On paper, Jesse Kiiskinen is a member of the Detroit Red Wings organization. In reality, he must first fulfill other commitments before getting to officially pull on the winged wheel jersey.

The gritty Finnish forward was agreeing to terms on an entry-level deal last month with the Red Wings. They acquired his NHL rights last year in a trade with the Nashville Predators.

UPDATE: The Detroit #RedWings have signed Jesse Kiiskinen to a 3-year entry-level contract. pic.twitter.com/s1x08ewedr

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) June 3, 2025

“He had a good season in HPK and we expect him to have another strong season,” Red Wings director of player development Dan Cleary said of Kiiskinen. “Then we’ll see him in North America next year.”

Next year, because Kiiskinen, 19, has one season remaining on his contract with HPK Hameenlinna of the SM-liiga, Finland’s top pro league. Under the terms of his deal, if he’s not playing for the Red Wings in the NHL, he must be returned on loan to finish out his commitment to his Finnish club.

It’s the same reason why Red Wings draftee Anton Johansson will be playing in Sweden in the upcoming season for Leksand IF of the SHL. That’s no assessment of their potential as a Detroit prospect. It’s simply the facts of how European contracts work.

Red Wings Prospect Knows All About Commitment

Telling a story about how he came to find out he was now part of the Red Wings organization also emphasizes the lengths Kiiskinen goes to fulfill a commitment.

Kiiskinen was completing his mandatory military service when he got word that he’d been traded to the Red Wings.

“Yeah, it was a big surprise,” Kiiskinen explained. “I was in the military then.”

Kiiskinen’s platoon was about to embark on overnight maneuvers in the woods when his phone buzzed with the info of the Detroit-Nashville transaction.

“Like 10 minutes before you are going to the forest and going to leave to stay in the tent,” Kiiskinen said. “You get the call like, yeah, you have been traded.

“I was like, okay, great.”

Then he picked up his rifle and set out to march.

Kiiskinen Displays Deft Scoring Touch

Last season, Kiiskinen led HPK in scoring with 14-30-44 totals, despite losing 14 games to injury.

“Just got better,” is his explanation for the strong season.

He also believes that those numbers might be a bit misleading when it comes to exhibiting the strengths of his game.

Jesse Kiiskinen Michigan attempt in his Finnish Men’s national team debut! #LGRW pic.twitter.com/C0AnCQUwHs

— Red Wings Prospects (@LGRWProspects) April 9, 2025

“I think I’m still like a scorer and like a shoot-first player,” Kiiskinen said. “Maybe the stats don’t show that because I had a lot of assists and more than goals, but I like to still make plays and make a goal.

“I still love scoring and have loved that all my life.”

He’s also certain as to the aspect of his game that he must be upgrading if the NHL is to be in his future.

“I think I have to improve my skating still,” Kiiskinen said. “I’m not maybe the fastest skater, so I have to get that better.

“That’s the biggest improvement (needed).”