San Jose Sharks Sign Forward Kasper Halttunen

San Jose Sharks (

) General Manager Mike Grier announced today that the club has signed forward Kasper Halttunen to a three-year entry-level contract.

Halttunen, 18, appeared in 18 games for HIFK's U20 team in 2022-23, scoring at a goal-per-game pace en route to recording 24 points (18 goals, six assists). He also skated in 27 games for HIFK's Liiga team, tallying one assist, and played for Kiekoo-Vanttaa of Mestis - Finland's second-highest professional league - logging three points (one goal, two assists) in three games.

The prior season in 2021-22, he recorded 38 points (24 goals, 14 assists) in 41 games for Jokerit's U20 team and was named the U20 SM-sarja Rookie of the Year. He ranked third among all U20 skaters in goals, and led all skaters aged 18 or younger in goals and points.

Internationally, Halttunen captained Finland at the 2023 Under-18 Men's World Junior Championship this past April. In five games, he led Finland in scoring with 10 points (six goals, four assists). Halttunen played for Finland as an underaged skater at the 2022 Under-18 Men's World Junior Championship, logging five points (three goals, two assists) in six games. He was named a Top Three Player on Finland in both tournaments. The forward also helped Finland earn Bronze at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup with three points (one goal, two assists) in five games.

The six-foot-three, 207-pound native of Helsinki, Finland was selected by San Jose in the 2023 NHL Draft (second round, 36th overall).