Niclas Almari

Niclas Almari (born 11 May 1998) is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing with Lukko of the Liiga.^[1] Almari was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the fifth round, 151st overall, in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.

Niclas Almari
Born	(1998-05-11) 11 May 1998 (age 27) Espoo, Finland
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	168 lb (76 kg; 12 st 0 lb)
Position	Defence
Shoots	Left
Liiga team Former teams	Lukko HPK WBS Penguins Lahti Pelicans
NHL draft	151st overall, 2016 Pittsburgh Penguins
Playing career	2016–present

Playing career

Almari played as a youth in his native Finland, within the junior programs at the Jr. A level of the Espoo Blues, Jokerit and HPK. Almari secured his first rookie playing contract with HPK on 29 April 2016.^[2]

After his draft selection to the Penguins, Almari split his first professional season in 2016–17 between HPK and Mestis affiliate, LeKi. He made his professional debut on 17 September 2016, against Kärpät and later scored his first Liiga goal on 5 October 2016 against Jukurit. Almari also spent 10 games with HPK's junior club and helped contribute in winning the Jr. A SM-liiga's title. At the conclusion of the season, Almari accepted an amateur try-out with Pittsburgh's AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on 11 April 2017. In helping his development, Almari trained with Wilkes-Barre and was a part of their extended squad into the post-season.^[3]

In returning to HPK for his third season in 2018–19, Almari continued to show an upward trend in his development, appearing in 42 regular season for 5 points. In the playoffs, Almari appeared in all 18 post-season games for HPK, helping claim the Championship on 4 May 2019.

On 10 May 2019, Almari was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins.^[4]

In the final season of his entry-level contract, Almari was assigned to AHL affiliate, Wilkes-Barre before he was later reassigned on loan by Pittsburgh to close out the 2021–22 season with Lukko of the Liiga.

On 1 June 2022, Almari was signed to a two-year contract extension to remain with Lukko, having left the Penguins organization.^[5]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2014–15	Espoo Blues	Jr. A		26	4	4	8	16		—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	Espoo Blues	Jr. A		12	0	0	0	4		—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	Jokerit	Jr. A		27	2	5	7	10		2	0	1	1	4
2016–17	HPK	Jr. A		10	1	4	5	0		10	1	10	11	0
2016–17	HPK	Liiga		24	3	2	5	10		—	—	—	—	—
2016–17	LeKi	Mestis		23	1	6	7	8		—	—	—	—	—
2017–18	HPK	Liiga		41	4	4	8	6		—	—	—	—	—
2017–18	LeKi	Mestis		4	0	1	1	2		—	—	—	—	—
2017–18	Espoo United	Mestis		9	0	3	3	16		—	—	—	—	—
2017–18	HPK	Jr. A		—	—	—	—	—		5	2	1	3	14
2017–18	Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins	AHL		2	0	0	0	2		1	0	1	1	0
2018–19	HPK	Jr. A		2	0	1	1	2		—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	HPK	Liiga		42	1	4	5	6		18	0	0	0	2
2019–20	Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins	AHL		51	1	6	7	18		—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	Lahti Pelicans	Liiga		28	1	6	7	6		5	0	0	0	0
2021–22	Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins	AHL		13	1	1	2	2		—	—	—	—	—
2021–22	Wheeling Nailers	ECHL		6	0	4	4	2		—	—	—	—	—
2021–22	Lukko	Liiga		15	0	2	2	6		7	0	0	0	2
Liiga totals				150	9	18	27	34		30	0	0	0	4

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2014	Finland	U17	5th		6	0	1	1	0
Junior totals					6	0	1	1	0

Awards & honors

Award	Year
Liiga
Champion (HPK)	2019