Penguins Officially Sign SHL Rookie of the Year Melvin Fernstrom

The Pittsburgh Penguins have an ageing core, and while their organization has some intriguing young prospects, it's safe to say that few have separated themselves into the can't-miss category beyond Rutger McGroarty, who made his NHL debut last season after being acquired from the Winnipeg Jets.

One player that many believe could make a leap towards the NHL next season is Melvin Fernstrom, who was a third-round pick of the Vancouver Canucks in the 2024 NHL Draft, and now, the Penguins have announced that he has officially signed his entry-level deal.

The 19-year old played his first full season of top level hockey in Sweden last season, tallying 8 goals and 17 points in 48 games played, winning the Rookie of the Year award in the process, and given his solid size at 6-foot and 187 pounds, it's safe to say that the Penguins see a player with great potential.

For a team like Pittsburgh that is desperate to see elite level talent get to the NHL, the emergence of Fernstrom could be a great story in 2025/26, and with his ELC now signed, there's a good chance that we can see him played in the AHL for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Last season, it was Ville Koivunen that took that jump, a player that Pittsburgh also acquired in a trade, and while that leap may be another 18 months away for Fernstrom, given how desperate the Penguins are for elite level talent, hopes are quite high for the talented Swede.