Flames sign Eetu Tuulola to entry-level deal

The National Hockey League’s off-season began on Thursday and the Calgary Flames conducted a bit of business. The club has announced they have signed right wing Eetu Tuulola to a three year entry level contract.

Tuulola, 21, was the Flames’ sixth round selection in the 2016 NHL Draft. A product of Hameenliina, Finland, he had come up through his hometown club team (HPK) and impressed with his size and shot. He came over to the Western Hockey League’s Everett Silvertips for 2016-17 via the import draft, but he returned home for 2017-18 to get a shot at playing pro hockey for his hometown team. Over the past two seasons, he played 111 games with HPK in the top Finnish league, SM-Liiga, and put up back-to-back seasons of 26 and 36 points. HPK won the SM-Liiga crown this past season.

Now, some of his hockey goals accomplished, Tuulola ventures back to North America with an eye towards making his mark at the NHL level. The Flames are lean on skilled, right-shooting forwards and Tuulola’s size (6’2″, 225 pounds) should give him a shot at making a push for NHL duty sooner or later, if his SM-Liiga results are any indication. For now, he’s likely penciled in to start the 2019-20 season with the Stockton Heat.