Devils sign Lenni Hameenaho to entry-level contract

The New Jersey Devils announced Thursday that the club has signed right winger Lenni Hameenaho to a three-year, entry-level contract set to begin in the 2025-26 season.

Hameenaho was originally chosen 58th overall by the Devils in the 2023 NHL Draft.

Through 58 contests this season with Assat Pori of the top-ranked Finnish league, Hameenaho finished second in team scoring with 51 points counting 20 goals and 31 assists. Hameenaho then added another goal and four assists for five points through 10 postseason appearances.

In all, through three seasons with Assat Pori, Hameenaho has totaled 43 goals and 60 assists for 103 points through 155 career contests.

Beyond his professional experience, the 20-year-old forward has also seen success in international competition, most recently at the 2024 World Juniors where through seven games he finished second in scoring with his native Finland after posting four goals and two assists for six points. Hameenaho also joined Finland at the 2023 World Juniors that saw him register one goal and one assist for two points in five games.

At the 2022 IIHF Under-18 World Championship, Hameenaho helped the Finns capture the bronze medal after posting three points counting two goals and one assist in six outings.

On Sunday, Hameenaho was named to the Finnish roster that will compete at the upcoming 2025 IIHF World Championship to be held May 9 to 25, co-hosted by Denmark and Sweden. The Finns will begin play May 9 versus Austria.

Hameenaho becomes the fifth player to sign his entry-level contract with the Devils in recent weeks, joining Utica Comets forward Xavier Parent, Michigan Wolverines defenseman Ethan Edwards, Boston Terriers forward Shane Lachance, and St. Petersburg SKA forward Arseny Gritsyuk.

For the Devils, the squad closed out the 2024-25 campaign with a 42-33-7 record and 91 points to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the second time in the past seven seasons.