Earlier this month, the New Jersey Devils signed prospect Lenni Hameenaho to a three-year entry-level contract that will kick in during the 2025-26 season. This is a move that should make Devils fans excited, as Hameenaho has been showing good promise.
Hameenaho was selected by the Devils as the 58th overall pick of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, and he is continuing to take nice steps forward with his development each season. During the 2023-24 season with Assat of the Finnish Liiga, he set then career highs with 14 goals, 17 assists, and 31 points. However, he hit another level this campaign with the club, posting 20 goals, 51 points, and a plus-5 rating in 58 contests.
Seeing a 20-year-old forward like Hameenaho have such success in Finland against professional players is incredibly encouraging. The young winger has undoubtedly been showing off his offensive potential and has the tools to blossom into an impactful NHL player in the future. This is especially so when noting that he is a threat both with scoring goals and setting up his teammates.
The Devils are certainly in need of some young talent, so having a player like Hameenaho in their system is a very good thing. He is continuing to take major leaps in his development, and it is going to be a blast to see how he performs during his first professional season in North America in 2025-26. While he may end up needing to spend some time in the AHL with the Utica Comets to work on his game, there's no question that his future is quite bright.
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