Red Wings sign Jesse Kiiskinen to a 3-year entry-level contract

The Detroit Red Wings announced Tuesday that they have signed Jesse Kiiskinen to a three-year, entry-level contract beginning in the 2025-26 season.

Kiiskinen was originally selected by the Nashville Predators in the third round of the 2023 NHL Draft and was acquired by the Red Wings in exchange for Andrew Gibson.

Kiiskinen spent the 2024-25 season with HPK in Finland’s SM-Liiga, where he recorded 14 goals and 30 assists for 44 points in 46 games.  His 30 assists ranked first on HPK and his 44 points were the most of any under-20 skater in Finland’s top professional league

During the 2023-24 season with the Lahti Pelicans in Finland’s SM-Liiga, Kiiskinen notched four goals and six assists for 10 points and eight penalty minutes in 38 regular-season games. He also played in six postseason contests with the Pelicans, helping the team reach the championship round. Kiiskinen tallied one goal in six Champions Hockey League games with the Pelicans. Kiiskinen made his professional debut with the Pelicans in 2022-23, tallying one assist, a plus-two rating and two penalty minutes in seven games. 

Internationally, Kiiskinen helped Finland win a silver medal at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship, recording six goals and seven points in seven games. Kiiskinen also competed at the 2023 IIHF World Under-18 Championship, logging five points in five games. He also captured a bronze medal with Finland at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, collecting four points in five appearances.

The Finnish native has one more year remaining on his contract with the Finnish club, but could be in North America playing with the AHL Grand Rapids in 2025-26.

Kiiskinen was listed by prospect analyst Steven Ellis as one of the notable prospects to watch for the Red Wings