Prospect Info: 2023 91st Overall - Emil Pieniniemi

[Jacob]

Kingston isn't exactly a paragon of prospect development.

They had a not-great season but have a lot of returning 2004 and 2005 birthdates so at a glance I’d say they’ll be reasonably competitive, possibly one of the better clubs. Definitely some holes to fill on D, however, with several guys aging out. So good spot for Pieman.

Nathan Moon played for them way back when. And Drew Fata.

 

[Peat]

@Sidney the Kidney he'll be local to you no?


I have to say that while I've never been led to believe Kingston is a prospect paragon, I prefer it to being stuck in the Finnish system not getting enough touches to learn how to pass and carry the puck to an NHL level.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

@Sidney the Kidney he'll be local to you no?


I have to say that while I've never been led to believe Kingston is a prospect paragon, I prefer it to being stuck in the Finnish system not getting enough touches to learn how to pass and carry the puck to an NHL level.

I haven't followed the Frontenacs much this past season. Wasn't aware he was their import pick.

While there are outliers, and while I agree that playing the "North American game" might be better for his transition to the NHL/AHL game, I'm always leery of any player actually improving their overall game with Kingston. Kingston has a rare knack for taking a guy with a lot of potential and somehow stunting his overall upside.

They had a not-great season but have a lot of returning 2004 and 2005 birthdates so at a glance I’d say they’ll be reasonably competitive, possibly one of the better clubs. Definitely some holes to fill on D, however, with several guys aging out. So good spot for Pieman.

Nathan Moon played for them way back when. And Drew Fata.

Luca Caputi is the coach. He's about as good a coach as he was an NHL winger.

 

[SomeDude]

Nathan Moon played for them way back when. And Drew Fata.

Luca Caputi, Nathan Moon, and Drew Fata are all connected to this organization? Is Johannes Salmonsson their mascot?

A Pens rep needs to go cleanse that organization with sage or something if he’s going to play there.

 

[Jacob]

Their website also says Jacques Martin is a "senior advisor."

 

[BusinessGoose]

Their website also says Jacques Martin is a "senior advisor."

This old pens connected evidence is all bad

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Their website also says Jacques Martin is a "senior advisor."

Knowing how cheap Kingston's ownership is, it's probably just some local zamboni driver named Jack Martin.

 

[Peat]

 

[Don'tcry4mejanhrdina]

I didn't know he'd be in Kingston this year. Maybe I should go watch some games.

 

[The Old Master]

I didn't know he'd be in Kingston this year. Maybe I should go watch some games.

and give us up dates.

 

[Allie Kitsune]

Luca Caputi, Nathan Moon, and Drew Fata are all connected to this organization? Is Johannes Salmonsson their mascot?

A Pens rep needs to go cleanse that organization with sage or something if he’s going to play there.

Someone make sure Jonathan Filewich isn't hiding in the bushes.

 

[Don'tcry4mejanhrdina]

and give us up dates.

Will do. I'm also less than an hour's drive from Belleville. I meant to go watch a Senators game when WBS was in town last season but for some reason that team didn't inspire me enough to make the short drive to go watch.

 

[Freeptop]

Pieniniemi is the first prospect from the Penguins' 2023 draft class to get signed:


I know he was just drafted via the European Import Draft into Major-Juniors, but since the Pens drafted him before that, I don't think the restriction on when they can bring him to the AHL applies.
Could be interesting to see how they manage that.

That said, I expect they'll send him over to the Major-Junior team after rookie camp this year. Just could be interesting to see if they decide to send him to the AHL next year, since they have that option.

 

[tom_servo]

Welcome to the Pienguinins

 

[Andy99]

So his name means “little cape” in Finnish…I at first read that as “little cap” and thought how appropriate that was for a hockey player lol…

 

[BusinessGoose]

Lil Kap

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

When he was discussed in the summer the assumption was he was headed to Kingston. Instead, he returned to Finland, first playing with Karpat's men's team and he also played for Finland's U20 team in Gothenburg.

Any updates on his progress to this point? He is the youngest player in Oulu's lineup.

 

[Randy Butternubs]

When he was discussed in the summer the assumption was he was headed to Kingston. Instead, he returned to Finland, first playing with Karpat's men's team and he also played for Finland's U20 team in Gothenburg.

Any updates on his progress to this point? He is the youngest player in Oulu's lineup.

Seems to be pretty decent at getting shots on the net based on his game log from EP.

 

[Jacob]

wrong thread