Kristian Vesalainen believes he’s an NHL-ready player. And now the confident, talented Finnish teenager will get a chance to prove it as early as this fall after signing an entry-level contract with the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday.
The three-year deal carries an average annual value of $1.492 million. That includes the maximum salary of $925,000 along with performance and signing bonuses.
Vesalainen, 19, is the organization’s most intriguing young prospect after being chosen 24th overall in the 2017 draft. The winger had 19 goals and 20 assists in 44 games with HPK Hameenlinna of the Finnish Elite League, otherwise known as Liiga.