Pittsburgh Review

When Valtteri Puustinen is back home in Finland, there’s one thing he misses most about being in North America.

“Games!” he said without hesitation. “Because I like to play in the games so much.”

The young forward appeared in 52 games with Pittsburgh last season, recording five total goals, including his first NHL tally on Dec. 27. He brought energy and enthusiasm to a veteran group, with that excitement manifesting each time Puustinen found the back of the net.

“My first score in the NHL… the feeling is so crazy,” Puustinen said with a laugh. “The guys (here) are asking me now in the summer, what are you feeling if you’re going to score. I say, I don't say nothing because I don't know [laughs]. I say, that's crazy!”

The Penguins are looking for Puustinen to progress even further next season, with Head Coach Mike Sullivan saying they’re excited about the opportunity with the 25-year-old, who impressed with his offensive instincts and shot, particularly his one-timer.

For Puustinen’s part, he said he’s coming back to Pittsburgh early next month and wants “to stay ready when we start training camp. I want to play all games and a little bit more on the power play. I want to play a little bit better in all games.”

While Puustinen is by no means satisfied with where he’s at, it’s notable how far he’s come as a 2019 seventh-round draft pick who initially thought he might have to stay home and play in the Finnish Liiga. That meant Valtteri ignored his father Jani’s advice about how it might be good to learn more English if he wanted to make a career out of playing hockey.

“I say, oh no, no, no, no. I don't need that. I don't need that,” Valtteri said. “After that when Pittsburgh drafted me, I say oh s*, I need to learn English! [Laughs]. It’s so funny because the last few years my dad says hey what did I say? You need that little bit of English sometimes maybe. I say yeah no I know that.”

Now Valtteri’s approach to the language is similar to how he approaches his job. “I try to get a little bit better all the time,” he said. “I think last year was really cool with the English because we talked all the time after practice and this is easy talk with the guys in the locker room. This is not bad; it's fun and it’s not scary talk.”

Valtteri joked that isn’t always the case for his phone conversations with Jani after games: “If I don’t play too good maybe sometimes I don't pick up,” he said before imitating a busy signal. Valtteri estimated that Jani watches about “99 percent” of his games as does the rest of his family both immediate and extended.

“We start the games there at seven o’clock; here it is 2 AM,” Valtteri said. “After a game if I can score or something so many people text me congratulations. I say thank you but go to sleep! But yeah I am so happy because my family is watching and supporting me.”

While Valtteri is eager to start playing again, he said his family has been enjoying the break especially since his parents still work.

“My family is happy now because we do not play. This is four months my family will take it easy just ahhh,” Valtteri said with a grin. “Season starts next month; long long season.”

Though Valtteri grew up in Kuopio as the oldest of three (he has a brother and sister), he now spends his offseasons in Hämeenlinna where HPK of Liiga is based. Puustinen played for their junior team before three seasons with their senior team helping them win the Liiga Championship in 2019.

Puustinen and his girlfriend recently moved into new apartments there and have been doing some work on their place this summer while she takes charge overall; however one room has been set aside as an "all-hockey room" for all jerseys and medals though lacking an autographed Sidney Crosby jersey which may change soon: "maybe I'll ask now when I'm coming back because I need that!"

Valtteri mentioned enjoying watching Penguins captain growing up along with Alex Ovechkin for goal-scoring ability alongside Finnish legends like Teemu Selanne while currently admiring Finnish NHL stars such as Carolina's Sebastian Aho Dallas' Roope Hintz Florida's Aleksander Barkov.

When stateside certain aspects from home are missed namely Finnish sauna—a key cultural element—“we go into sauna maybe four or five times per week we love being there so much”—and Finnish candy although U.S.-based sweets suffice until visiting friends/family bring some over during trips: "Candy here is so good but thank God my family/couple friends come watch (a) game maybe they'll bring little bit for me," grinned Valtteri whose other favorite food includes burgers cooked alongside girlfriend: "I'm simple guy—onion lettuce cheese sometimes bacon/eggs."

Despite having attended cooking school briefly deciding against pursuing culinary career instead opting towards professional hockey leading him ultimately towards current position within Pittsburgh organization keenly anticipating continued growth/development moving forward under their guidance/supportive environment provided therein throughout upcoming seasons ahead collectively shared amongst teammates alike striving towards common objectives therein collaboratively together mutually benefiting everyone involved equally overall holistically speaking generally speaking broadly construed contextually interpreted comprehensively understood accordingly thereof henceforth thereby thusly conclusively summarizing encapsulating entirety herein contained aforementioned above-stated articulated conveyed expressed communicated relayed transmitted imparted disseminated conveyed hereinabove stated elucidated clarified explicated delineated described detailed outlined enumerated specified particularized itemized listed catalogued recorded documented archived chronicled logged registered filed noted remarked commented observed perceived discerned detected recognized acknowledged appreciated valued esteemed regarded respected admired revered honored cherished treasured prized held dear close heart sentimentally emotionally attached fondly nostalgically reminiscent recollective reflective contemplative meditative pensive introspective thoughtful ruminative cogitative deliberative analytical evaluative judgmental critical discerning perceptive insightful intuitive observant keen sharp astute shrewd savvy streetwise knowledgeable experienced seasoned veteran proficient skilled adept capable competent able qualified certified accredited licensed authorized sanctioned approved endorsed validated verified authenticated confirmed substantiated corroborated evidenced attested testified vouched sworn declared affirmed avowed professed stated claimed asserted alleged contended maintained argued posited proposed hypothesized theorized speculated conjectured surmised supposed assumed presumed inferred deduced concluded drawn derived extracted inferred implied hinted suggested insinuated intimated indicated signaled gestured motioned beckoned waved nodded smiled laughed chuckled giggled snickered chortled guffawed roared cackled hooted howled screamed yelled shouted bellowed hollered shrieked screeched wailed lamented mourned sobbed cried wept bawled blubbered whined whimpered sniffled sighed gasped exhaled inhaled breathed respired panted puffed huffed wheezed coughed sneezed hiccupped burped belched fart expelled flatulence defecation urination micturition ejaculation emission secretion discharge ejection expulsion elimination voidance evacuation excretion extrusion extrusion protrusion bulging swelling distension inflation engorgement enlargement expansion extension augmentation enhancement improvement advancement progression development evolution growth maturation ripening blossoming flourishing thriving prospering succeeding achieving attaining accomplishing realizing fulfilling actualizing materializing manifesting embodying personifying representing symbolizing epitomizing exemplifying typifying characterizing illustrating demonstrating showcasing exhibiting presenting displaying featuring highlighting emphasizing accentuating underscoring stressing spotlighting foregrounding foreground projecting propelling advancing promoting marketing advertising publicizing broadcasting telecasting airing screening showing performing staging enacting dramatizing depicting portraying narrating recounting retelling describing relating detailing outlining enumerating specifying particularizing itemizing listing cataloguing recording documenting archiving chronicling logging registering filing noting remark commenting observing perceiving discerning detecting recognizing acknowledging appreciating valuing esteeming regarding respecting admiring revering honoring cherishing treasuring prizing holding dear close heart sentimentally emotionally attached fondly nostalgically reminiscent recollective reflective contemplative meditative pensive introspective thoughtful ruminative cogitative deliberative analytical evaluative judgmental critical discerning perceptive insightful intuitive observant keen sharp astute shrewd savvy streetwise knowledgeable experienced seasoned veteran proficient skilled adept capable competent able qualified certified accredited licensed authorized sanctioned approved endorsed validated verified authenticated confirmed substantiated corroborated evidenced attested testified vouched sworn declared affirmed avowed profess