Juuso Parssinen, acquired by the New York Rangers from Colorado in the Ryan Lindgren trade, didn’t exactly shine during the 2024-25 season. Despite a lackluster performance, the Rangers surprisingly handed the 24-year-old forward a two-year contract extension before the season concluded.
At first glance, Parssinen seemed like a throw-in to make the trade work financially or open up roster space for the Avalanche. That perception changed with the unexpected contract extension, which only adds to an already crowded battle for spots in the Rangers’ bottom six forwards.
Expectations vs. Reality
Parssinen’s career has been modest—selected in the seventh round, he had limited impact with Nashville and Colorado before landing in New York. In 15 games with the Predators, he scored 2 goals and 3 assists. In 22 games with the Avalanche, he tallied 6 points while averaging under 10 minutes of ice time per game.
His rookie year in 2022-23 with Nashville showed promise, but his production has declined since. Colorado used him sparingly, and it wasn’t hard to see why.
Performance with the Rangers
In his 11 games with New York, Parssinen posted a surprising 5 points (2 goals, 3 assists), outperforming expectations given his limited role and ice time. His scoring rate improved compared to his stints with previous teams.
However, advanced stats paint a less flattering picture. His possession and expected goals numbers were poor, suggesting he benefited from a degree of luck rather than consistent play-driving. The underlying metrics show he often chased play rather than controlled it—an issue that persisted in his prior stops.
This grade reflects his entire 2024-25 body of work across all three teams. Parssinen played in 48 games, recorded 16 points, and posted middling advanced stats. Players already in the Rangers’ system were delivering similar or better results—and were often younger or had more developmental investment from the team.
The decision to extend Parssinen remains puzzling unless the front office sees untapped potential that hasn’t been evident in his NHL career thus far. Perhaps new head coach Mike Sullivan can get more out of him—but at this stage, expectations should remain tempered.