Juuso Parssinen continues to make a positive impression and play a big role for Finland at the 2025 World Hockey Championships. The New York Rangers forward added to his impressive play at the tournament Saturday when he scored a highlight-reel goal off the rush in a 2-1 win against Latvia.
Parssinen made a slick between the legs play at high speed approaching the Latvia net early in the second period. He appeared to be trying to pass to an onrushing teammate, but caught a break when the puck hit the skate of a Latvian defenseman and deflected into the net to give Finland a 1-0 lead at 7:37 of the second period.
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That was Parsinnen’s only shot on goal Saturday, but he made it count. He also won six of 10 face-offs and logged an even 10 minutes TOI.
The 24-year-old now has four points (three goals, one assist) in five games for Finland, which has won four of five. Parssinen’s first two goals in the tournament were game-winners, and he’s plus-6 so far.
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His goal Saturday is quickly becoming a go-to highlight on social media. But that’s nothing new for Parssinen. He blew it up a couple years ago when he scored this between-the-legs beauty for the Nashville Predators in overtime against the Minnesota Wild.
Rangers intrigued with what they have in Juuso Parssinen
This is the potential the Rangers see in Parssinen, whom they acquired from the Colorado Avalanche on March 1 in the Ryan Lindgren trade. It’s, in part, what led the Rangers to sign Parssinen to a two-year, $2.5 million contract a couple weeks ago.
Parssinen was actually scratched for more games (12) than he played (11) with the Rangers after the trade. When he was in the lineup, Parssinen skated in the bottom six, both at center and on the wing. He won 40.3 percent of his face-offs in limited opportunity. The Rangers had only a 28.57 percent expected goals share when Parssinen was on the ice 5v5, per Natural Stat Trick, and were out-chanced by a whopping 77-21 margin with him on the ice.
But Parssinen came alive offensively late in the season, with five points (two goals, three assists) in his final three games. And he’s carried that momentum into the World Championships.
Can he bring it consistently? That’s always been the question for the talented forward, who offers versatility with the ability to play center or on the wing. Even at the Worlds, it hasn’t been all good. Parssinen was demolished at the face-off dot prior to Saturday’s much better showing.
Next season will give the Rangers a better idea if they have an extra depth forward on their hands or an emerging young talent ready to take the next step.
