Getting to Know Kings Goaltending Prospect Petteri Rimpinen
The Los Angeles Kings’ pipeline has taken a few hits thanks to the graduation of some talented young stars.
However, the goaltending pipeline remains strong with the likes of Erik Portillo, Hampton Slukynsky, and Finnish prospect Petteri Rimpinen.
Rimpinen may not be that well-known yet, but he has taken huge steps not only to be on the radar but also to prove himself at a rapid pace.
Rimpinen, the 5-foot-11 and 176-pound netminder, may only be behind Slukynsky when it comes to overall talent. The fifth-round pick (#152) of Los Angeles in 2025 has also seen tremendous strides in his development, but is still a few years away from North American Hockey. To say he is dominating in Finland may be a stretch, but he has been very impressive for a young goaltender.
This season, he has played for Kiekko-Espoo of SM-liiga, the top hockey league in Finland, and the Finnish U20 team of the International junior team. For Kiekko-Espoo, he has played in 14 games, posting a 6-4-4 record with a 2.63 goals-against average (GAA) and a save percentage of .899. For the Finland U20 team, he has a 3-0 record with a 1.99 GAA and a .912 save percentage.
He is a small goaltender, but he makes up for the lack of size with great athleticism and is a battler around the crease. His small size is not a concern because of how he plays the game; he plays a big game. The native of Kirkkonummi, Finland, has impressed in every league he has played in and continues to develop. He is one of the better young goaltenders in all of Finland and looks to be a steal for the Kings in the 2025 NHL Draft.
While he is still a few years away, he is in the same boat as Slukynsky in terms of depth chart status. He is not the top goaltender in the organization, but he is easily a top-three goaltender of the future. He is a promising goaltender who has excelled at every level and will continue to refine his game in time for his pro debut..
Rimpinen has some work to do if he wants to leapfrog Slukynsky and Protillo on the depth chart, but the Kings cannot rush him. He is still young and developing, despite his success. Los Angeles wants to properly develop him into an NHL starter, following in the footsteps of some talented Kings goaltenders.
It is too soon to say he may be in the Hockey Hall of Fame, but he could turn out to be an all-star at the NHL level.
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Categorized:Kings