Kings sign Otto Salin to entry-level contract

The Los Angeles Kings announced Monday that the club has signed defenseman Otto Salin to a three-year, entry-level contract that will begin in the 2025-26 season.

Originally chosen by the Kings in the fifth round of the 2022 NHL Draft, the 21-year-old Finnish-born rearguard has spent part of the past four seasons competing in the top professional Finnish league. With TPS Turku this season, Salin made 56 appearances in which he collected eight goals and 20 assists to rank seventh in team scoring and second among defensemen with 28 points. With it, Salin notched 14 penalty minutes and a minus-six rating. Salin then added two goals and two assists for four points in five postseason appearances.

In all, through four seasons in Finland counting 133 career contests split between HIFK Helsinki and TPS Turku, Salin totaled 13 goals and 36 assists for 49 points before adding another eight points in 22 playoff outings.

In international competition, the 5-foot-11 rearguard most recently represented Finland at the 2024 World Juniors where through seven appearances he picked up one assist with two penalty minutes and a minus-two mark. At the 2023 World Juniors, Salin brought a greater offensive touch as he totaled three points through five outings. Salin also took home the bronze medal with Finland at the 2022 IIHF Under-18 World Championship where through four games he notched two assists coupled with six penalty minutes and a plus-two rating.

Salin is the second player to sign an entry-level contract with the Kings in recent days. Last Wednesday, Los Angeles agreed to terms on a three-year deal with budding blue-liner Jared Woolley of the OHL’s London Knights. Originally chosen by the Kings in the sixth round of last summer’s NHL Draft, Woolley notched nine goals and 19 assists for 28 points through 68 regular season showings with the Knights this season.