Devils News
Budding Finnish Forward Signs ELC with Devils
The New Jersey Devils announced on Thursday they’ve signed budding Finnish forward, Lenni Hameenaho, to an entry-level contract.
The New Jersey Devils announced on Thursday they’ve signed forward Lenni Hameenaho to a standard three-year, entry-level contract.
Lenni Hameenaho‘s contract begins in the 2025-26 season.
WATCH: Devils Hameenaho Scores Big Goal in WJC Quarterfinal
According to the release, “Hameenaho, 20, spent the past six seasons in Finland with the Ässät organization. The 6’1”, 185lbs. forward began with Ässät at the U16 and U18 levels in 2019-20. In 2020-21 and 2021-22, he played at the U18 and U20 levels. Hameenaho made his Liiga (Finland’s top professional league) debut with Ässät in 2022-23 and recorded 21 points (9g-12a) in 51 regular-season games. He later earned four points (3g-1a) in eight games during the 2022-23 playoffs with Ässät.
“The forward played in 46 games with Ässät in the Liiga during the 2023-24 campaign and subsequently helped the program’s U20 SM-sarja team win a league championship. In 2024-25, the right-handed shot recorded a career-high 20 goals, 31 assists and 51 points in 58 regular-season games with Ässät. His 51 points ranked second on the club and placed 15th overall in the Liiga. Hameenaho’s goal and assist totals both finished in the top 20 for all Liiga skaters. He also recorded five points (1g-4a) in 10 postseason contests and helped Ässät advance to the Quarterfinals.”
Hameenaho is the second prospect the Devils have signed in the last two days, inking Arseni Gristyuk to a one-year entry-level contract on Tuesday.
The Devils drafted Hameenaho in the second round of the 2023 NHL Draft, 58th overall.
The Devils also announced they re-signed forward Nathan Légaré to a one-year, two-way contract. The contract details are as follows for 2025-26: $775,000 at the NHL level and $125,000 ($140,000 guaranteed) at the American Hockey League (AHL) level.
Légaré was acquired in a trade with the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Arnaud Durandeau on March 11, 2024.
He recorded a career-high 17 goals and 25 points at the AHL level last season.
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