Somppi is a good centerman. He is smart and responsible, with some offensive upside. He’s a solid skater with a great eye for passing lanes. Somppi has great control of his body and his movements are fluid. He is defensively aware in all three zones, and facilitates the offensive mindedness of his more offensively inclined linemates, while always keeping an eye on his own zone. He stays on the smart side of the puck, and will chip in offensively, but does not create much on his own. He’s got great faceoff fundamentals as well. He is versatile, as he can help create off the rush or just go to the net and look to bang in a rebound on the doorstep. His playmaking skill is his best offensive asset as he sees the ice well and can thread a pass through tight space. On the other hand, his shot selection and willingness to fire the puck are both below average. During one-on-one scrum battles, he tries to ensure that he keeps his body between the defender and the puck. Somppi blocks passing and shooting lanes with his body and stick. He’s quite mature in his thinking, but could mature a bit more physically. His quick decision making will make him a trusted player among coaches. While Somppi is a fine support player for an offensively minded linemate at this level, we see the defensive subtleties of his game as the characteristic that will get him furthest as a pro player.  (May 2016)