The Pittsburgh Penguins signed defensive prospect Emil Pieniemi to a three-year entry-level contract Friday. According to Cap Friendly, the deal carries a salary cap hit of $870,000.
A third-round selection (No. 91 overall) in last month’s NHL Draft, Pieniemi, a native of Finland, is the first member of the Penguins’ 2023 draft class to sign a contract.
The left-handed Pieniemi (6-foot-2, 175 pounds) primarily played for Karpat of the U20 SM-sarja (translation: Under-20 Finnish Championship Series) last season. Appearing in 31 games he scored 13 points (one goal, 12 assists).
“Good size, range, moves well,” Penguins director of amateur scouting Nick Pryor said of Pieniemi on June 29, the second day of the draft. “Really good with the puck, smart, gets you out of your end clean, transition game is very good. The size to go with that, we were really excited where we got him.”
On the day of his selection, Pieniemi, 18, indicated he expects to play in Finland once again next season. If so, the start of his contract could “slide” to the 2024-25 season.
