Tuesday was the first preseason game for the Vegas Golden Knights' 2026 first-round draft pick, Juho Piiparinen. They wondered how the Finnish defenseman would look in an NHL setting against NHL players. Not entirely consisting of an NHL roster, mind you. You must mix some AHL players into the mix.
Still, the focus was on the 18-year-old as fans awaited his presence. How would he do against the San Jose Sharks? Would he fold under the pressure and wilt under the spotlight? Or would he stand out and deliver?
Let's just say that he had some nice reviews from the Golden Knights' brass. He looked comfortable on the ice and didn't make too many sloppy plays. Tuesday wasn't a game where you'd expect him to completely take over. Instead, it was a game where he needed to get his feet wet. That way, he could see how a fast-paced NHL game worked.
It wasn't just Piiparinen looking comfortable, though. It was also about his fundamentals and how he handled the NHL pace. Let's look at what he did right for the Golden Knights and see how that helps his future NHL prospects. Get out those crystal balls because we're checking out Piiparinen's future!
What did Juho Piiparinen do right with the Vegas Golden Knights?
One thing that stood out with Juho Piiparinen was his skating ability. The Athletic's Jesse Granger noted that the first-round pick skated around the ice effortlessly in the first period, moving around like there were no complications.
Piiparinen stood out to me in that period.
— Jesse Granger (@JesseGranger_) September 23, 2026
Impressive skater.
That much was apparent during his amateur day, where he'd fly up and down the ice on the rush. He became a scoring threat when he combined his skating ability with his offensive abilities and he becomes even more dangerous. That's great news for a Golden Knights team that needs younger replacements for the blue line.
Overall, the Golden Knights weren't getting much offensively. They couldn't get too many shots on goal through the first two periods, partially because they faced an NHL goaltender. But Piiparinen's offensive awareness did net him a +1 in the plus/minus rating... if that means anything.
Scoreless first period in San Jose. Michael Misa was the most dangerous player on the ice.
— Ryan The Hockey Guy (@RyanHockeyGuy) September 23, 2026
Juho Piiparinen looked good through 20 minutes.
Still, that doesn't mean that the Golden Knights prospect was perfect. He didn't register a single shot throughout the game, concerning some Golden Knights fans. He also had plenty of ice time throughout the game, giving himself plenty of opportunities to attack the net.
Fortunately, a strong forward group bailed him out offensively. Alexander Holtz showed life and was accompanied by a budding Braeden Bowman. If he can get support from younger players on the offensive front, imagine what he can do when given a group of seasoned veterans.
A lot of people were anticipating Piiparinen's arrival on Tuesday. They were excited to see what the Finnish defenseman could do, even if he wasn't expected to be perfect. It's safe to say that the young prospect has plenty of potential at the NHL level. That's great news for a Golden Knights club that seeks quality defensive prospects.
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