Tappara may lose its diamond – a harsh message came from the NHL

Vegas Golden Knights is closely monitoring the responsibility that Juho Piiparinen will have in the upcoming Liiga season with Tappara.

The 18-year-old defenseman was drafted by Vegas in the first round at number 29 during the summer NHL draft. Last season, Piiparinen played 29 Liiga games in a Tappara jersey.

Now, the NHL team’s interest is primarily focused on what kind of role the Finnish prospect will play in Tampere.

Vegas Golden Knights’ player development director Wil Nichol made it clear in an NHL.com interview that the amount of playing time matters.

– If he gets the right minutes and everything is going well in Tappara, then that’s fine. But if not, the London Knights will certainly be waiting for him, and that would also be a good place for Juho to play, Nichol says surprisingly directly.

Piiparinen’s North American junior rights belong to the OHL team London Knights. If there is no responsibility available in Tappara that aligns with Vegas’ vision, the alternative is a move to Canada.

In Vegas, Piiparinen has made a strong impression. Nichol particularly highlights the defenseman’s puck-handling skills and maturity.

– He knows how to move the puck excellently – he can make hard passes under pressure right on the stick. He is a strong and mature player. I had to remind myself at times during the summer development camp that he is only 17 years old, so very young. I think he is already a professional.

Piiparinen turned 18 on August 10.

The Liiga season for him started on Tuesday against SaiPa. The defenseman only logged 4:47 of ice time in the game. He received one penalty and his plus/minus rating was -1.