The Detroit Red Wings have signed Finnish forward Jesse Kiiskinen to a three-year entry-level contract, effective from the 2025–26 NHL season. At 19 years old, Kiiskinen is regarded as one of Europe’s most promising under-20 hockey prospects.
He was originally drafted by the Nashville Predators in the third round of the 2023 NHL Draft but was acquired by the Red Wings in June 2024 in exchange for defenseman Andrew Gibson and a second-round pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.
During the 2024–25 season, Kiiskinen played for HPK in Finland’s SM-Liiga, where he recorded 14 goals and 30 assists for 44 points in 46 games. His 30 assists ranked first on HPK, and his 44 points were the most of any under-20 skater in Finland’s top professional league . Kiiskinen’s performance has been a key factor in HPK’s improvement after a challenging start to the season.
Prior to his time with HPK, Kiiskinen spent the 2023–24 season with the Lahti Pelicans, also in Finland’s SM-Liiga, where he notched four goals and six assists for 10 points in 38 regular-season games. He also played in six postseason contests with the Pelicans, helping the team reach the championship round.
Internationally, Kiiskinen represented Finland at the 2023 IIHF World Under-18 Championship, recording five points (3 goals, 2 assists) in five games and was named one of his country’s top three performers. He also won a bronze medal at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, collecting four points (2 goals, 2 assists) in five appearances.
The Red Wings are optimistic that Kiiskinen’s combination of skill, leadership, and international experience will contribute to strengthening their roster and future performance in the NHL
