After agreeing to terms on a three-year, entry-level contract with the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights last week, the 18-year-old has signed his transfer card and will be suiting up for the Wheaties in 2019-20.
Kallionkieli was selected 139th overall by Vegas in the fifth round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft this past June in San Jose, CA. The following week, the Helsinki, FI. product was chosen by the Western Hockey League’s Brandon Wheat Kings in the 28th annual CHL Import Draft.
With the 22nd selection, the Wheat Kings selected the 6-foot-2, 195-forward who played for the USHL’s Sioux City Muskateers in 2018-19. He fired home 29 goals, and finished with 83 points in 58 games, ultimately being named to the USHL’s All-Rookie All-Star Team. Brandon later chose Russian winger Vladislav Firstov with the 82nd overall selection.
Kallionkieli’s three-year contract carries a $796K annual average value and cap hit with attainable Schedule A, B and C rookie bonuses. Should he spend the 2019-20 season in the NHL, the former Team Finland U-16 and U-17 star would begin to earn the first year of his total $2.39 million contract. If Kallionkieli plays with the American Hockey League’s Chicago Wolves, he would earn $70K. However, after signing this transfer card, it appears as though Kallionkieli will join fellow countryman and fellow Vegas draft pick Jiri Patera in Manitoba while playing for Brandon this coming season.
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