Finnish news site Ilta-Sanomat reported on Wednesday that Penguins defense prospect Santeri Airola is expected to sign with the Tampere Ilves of the Finnish Liiga, the top men's league in Finland.
The contract would be for the 2020-21 season.
Airola, the Penguins' seventh-round pick this summer, is currently under contract with Kettera of the second-tier Mestis league through next season with a club 2021-22 option, but the club would allow him to move to the higher league.
Airola, 19, is a 5-foot-11, 165-pound right-handed defenseman. He played in three Liiga games with SaiPa last season, and two games with SaiPa on loan this season.