Penguins Sign Emil Pieniniemi To Entry-Level Contract
The Pittsburgh Penguins signed 2023 draft pick Emil Pieniniemi.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have inked their first Kyle Dubas draft pick to a contract. The Penguins organization announced that they signed their 2023 third-round draft pick, defenseman Emil Pieniniemi, to a three-year, entry-level contract.
As a member of the Karpat organization in Finland, he spent the majority of the season in the Finnish junior leagues. He made one lone appearance with the top league squad, but he was a staple with the U-20 junior team. At the U-20 level, he appeared in 31 games and put up a respectable 13 points.
Over the past two seasons, Pieniniemi has 22 points in 65 games with the U-20 squad. He also played in three games at the U-18 level, but was quickly promoted to the U-20 team after putting up seven points over those three games.
Pieniniemi adds a much needed boost to the bare prospect cupboard of the Penguins. He is a steady, two-way defender who moves well for his size and has a natural look on the ice. He doesn’t project to be an offensively inclined defenseman, but he should be able to contribute 10-20 points at the NHL level when he arrives.
His game mirrors that of current Penguins defender Marcus Pettersson. There isn’t anything eye popping about his game, but he seems to exceed in all of the small details. He’s reliable, makes a strong exit pass, and has the tools to improve even more.
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