Valtteri Puustinen

Valtteri Puustinen (born 4 June 1999) is a Finnish professional ice hockey winger for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect under contract to the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). He made his NHL debut in 2022.

Valtteri Puustinen
Puustinen playing with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the 2023 AHL Outdoor Classic
Born	(1999-06-04) 4 June 1999 (age 26) Kuopio, Finland
Height	5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight	182 lb (83 kg; 13 st 0 lb)
Position	Right wing
Shoots	Right
NHL team (P) Cur. team Former teams	Pittsburgh Penguins WBS Penguins (AHL) HPK
National team	Finland
NHL draft	203rd overall, 2019 Pittsburgh Penguins
Playing career	2018–present

Medal record
Representing  Finland
Ice hockey
World Championships
	2021 Latvia
World Junior Championships
	2019 Canada

Playing career

Puustinen in 2018, during his time playing for HPK

Puustinen played as a youth within the HPK organization of the Finnish Liiga.^[1] He was drafted 203rd overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.

Puustinen made his Liiga debut for HPK during the 2018–19 Liiga season. He played 47 regular-season games and scored 10 goals.^[2]

In the 2020–21 season with HPK, Puustinen recorded 21 goals and 20 assists for 41 points in 51 games. His 21 goals led all HPK skaters and were tied for eighth in the league. He was one of just four skaters in Liiga to record 20 or more goals and assists.

On 6 May 2021, Puustinen was signed by the Pittsburgh Penguins to a two-year, entry-level contract.^[3] After scoring 17 goals and assists each with the Penguins' American Hockey League affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Puustinen was called up by the Penguins and played his first National Hockey League (NHL) game on 11 March 2022 against the Vegas Golden Knights. He scored his first NHL point that night, a secondary assist on Jeff Carter's goal, as the Penguins won 5–2.^[4] On 20 June 2023, he was re-signed to a one-year, two-way contract by Pittsburgh.^[5]

During the 2023–24 season, on 27 December 2023, Puustinen scored his first NHL goal in a 7–0 victory over the New York Islanders.^[6]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2017–18	HPK	Jr. A		52	15	19	34	14		5	1	3	4	4
2018–19	HPK	Jr. A		11	3	6	9	6		—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	HPK	Liiga		47	10	3	13	14		16	2	3	5	4
2019–20	HPK	Liiga		54	17	23	40	22		—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	HPK	Liiga		51	21	20	41	14		—	—	—	—	—
2021–22	Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins	AHL		73	20	22	42	14		6	0	3	3	0
2021–22	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		1	0	1	1	0		—	—	—	—	—
2022–23	Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins	AHL		72	24	35	59	22		—	—	—	—	—
2023–24	Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins	AHL		24	5	8	13	4		2	1	2	3	2
2023–24	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		52	5	15	20	6		—	—	—	—	—
2024–25	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		13	2	1	3	4		—	—	—	—	—
2024–25	Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins	AHL		48	16	19	35	6		2	0	0	0	0
Liiga totals				152	48	46	94	50		16	2	3	5	4
NHL totals				66	7	17	24	10		—	—	—	—	—

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2019	Finland	WJC			6	0	3	3	4
2021	Finland	WC			2	0	0	0	0
Junior totals					6	0	3	3	4
Senior totals					2	0	0	0	0