Report: Devils Prospect in 2024 Draft Signs Extension in Liiga

According to a report, New Jersey Devils prospect Kasper Pikkarainen has signed an extension with TPS Hockey Club in Liiga through the 2026-27 season.

The report comes directly from TPS Hockey Club.

The Devils selected Pikkarainen in the third round of the 2024 NHL Draft, 85th overall. Pikkarainen was then selected in the 2024 CHL import draft, 44th overall by the Red Deer Rebels. TPS explained in their report that the Devils prospect will play abroad in the CHL for the Rebels in 2024-25 on loan.

Pikkarainen spent the majority of the 2023-24 season playing for TPS’s U20 team. In 34 regular season games, the Devils prospect forward scored 12 goals and 28 points, was a plus-14, and registered 28 penalty minutes. Later in the postseason, Pikkarainen scored two goals and seven points in 12 games.

The 17, soon 18-year-old forward was drafted at 6-foot-3, 198 lbs and was one of many big-bodied skaters the Devils drafted back on June 28th and 29th, including first-round selection Anton Silayev and Herman Traff.

Immediately following the 2024 NHL Draft at The Sphere in Las Vegas, Pikkarainen attended the Devils development camp which was hosted at the RWJBarnabas Arena. After observing 3-on-3 play among the prospects, NJHN’s Nick Natale explained that Pikkarainen displayed good speed and has “deceptively great hands.”

He also adds: “As for Pikkarainen, he also made very crafty plays with the puck and set himself up for a handful of grade-A scoring chances in the second game.”

Pikkarainen is described as a physical power forward who has a heavy shot. Seeing as his contract in Liiga is set to expire in 2027, ther Devils prospect will develop his game overseas and can attempt to translate his skills to North America in three years at the earliest.

Pikkarainen was also invited by Team Finland to participate in this summers World Junior Summer Showcase.

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