Juuso Parssinen joined the New York Rangers at the NHL trade deadline in what initially seemed like a minor piece in a larger trade—mostly to balance salaries and open up a roster spot for the Colorado Avalanche. However, the narrative shifted when the Rangers surprisingly signed Parssinen to a two-year extension, raising eyebrows given the already crowded bottom six forward group.
Expectations vs. Reality
Parssinen, a 24-year-old former 7th-round draft pick, had modest expectations entering the Rangers’ roster. Before the trade, he had played 22 games with Colorado (2 goals, 4 assists in 9:47 TOI per game) and 15 games with Nashville (2 goals, 3 assists in 12:13 TOI). His performance with the Predators dipped after a promising rookie campaign in 2022-23, and he never regained that form.
Rangers Stint Performance
In his short time with New York, Parssinen outperformed expectations offensively, notching 5 points (2 goals, 3 assists) in 11 games with an average ice time of 9:46. That marked a noticeable jump in production—his points-per-game rate of 0.45 was better than both his Colorado and Nashville stints.
But the underlying analytics paint a less flattering picture. In that small sample, he posted poor advanced stats: a 36.57% Corsi For, 35.6% expected goals for, and a 57.46% goals for percentage. While his actual goal contributions were solid, the gap between expected and actual suggests some luck was involved. His possession metrics indicate he spent more time reacting to the play rather than driving it.
Looking Ahead
Parssinen seems destined for a bottom-six role with the Rangers, but it’s unclear what exactly prompted the team to give him a contract extension. His overall numbers across three teams last season (48 games, 16 points, 45.08% GF%, 46.31% CF%, and 39.5% xGF%) don’t separate him from others already on the roster—many of whom are younger and have more developmental investment from the team.
Grade: D
While it may seem harsh, this grade reflects not just his brief success in New York, but his full-season performance across three teams. The Rangers already have comparable players, and without a clear standout quality, Parssinen will have to work hard to secure a spot in the lineup.
He might benefit from working under incoming head coach Mike Sullivan, but based on his track record so far, expectations for a breakout are modest at best.
