“It’s an Original Six [team]. A huge team, a nice rink and a nice city…I don’t know anything better than New York and the Rangers.”
-An excited @MeskanenVille on his opportunity with #NYR
Full ?: https://t.co/UyKTqPSQ3e pic.twitter.com/6w8ztw3yEr
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) May 3, 2018
The New York Rangers keep signing players as the organization announced the signing of Finnish free agent forward Ville Meskanen.
The New York Rangers continue to add to their roster as the organization announced, on Thursday, that they have signed Finnish free agent forward Ville Meskanen.
The 22-year-old Meskanen played for Ilves of the Finnish Elite League in the 2017-2018 season.
OFFICIAL: #NYR have agreed to terms with free agent forward Ville Meskanen.
Meskanen, 22 from ??, skated in 48 games with Ilves in Liiga this past season, registering 24 goals and 20 assists for 44 points.
? him in action with ?? ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/OkXPsrsu3t
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) May 3, 2018
He appeared in 48 games for Ilves, scoring 24 goals with 20 assists for 44 points. The Finnish forward established career highs in games played, goals, assists, points and plus/minus rating (plus three). Meskanen also posted 13 multi-point games in 2017-18. He was the only player in the league to score 40 or more points with four or fewer penalty minutes.
Meskanen played the better part of the last four years with Ilves, appearing in a total of 141 games. He took them to the 2015-16 League championship in Nuorten SM-Liiga as he registered seven points (four goals, three assists) in seven playoff games.
“I’m so happy,” he said from his home in Tampere, where he played for Ilves of Finland’s Liiga. “It’s crazy what the opportunity is from the Rangers. It’s a dream come true,” he told Matt Calamia of the Rangers official website. He went on to say, “I’m an offensive style of player who likes to score and make plays in the offensive zone, I like to score goals, no matter what.”.
Rangers fans have to love his enthusiasm and confidence he brings to the rink every game.
So happy and grateful to be part of the @NYRangers organization!
This is really dream come true!— Ville Meskanen (@MeskanenVille) May 3, 2018
“It’s an Original Six [team]. A huge team, a nice rink and a nice city…I don’t know anything better than New York and the Rangers.”
-An excited @MeskanenVille on his opportunity with #NYR
Full ?: https://t.co/UyKTqPSQ3e pic.twitter.com/6w8ztw3yEr
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) May 3, 2018
The next step for Meskanen will be to come over to New York City. He will receive that opportunity following the NHL Entry Draft in June.
He, along with the Ranger draft picks and prospects will skate in the organization’s development camp where he will meet future teammates and get to see and skate at the Rangers training facility.