San Jose Sharks sign top European free agent Valtteri Pulli

The top European free agent is off the board.

San Jose Sharks general manager Mike Grier announced that the club has signed defenseman Valtteri Pulli to a two-year, entry-level contract. Per Sharks’ policy, the contract and terms of the deal were not disclosed. 

Pulli recorded 17 points (three goals, 14 assists) in 53 regular season games while playing for Turku TPS of the Finnish men’s league, LIIGA. The 22-year-old notched career highs in goals assists and points last season and ranked third among club defensemen in points. He also ranked third among defensemen in plus-minus with a +4 rating. He averaged around 16:12 of ice time at the start of the season but in the final 10 games of the season, he averaged 19:17 of ice time.

“Valtteri is a solid defenseman with size,” said Grier. “He plays important minutes for good programs in TPS and the Finnish National Team camps.”

The six-foot-six defenseman also represented TPS during the Champions Hockey League tournament, which consists of some of the top European hockey teams. He recorded one goal in six games. Throughout his LIIGA career, he has appeared in 82 regular season games and has recorded 19 points and 20 penalty minutes in that frame.  

“Pulli is a bit of a late bloomer, having not really been on the scouting radar when he was first eligible in 2019,” Daily Faceoff’s prospect analyst Steven Ellis said. “But his size, skating and newfound confidence carrying the puck have helped him to become a valuable free-agent asset. It’s hard to find big defensemen that can skate as fluidly as Pulli. He’s not the quickest defender, but he moves well and won’t lose a ton of races for the puck in short bursts. He can provide a bit of offense, but he’s got more of a shutdown build that’ll come in handy in a bottom-four role.”