Europe update: Tarmo Reunanen loaned to Finnish team

Another New York Rangers prospect will be getting playing time in Europe

We’ve been wondering what happened to Tarmo Reuanen.  The Finnish defensemen played for Lukko last season in the Finnish Liiga, but there had been no word on whether he would be loaned to Lukko again this season.   According to Statboy Steven, the word had been that Lukko wanted a full season commitment and the New York Rangers would not agree to that.

Today, we learned that he is has been loaned to Tuto Hockey in the Mestis League, the second best league in Finland.  As reported by Prohockeyrumors.com, and based on an announcement from the Tuto team, the Rangers have loaned Reuanen to Tuto, but have the right to recall him whenever they want to.

Reunanen, 22,  was a fourth round pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.  Rather than lose his rights, they signed him to an Entry Level Contract last summer and loaned him to Lukko. In 51 games last season he had five goals and 19 points in 51 games while playing on the second defense pair averaging over 19 minutes per game.  It’s a return for Reunanen as he played for Tuto in 2016-17.

He will hit the ice in shape as he has been working out with the Tuto team before the loan was finalized.  He will be playing in his first game for Tuto later today.

When Gary Bettman announced that the NHL wouldn’t start until January 1, it made it even more important for Rangers prospects to continue to play if they could.  There’s no guarantee that a January start is even realistic and with training camps not beginning until mid-December at the earliest, it means that players like Reunanen will get to play regularly for at least two more months.

With questions about the Rangers defensive depth, the left-shot defenseman could make the move to North America if the team needs to add players to their Hartford blueline.