EDMONTON, AB - The Edmonton Oilers have signed defenceman Markus Niemelainen to a two-year entry-level contract.
Niemelainen, 21, has just completed his third season in the Finnish SM-Liiga, and first with Assat, posting seven points (1G, 6A), 42 penalty minutes and a -6 plus-minus rating in 55 games. He helped HPK capture the SM-Liiga championship in 2019, his second full season in Finland's top professional league.
The 6'6", 190-pound blueliner has appeared in 147 career SM-Liiga games, registering 15 points (3G, 12A), 74 penalty minutes and a -13 plus-minus rating. Niemaleinen also played with the OHL's Saginaw Spirit from 2015-2017.
A native of Kuopio, FIN, Niemelainen represented Finland at the 2015 and 2016 World U18 Hockey Championships, winning a gold medal (2015) and a silver medal (2016).
Niemelainen was Edmonton's third-round draft pick, 63rd overall, at the 2016 NHL Draft.
RELEASE: Oilers sign Niemelainen to entry-level contract
Finnish defenceman signs two-year ELC with the club; was drafted by the Oilers in the third round, 63rd overall back in 2016
