Detroit Red Wings add top Finnish talent Jesse Kiiskinen on 3-year deal

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Jun 04, 2025, 02:28 IST

Text Size

Small
Medium
Large

The Detroit Red Wings have signed Finnish forward Jesse Kiiskinen, a former Nashville Predators draft pick, to a three-year entry-level contract. Kiiskinen, 19, is coming off a strong season in Finland's SM-Liiga, leading his team in goals, assists, and points. Detroit acquired his rights in a recent trade, adding another young, skilled player to their rebuilding roster.

Detroit Red Wings add top Finnish talent Jesse Kiiskinen on 3-year deal

Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images

The Detroit Red Wings are betting on a young, fast-rising Finnish forward to help fuel their rebuild. On Tuesday, the team announced it has signed 19-year-old Jesse Kiiskinen to a three-year, entry-level contract. A former third-round pick of the Nashville Predators, Kiiskinen is coming off a breakout season with HPK in Finland’s SM-Liiga and has quietly become one of Europe’s more intriguing under-20 prospects.

Detroit Red Wings sign Jesse Kiiskinen to NHL entry-level contract

Jesse Kiiskinen didn’t just hold his own in Finland’s top pro league this past season—he led the way for HPK. In 46 games, the right-shot winger posted 14 goals and a team-best 30 assists and 44 points. He also led the squad in shots (160), power-play points (19), and tied for the team lead in plus-minus (+6). Among all under-20 players in SM-Liiga, no one had more points.It wasn’t his first taste of pro hockey, either. He spent most of the 2023-24 season with the Lahti Pelicans, tallying 10 points in 38 games, while also lighting it up at the junior level with 21 points in just eight games for the Pelicans’ U20 team.

Internationally, Kiiskinen has put together a strong résumé. He scored six goals in seven games for Finland at the 2025 World Junior Championship, helping the team take home silver.

He’s also played at the U18 World Championship and the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, collecting a bronze medal there in 2022.Originally drafted 68th overall by Nashville in 2023, Kiiskinen’s rights were acquired by Detroit in a recent prospect-focused deal. With his entry-level contract now in place, he’ll likely get his first taste of North American hockey this fall.This move fits Detroit’s recent pattern: adding young, skilled talent with upside and international seasoning. Kiiskinen has proven he can hang with men, contribute on the power play, and rise to the occasion on big stages. Now, the Red Wings will look to see how that translates on smaller ice. If his trajectory holds, he might not be far from making a push for NHL minutes.Also Read: Top NHL prospect Matthew Schaefer returns from injury ahead of 2025 draft

About the Author

TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

End of Article