Otto Koivula, Islanders 2016 4th-Rounder, Signs Entry Level Contract

With the deadline on the horizon for retaining the rights to 2016 draft picks, the New York Islanders announced the agreement to terms for Finnish forward Otto Koivula, their fourth-round pick (120th overall) in that year’s draft.

Koivula was named rookie of the year in Finland’s Liiga after putting up 10 goals and 20 assists in 50 games in 2016-17 with Ilves. This past season (2017-18 is now concluded there) his production was similar, nine goals and 18 assists in 53 games, ranking him fifth in points on the team.

The deal is your standard three-year entry level contract. It doesn’t require that he play in North America next season, though we’ll learn more about plans for the player and team…