The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed center Oiva Keskinen to a three-year, entry level contract beginning with the 2025-26 season. He was selected by Columbus in the seventh round, 194th overall, at the 2023 NHL Draft and most recently played in Finland’s top professional league (Liiga).

Keskinen, 21, registered 22 goals and 40 assists, and a cumulative +16 plus/minus rating in 113 contests over two seasons with Tappara in Liiga from 2023-25. He has added 2-8-10 and four penalty minutes in 25 career playoff appearances and helped the club win the league championship in 2023-24.

The 6-0, 181-pound native of Ylojarvi, Finland set single-season career highs and ranked second on Tappara in goals in 2024-25 with 15-20-35 in 59 games. He ranked second in Liiga among players 22-years-old or younger in goals this past season. He was a finalist for the league’s Wasama Award (Rookie of the Year) in 2024.

Keskinen collected 2-3-5 in seven contests for Finland at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championships. He spent parts of two campaigns with Tappara’s junior team from 2021-23 and registered 21-21-42 in 45 appearances.