Seattle Kraken signs Kim Saarinen to three-year contract

A talented young goaltender has signed his first NHL contract.

On Sunday, the Seattle Kraken signed goalie Kim Saarinen to a three-year, entry-level contract. The deal has an AAV of $975,000.

Saarinen was selected by the Kraken in the third round, 88th overall, of the 2024 NHL Draft. The Finnish goaltender was the eighth player at his position selected in Las Vegas, and the second draft pick by Seattle this year to sign his ELC. First-round pick Berkley Catton signed his first contract more than a week ago.

Saarinen brings a lot of potential to his game, thanks to his 1.93-meter frame and athletic reactions, which allow him to occupy almost the entire net even when he stumbles out of position. Daily Faceoff Draft expert Steven Ellis had Saarinen as the No. 8 goaltending prospect going into the draft. One of Ellis’ and many scouts’ criticisms of the Hämeenlinna native is how prone he is to allowing soft goals. That said, at just 17 years old, Saarinen has plenty of time to work on the little things to make him a viable member of the Kraken system.

Saarinen jumped on the team’s radar after rising through the ranks with HPK in Finland. He’s spent the past two seasons with the organization’s Under-20 team and will make his Liiga debut with the big club in 2023-24. In two appearances, Saarinen went 1-0-1 with a 2.46 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage.

In 23 games with the U-20 team, he went 14-5-0 with a 2.41 GAA, a .917 SV% and two shutouts. He was named to the SM-sarja First All-Star Team and won the Jorma Valtonen Award as the league’s best goaltender.

Saarinen has played for Suomi on the international stage. In addition to playing for the Under-16 program, he was on the team that won bronze at the 2022 Under-17 World Hockey Challenge. He also played for the Finns at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and the 2024 IIHF Men’s Under-18 World Championship.