His skating ability is solid, but he could work on his acceleration. He has a very creative way of playing an offensive game and sets up accurate passes to his teammates on most of his shifts, although he could benefit from shooting more as his shot is quick in velocity and accurate. He needs to shoot the puck more as his shooting skills are solid and could be utilized better. With that said, he is a pass first player and his passing skills are elite, always finding teammates with creative passes and a strong hand-eye coordination. He has great puck handling skills as well and often gets through defenders due to his hockey IQ and playmaking skills. Defensively, he has solid work ethic and he puts himself in good position when his opponents go for an attack. However, he needs to be better physically and cover the more dangerous spots more effectively in his own end. He uses an active stick to disrupt plays and often steals the puck from the opponents to start an opposing attack back the other way.  Overall, he is a skilled playmaker, but his size could be a detriment as some teams may not take a chance on him, although he is a smart player with a good foundation of skill.

– FCHockey’s 2020 NHL Draft Guide