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.

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.