Joel Blomqvist Looking to Showcase Goaltending Skills In Pittsburgh
p/c: Michelle Crechiolo
As an 18-year-old out of Finland, Joel Blomqvist was a second round selection (52nd overall) of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2020 NHL Draft.
For Blomqvist, he got a taste of international competition. During the 2021 World Juniors, Blomqvist represented Team Finland, where they finished with a bronze medal.
The Penguins rewarded Blomqvist, with a three-year, entry-level contract, in April of 2023.
Blomqvist spent the 2023-24 season playing for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pens, and more than held his own, in his first full season of North American hockey. In 45 games between the pipes for WBS, Blomqvist recorded a .921 save percentage, along with a 2.16 goals against average; fifth best among qualified AHL goalies.
Now the top goaltending prospect in the Penguins’ organization, Blomqvist gets an opportunity to showcase his talents, in the early portion of the regular season, as he will backup Tristan Jarry.
Alex Nedeljkovic, who Pittsburgh signed to a two-year extension for $5 million ($2.5M AAV) during the offseason, sustained a lower-body injury on September 30th, which head coach Mike Sullivan classified as “week-to-week”.
The Penguins open up the season on Wednesday night, as they host the New York Rangers from PPG Paints Arena. Tristan Jarry should be the projected starter in net. Meanwhile, Blomqvist will most likely make his NHL debut on Thursday night, when the Pens take on the Red Wings in Detroit.