Ex-Sharks Prospect Replaces Schultz In Lugano

Finnish defenseman Valtteri Pulli, 23, has signed a contract to play the remainder of the current season with HC Lugano, the National League club announced on Saturday.

Pulli was released from his contract with the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday, apparently upon his request. His signing in Switzerland comes the day following Justin Schultz’s retirement announcement, which opened up a spot on the Lugano defense and one of the club’s import spots on its roster.

“Valtteri is an intriguing profile I have been following for years, particularly with the Finnish national team, where he performed very well, earning a contract with the San Jose Sharks,” said Lugano GM Hnat Domenichelli. “He has excellent skating for his size and we are confident he will bring immediate value to our defense.”

A native of Turku, Finland, Pulli turned pro with the local TPS club, where he played 102 Liiga regular-season and playoff games between 2020 and 2023, scoring four goals and adding 17 assists and 22 penalty minutes.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVNNoXZyXMI[/embed]

Never drafted by an NHL club, 6-foot-6, 209-pound Pulli signed with San Jose as a free agent in the summer of 2023. Last season, he played 59 games with the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda, scoring three goals and adding seven assists and 20 penalty minutes. This season, he was again assigned to the Barracuda but played in only two AHL games in October.

Lugano currently sits 12th in the 14-team National League with 33 points in 27 games. The team’s next game, following the international break, is on Wednesday on the road against EHC Kloten. The team has four more games before Christmas when the entire National League shuts down for the Spengler Cup.