Vegas Golden Knights first-round pick Juho Piiparinen didn’t last long on his loan to Finland’s Liiga. The team announced on Monday that they have recalled Piiparinen and added him to the training camp roster.
This will give the top defense prospect a taste of North American competition just one month after his 18th birthday.
Piiparinen filled an extra defender role with Tappara through the start of their 2026-27 season. He played just five mintues of the club’s Liiga opener, then averaged seven minutes of ice time in three appearances in the Champions Hockey League.
Piiparinen managed no scoring in those appearances, though he did record four penalty minutes, a plus-one, and two shots on goal.
The Finnish flight hasn’t offered much chance for Piiparinen to flex offensive upside. He showed glimpses in the country’s junior league, netting 13 points in 15 U20 games last season.
Piiparinen tacked on three points in five games at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and one point in four games at the 2026 World Junior Championship. He also captained Finland at the World U18 Championships, though he managed no scoring in five games.
Defense is the focal point of Piiparinen’s style. He excels at defending the rush and generating clean breakouts, akin to pros like Esa Lindell and Adam Pelech.
That style could give him a leg up as he battles for the attention of Vegas’ development staff – though Piiparinen could be better suited for a stint in the CHL.
The OHL’s London Knights acquired his rights with the 101st pick in the 2026 CHL Import Draft. They would offer a prime spot for the 6-foot-3 defender to find his footing, and perhaps a bit more offense, in North America.
The Knights will be a top option for Piiparinen’s 2026-27 campaign, though he could also make a return to Finnish pros or an early jump into North American pros. Vegas will likely save that decision until after they gauge his performance at training camp.