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Niko Huuhtanen's time with the Tampa Bay Lightning has come to an end as he is placed on waivers. The Finnish forward plans to continue his hockey career in Europe, but not in Finland's top league.

Huuhtanen's Waiver Status

Niko Huuhtanen, a Finnish ice hockey player, has been placed on waivers by the Tampa Bay Lightning. This move means that the team is looking to end his contract. NHL reporter Elliotte Friedman shared this news on social media.

Return to Europe

Reports indicate that Huuhtanen plans to return to Europe to continue his hockey career. However, he will not be playing in the SM-liiga, the top Finnish league.

Career Highlights

Before moving to North America, Huuhtanen had a successful season in the SM-liiga, scoring 19 goals and earning 46 points while playing for Jukurit during the 2023-24 season. Last year, he played for the Syracuse Crunch in the AHL, where he scored eight goals.

Recent Performance

This season, Huuhtanen has only played five games in the AHL without scoring. His last game was two weeks ago in the ECHL, a lower-level league in North America.

Background Information

The 22-year-old forward grew up playing for the Espoo Blues and was drafted by Tampa Bay in 2021, selected in the seventh round as the 224th pick. Recently, he was also named on a list for the Defense Forces Sports School, which starts next spring.

Sources of inspiration: Instagram · X · Facebook · Wikipedia · REWRK Speaker · Helsing Sanomat · Ilta-Sanomat

Mia Sundström Published 1 week ago.

Niko Huuhtanen Tampa Bay Lightning Elliotte Friedman SM-liiga Jukurit Syracuse Crunch Espoo Blues Defense Forces Sports School