At some point European leagues will run out of spots for NHL prospects, but not today. The Winnipeg Jets have loaned Joona Luoto to HIFK in Finland, though immediately announced that he will be back when the 2020-21 season starts in North America.
Luoto, 22, found himself in the Jets lineup for 16 games this season during his first year in North America but failed to register a single point. The 6’3″ winger came over from Finland as an undrafted free agent and ended up splitting the year between the AHL and NHL.
While offense was clearly not his strong suit this year, Luoto has been playing at the professional level since he was a teenager and should be a fine bottom-six depth option for the Jets next season. He’ll turn 23 tomorrow but still has two years remaining on his entry-level contract.