Piiparinen is expected to return to Tappara in Finland’s Liiga for the 2026-27 season. Continuing to play against professionals should provide another valuable step in his development.

Vegas signed Piiparinen to a three-year entry-level contract in mid-July, then loaned him back to Tappara for 2026-27, the same path his teammate Oliver Suvanto took after going 18th to Washington. It fits both the player and the club. Piiparinen is a 6-3 right-shot defender who already handles heavy defensive assignments at the professional level, trusted to close out games in his own zone as a 17-year-old. He retrieves under pressure, defends with aggressive gaps, and drifts high in the defensive zone to hunt breakups, habits that map cleanly onto Vegas’s structured, defense-first system. Early in the season he drew top-selection buzz before his stock settled, and the pick still looks like value at 29th overall.

Vegas was able to get a first round selection by trading Dorofeyev to the Rangers, and then used the Carolina trick of trading down to add more selections. They ended up selecting Piiparinen 29th overall. Early in 2025-26, Piiparinen was thought of as a top selection in the draft but his stock dropped. Vegas is hoping they are drafting the solid puck moving defenseman many envisioned going much earlier in the draft.

Game Report – London Knights 5 vs Soo Greyhounds 4 – November 1st, 2026

Game Report – London Knights 5 – Soo Greyhounds 4 – November 1st, 2026 The London Knights took an early lead as Marcus Nordmark buried a one-timer on the power play; the Greyhounds would soon tie the game as Christopher Brown scored off another power play goal. The Knights would score two and dominate the majority of the 2nd period; the Greyhounds looked sluggish and uninterested, and London capitalized. Jeremy Martin would make it a one-goal game with only a minute left in the 2nd. The Greyhounds came out in the 3rd as a completely different team, playing the fast-paced, high-energy game they usually bring, with Brown scoring his 2nd, and Fitzgerald giving them the lead. The Knights would tie it and force overtime, where Thomas Zocco would rifle one top corner for a London Knights win. Marcus Nordmark – Nordmark showed his shooting ability tonight, as he scored a beautiful one-timer that gave Vermirovsky no chance. He can shoot it from anywhere and was able to create space for himself to pick his spots. His skating looked strong as well, which is something I wanted to see improved, and he showed great hands especially in tight spaces. I have always had very high hopes for him, so I’m happy to see his game continue to grow. Juho Piiparinen – Piiparinen plays a style that if you really aren’t paying close attention to his game, you would think he wasn’t effective; he is the definition of a stay-at-home defenseman, which is exactly what he did tonight. Although he ended up a –2, it could’ve been much worse; he disrupted multiple plays, was very hard to get by with his stick work and size, and did exactly what he needed to do to help get London the win.

DRAFTPRO – 2024 U17 World Challenge Review

Juho Piiparinen, RD (2026)

“Piiparinen already displays a level of maturity uncommon for his age. His experience against professional competition has accelerated his defensive development, and he consistently demonstrates strong positioning, gap control, and poise under pressure,” per Victor Nuno’s on July 11. “Piiparinen looks like the type of player who quietly carves out a decade-long NHL career.”

His dependable defensive game may not generate eye-popping offensive numbers, but it gives him a strong foundation to develop into a reliable NHL defenseman.

The fantasy caveat is honest: he managed zero goals and three assists in 29 Liiga games, so the near-term scoring is thin, and his appeal rests on projectability more than production. His shot and puck movement are the levers that could earn power-play time later. Another Tappara season to add offense is the development to watch. He is a deep-dynasty hold rather than a redraft target.