Just about three weeks after being hired as the President of Hockey Operations with the Pittsburgh Penguins, former Toronto GM Kyle Dubas has made his first signing as a draft pick has been given an extension.
In a news release, Dubas announced a new one year contract for forward Valtteri Puustinen. The 24-year-old was drafted in the seventh round (203rd overall) in 2019. Puustinen will get $775K at the NHL level, and $385K at the AHL level.
Puustinen has played just one game at the NHL level so far in his career. After leaving Finland in 2021, Puustinen has played mostly with the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins of the AHL. He had a very good year in 2022-23, putting up 24 goals and 59 points in 72 games.
While Puustinen goes down as Dubas' first signing with the Penguins, it certainly won't be his last. Dubas will be busy come free agency on July 1st as he looks to get Pittsburgh back into playoff contention.
