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Young Winnipeg Jets Forward Walks Away From the NHL to Sign Multi-Year Deal Overseas

Originally posted on House of Hockey | By Daniel Lucente | Last updated Jun 3, 2025 9:49 AM ET

Winnipeg Jets young forward Rasmus Kupari has decided to leave his team and the NHL and head overseas, signing a two-year deal with HC Lugano in Switzerland.

Finnish winger Rasmus Kupari, 25, inked a two-year deal with HC Lugano, the Swiss National League club announced Tuesday.

'Rasmus has played his last five seasons in the NHL and AHL,' said Lugano GM Janick Steinmann. 'He's a first-line forward, a good skater with important qualities in every area of the rink. In North America, he has often been assigned more defensive roles, but with us he will be able to assert his skills as a two-ways player. I am convinced that his qualities adapt very well to the National League and he will also have a strong impact offensively. I am extremely happy to have him with us in Lugano and to be able to observe all his potential.'

Kupari, a product of Kotka, Finland, began his professional career at 17 with Oulu's Karpat, amassing 52 points in 104 Liiga regular-season and playoff games.

'I think Lugano is the ideal place to take the next step in my career,' Kupari is quoted. 'I want to be a leader on and off the ice and bring my game to the entire rink, both defensively and offensively. I think my most important skill is skating.'

Kupari was a first-round pick back in 2018

Picked 20th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, Kupari never quite settled in the NHL.

Over five seasons with the Kings and Winnipeg Jets, he played in 217 regular-season games, posting 14 goals and 24 assists for 38 points, as well as 52 penalty minutes. He also played 11 playoff games with Los Angeles but had no points.

Internationally, Kupari represented Finland in three IIHF World Junior Championships. He assisted Finland in winning the 2019 gold medal with five points in seven games and the championship-winning goal.

His 2020 tournament was cut short due to an injury suffered in the first game. Kupari is now a part of HC Lugano, with the team looking to retool its roster after not making the playoffs last season.

This article first appeared on House of Hockey and was syndicated with permission.

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