Pittsburgh Penguins sign 2023 NHL Draft pick Emil Pieniniemi

The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed defenseman Emil Pieniniemi to a three-year, entry-level contract.

Pieniniemi was taken with the 91st pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. The 18-year-old defender spent most of last year in the Finnish U-0 league, recording one goal and 13 assists in 31 games with Karpat. Pieniniemi also stood out against U-18 competition, where he had six points in seven playoff games. He also was in Karpat’s lineup for a Liiga game in December but didn’t skate.

Pieniniemi finished the season at the U-18 World Championship, where he had one assist in five games en route to a quarterfinal loss with Finland. He’ll represent the Finns for the first time at the upcoming World Junior Summer Showcase in Plymouth, Michigan, a three-nation tournament run by USA Hockey later this month.

Pieniniemi has a deal to return to Karpat for 2023-24, but was also taken 10th overall by the Kingston Frontenacs at the CHL Import Draft earlier this month.

Projected to be more of a depth option, Pieniniemi joins a defensive prospect pool that includes Owen Pickering, Jack St. Ivany and Isaac Belliveau. With new GM Kyle Dubas running the show, the Penguins are looking to return to the playoffs in 2023-24 after adding Ryan Graves, Reilly Smith and Lars Eller this summer, among others.