Santtu Kinnunen

Santtu Kinnunen (born 25 March 1999) is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently playing under contract with the ZSC Lions of the National League (NL).

Santtu Kinnunen
Santtu Kinnunen in 2024
Born	(1999-03-25) 25 March 1999 (age 26) Lahti, Finland
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight	161 lb (73 kg; 11 st 7 lb)
Position	Defence
Shoots	Right
NL team Former teams	ZSC Lions Pelicans Tappara
NHL draft	207th overall, 2018 Florida Panthers
Playing career	2018–present

Playing career

Kinnunen played as a youth within the Lahti Pelicans organization before making his professional debut with second tier affiliate, Peliitat Heinola, during the 2017–18 season. Showing promising development on the blueline, Kinnunen was selected by the Florida Panthers in the seventh-round, 207th overall, of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.

He made his debut in the Liiga with 27 appearances for Lahti Pelicans during the 2018–19 Liiga season.^[1]

Kinnunen played two full seasons with Tappara before he was signed to a two-year, entry-level contract with draft club, the Florida Panthers, on 2 May 2022.^[2]

In moving to North America, Kinnunen featured in his first training camp with the Panthers in 2022, before he was re-assigned to begin the 2022–23 season with AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, on 2 October 2022.^[3]

At the conclusion of his entry-level contract with the Panthers, Kinnunen as a pending restricted free agent was not tendered a qualifying offer by the club and was released as a free agent. On 18 July 2024, Kinnunen opted to return to Europe in signing a one-year contract with reigning Swiss champions, ZSC Lions of the NL.^[4]

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2016–17	Lahti Pelicans	Jr. A		5	0	1	1	2		—	—	—	—	—
2017–18	Lahti Pelicans	Jr. A		43	4	20	24	22		—	—	—	—	—
2017–18	Peliitat	Mestis		11	0	4	4	2		—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	Lahti Pelicans	Jr. A		13	2	5	7	14		10	0	3	3	2
2018–19	Lahti Pelicans	Liiga		27	1	6	7	4		—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	Peliitat	Mestis		21	1	12	13	35		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	Lahti Pelicans	Jr. A		6	1	3	4	6		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	Lahti Pelicans	Liiga		24	0	1	1	14		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	Peliitat	Mestis		26	2	8	10	26		—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	Tappara	Liiga		59	5	14	19	16		9	2	1	3	0
2021–22	Tappara	Liiga		54	4	19	23	57		13	0	2	2	2
2022–23	Charlotte Checkers	AHL		69	9	26	35	24		7	2	4	6	2
2023–24	Charlotte Checkers	AHL		68	4	17	21	24		3	0	1	1	0
Liiga totals				164	10	40	50	91		22	2	3	5	2