Petteri Rimpinen was selected by the Los Angeles Kings at No. 152 after earning a starting role in Liiga at 19. He posted a 2.35 GAA and .912 SV% across 40 Liiga games and delivered a .933 SV% and Best Goaltender recognition at the World Juniors. His strengths include composure, efficient route-taking, 'quiet' saves, and sound decision-making. Immediate evaluation centers on his translation to smaller North American rinks and an Ontario Reign development path. Development factors include Kiekko-Espoo's pipeline, size-related limitations, potential stalling points, and comparisons to Juuse Saros and Daniel Salonen with KPIs set for 2025–26 and a 2–5 year projection.
The Los Angeles Kings used a fifth-round pick on 19-year-old Petteri Rimpinen, a Finnish goaltender whose game leans on poise, efficient routes, and "quiet" saves in the Liiga. For Kings fans, the key question isn't flash, it's how his technical foundation and decision-making translate to North American ice and an eventual Ontario Reign runway. In this report, I'll track his post-draft preseason, grade his toolkit using my scouting framework, and explain how he fits the Kings' long-term plan.
Petteri Rimpinen Draft: 2025, Round 5, No. 152 Overall ( Los Angeles Kings)Current Club: Kiekko-Espoo (Liiga, Finland)Age: 19 (April 25, 2006)Height / Weight: 6-foot-0, 176 poundsCatches / Position: Left; Goaltender2024-25 Snapshot: Liiga: 40 GP, 2.35 goals-against average (GAA), .912 save percentage (SV%) (Kiekko-Espoo); WJC: 2.34 GAA, .933 SV%, silver medal, Best Goaltender + All-Star.
"We didn't go into the draft looking for a goalie... by 152 we'd already passed on him twice because of our goalie situation... he's a bit undersized, but he claimed a No. 1 job in Liiga at 19; that's rare."
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