The Rangers have signed 2021 4th round pick Kalle Vaisanen to a 3 year entry level contract. Vaisanen, a 6’3, 190 lb forward, put up 9 goals and 14 points with TPS in Finland’s Liiga this year, his second full season in Finland’s top league.
The 21 year old winger has a pretty high ceiling, but hasn’t produced at a level in Liiga that would suggest he’s close to hitting that ceiling. Still, Adam Edstrom wasn’t a big time producer in Sweden and he’s apparently close to NHL ready. Suffice it to say, we don’t know what we don’t know.
Vaisanen is expected to play at least a season in the AHL, probably more, on a roster starved for offense. With at least 2 Hartford Wolf Pack forwards heading to free agency and another 2-3 in contention for NHL spots next year (Edstrom, Brett Berard, Brennan Othmann), not including Matt Rempe, Hartford needs to restock a bit.
Like Victor Mancini earlier today, Vaisanen will likely sign an ATO for the remainder of the 2023-2024 AHL season.
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