May 30: Nousiainen passed through waivers unclaimed and can have his deal terminated by the Kings, per CapFriendly.
May 29: Thinning out their contractual commitments for the 2024-25 NHL season, the Los Angeles Kings have placed defenseman Kim Nousiainen on unconditional waivers for contract termination, according to a team announcement. In all likelihood, Nousiainen will test his luck next season overseas in his native Finland.
Originally drafted with the 119th overall pick of the 2019 NHL Draft by the Kings, Nousiainen has only spent the last three years playing for the organization. Nousiainen made the jump to North America after signing his entry-level contract with Los Angeles on Marco 30, 2022.
A moderately capable two-way defenseman in the Finnish Liiga, Nousiainen saw his offense completely crater during his tenure with the Ontario Reign of the American Hockey League. In 97 games spent with the Kings’ highest affiliate, Nousiainen only mustered two goals and 17 points in total, including two points in eight postseason contests.
Now that the remaining year on his entry-level contract is set to be terminated, Nousiainen will likely opt to rejoin KalPa of the Finnish Liiga — an organization he has spent nearly all of his professional career with. Across four years in Finland’s highest professional league, Nousiaien is already a veteran of 146 games, scoring 19 goals and 60 points overall.
@Brennan — “Marco 30, 2022” ?