Last summer, his entry-level contract with the Winnipeg Jets expired, Kristian Vesalainen went back to Europe. The young striker first signed a contract with SHL’s Malmö Redhawks and a few months later returned to Finland to play for HIFK. The Jets retained his exclusive NHL rights by making a qualifying offer.

This meant they could potentially bring him back if Vesalainen wanted to return to North America at some point. Not as fast as HIFK announced a one-year extension for the 2023-24 season.

The 23-year-old Vesalainen was drafted 24th overall by the Jets in 2017, and it didn’t take long for him to see NHL action. He played five games in the 2018-19 season before playing in the minor leagues and eventually the KHL. The following year, he played in the AHL full-time, and then in the 2020-21 season, he split once again in three different leagues.

However, last year he was given a great opportunity with Winnipeg. He suited up for 53 games, and while he only got a few minutes a night, that was the norm for the NHL. Unfortunately, it only resulted in three points and his departure in the summer.

It is now unclear where his future lies. According to CapFriendly, his rights are owned by the Jets until his 27th birthday, and his NHL upside is completely unknown at this point. It would be hard for another team to trade him without a good idea if he would be back and if he could make an impact.

It could very well mean just another first-round pick who never does anything in the NHL. Vesalainen has only five points in 70 games. He has averaged 8:33 during those and remains a mystery. For HIFK this season, he has 17 points in 24 games, which isn’t setting the world on fire. For now, he’s just another name on Winnipeg’s reserve list.