Eetu Luostarinen

Eetu Luostarinen (born 2 September 1998) is a Finnish professional ice hockey centre. He currently plays for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has also played for the Carolina Hurricanes. Outside of the NHL, he has also played for KalPa of the Liiga.

Luostarinen is two-time Stanley Cup champion, winning back-to-back with the Panthers in 2024 and 2025.

Career
Before playing in the NHL, Luostarinen played parts of three seasons with KalPa of the Liiga. 

He was drafted 42nd overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2017 NHL entry draft. On 30 May 2019, Luostarinen signed a three-year entry-level contract to join the Hurricanes. He was immediately sent down to their AHL-affiliate Charlotte Checkers. On 7 November 2019, the Hurricanes called Luostarinen up and he made his NHL debut in a 4–2 loss against the New York Rangers. He was later sent back down to the Checkers. The Hurricanes called him back up and on 11 November, he recorded his first NHL point after assisting on a Haydn Fleury goal in a 8–2 win against the Ottawa Senators.

On 24 February 2020, the Hurricanes traded Luostarinen along with Erik Haula, Lucas Wallmark and Chase Priskie to the Florida Panthers in exchange for Vincent Trocheck. On 17 January 2021, Luostarinen scored his first NHL goal against Collin Delia in a 8–2 win against the Chicago Blackhawks. On 8 July 2022, Luostarinen signed a two-year, $3 million contract to stay with the Panthers. He helped the Panthers during the playoffs. They defeated the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Carolina Hurricanes. They were eventually defeated by the Vegas Golden Knights four games to one in the Finals. In Game 4 against the Hurricanes, Luostarinen suffered a broken tibia and was knocked out of the playoffs. On 25 July 2023, Luostarinen signed a three-year, $9 million contract extension to remain with the Panthers.

That season, he helped the Panthers in the Stanley Cup playoffs as they defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning, Boston Bruins, and New York Rangers. They eventually went on to defeat the Edmonton Oilers four games to three in the Finals to win the first Stanley Cup in Panthers history. The next season, he helped the team reach their second-straight Finals, as the Panthers again defeated the Oilers four games to two to win back-to-back Stanley Cups.

References

 Other websites 

Category:1998 births
Category:Living people
Category:Carolina Hurricanes players
Category:Charlotte Checkers (2010–) players
Category:Finnish ice hockey centres
Category:Florida Panthers players
Category:Stanley Cup champions