Finnish defenseman Juuso Riikola did enough in his rookie season with Pittsburgh Penguins to earn himself an opportunity to play another season in NHL. Penguins confirmed on Thursday that they signed Riikola, who was set to become a restricted free agent on July 1st, to a one-year deal.
The team confirmed the news on their social media, revealing that the deal is Riikola’s deal is worth $850,000.
Riikola signed a one-year deal as an undrafted free agent with Pittsburgh in May 2018, and appeared in 37 regular season games. He contributed with five points, while Penguins compiled 22-10-5 record with him in the lineup.
“Juuso has adjusted to the North American style of hockey seamlessly,” – said Penguins assistant general manager Bill Guerin in a statement. “He’s a very confident guy, and he’s also a great skater that moves the puck really well. We expect him to make an even bigger impact this year.”
Prior to his arrival to NHL, Juuso Riikola played hockey in his native Finland with KalPa. He played a total of 283 games in Liiga, Finland’s top hockey competition, and scored 26 goals and dished 63 assists.
