Valtteri Puustinen Re-Signs with Penguins
p/c: Jeanine Leech
The Pittsburgh Penguins have announced that Valtteri Puustinen has re-signed with the team. It’s a two-year deal worth an average annual value of $775,000 at the NHL level.
Puustinen joined the Penguins as a seventh round draft selection in 2019.
The Finnish born forward had his best professional season during the 2022-23 season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, as he registered 59 points (24 G; 35 A) in 72 games played.
This season, Puustinen would receive his most extensive playing time with Pittsburgh - playing in 52 games. On December 27th, he recorded his first NHL goal, in a 7-0 win over the New York Islanders. In total, Puustinen had 20 points (5 G; 15 A), along with a 56.9% Corsi.
General manager Kyle Dubas wants to make it his initiative of having the Penguins become a younger club. Puustinen should have a very good shot of making the team next season, and perhaps the hope is that he could take another step forward, much like Drew O’Connor did in 2023-24.