Per a team release, the Detroit Red Wings have signed defenseman Antti Tuomisto to a two-year entry-level contract, beginning in 2023-24. The team did not disclose financial details.
Tuomisto, a 2019 second-round pick of Detroit, signs on with the organization after his first taste of professional hockey last season with Liiga’s TPS Turku. He finished tied for the team lead among points from defensemen with 20, along with former Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Teemu Kivihalme.
At 22 years old, Tuomisto does already have some North American experience, and a fruitful one at that. Tuomisto was a member of last year’s University of Denver team that won the national championship, recording a goal and eight assists in 35 games. It was his sophomore campaign at the school.
Tuomisto is a two-way defender with towering size, measuring 6’5″ and 205 pounds. It was a smooth transition to pro hockey for Tuomisto, whose college numbers were somewhat disappointing.
While a solid prospect, the list of players drafted immediately after Tuomisto in 2019 makes the pick seem less appealing in hindsight. Goalies Pyotr Kochetkov and Mads Sogaard, as well as forward Nils Hoglander and top defense prospect Jackson LaCombe, were selected closely after Tuomisto.
It’s unclear whether Tuomisto will join the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins on a tryout for the remainder of the season or wait until fall to make his return to North America.
Thought he was done. Guess another shot in GR is the idea here.
He’s a RD, one of the few in our system.