Oilers top goalie prospect Eemil Vinni gets a fresh start in Finland, and the clock starts ticking
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Daniel Lucente
Feb 15, 2026 (12:14)
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Photo credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Eemil Vinni gets loaned in Finland, and the Edmonton Oilers goalie prospect badly needs starts, not another quiet month.
On Sunday, Joensuun Kiekko-Pojat sent Vinni to Imatran Ketterä for the rest of the Mestis season.
It is a simple development move, but it is also a warning light.
Vinni has not played since January 10, and he was stuck behind other options in JoKP’s crease.
In 17 games this year, he posted an .884 save percentage, so reps matter more than pride right now.
The Oilers drafted him in 2024, Round 2, 64th overall, betting on size and a calm base after a strong junior run in Finland.
He is 20, catches left, and Edmonton still holds his NHL rights while he plays out a deal that ends this spring.
Eemil Vinni and the Edmonton Oilers need clarity
Oilers fans are split, some see patience, others see another goalie prospect drifting overseas.
Ketterä should give him a steadier rhythm, even if he is not chasing the top job between the pipes.
For Edmonton, the bigger question is what happens after the season when his contract is up. That is where development staff earns its pay.
If he signs, he could finally come to North America and compete for Bakersfield minutes, with an AHL learning curve that is never gentle.
If he stays in Finland again, Edmonton keeps the long view, but the pipeline behind Tristan Jarry gets thinner.
This loan does not change the NHL roster today, yet it shapes the next decision at goalie, and those are always high-stakes in a cap world for contenders.
The next few weeks in Mestis will tell us whether Vinni is trending up, or just treading water.
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