Penguins ink '24 draft pick Chase Pietila to 3-year entry-level contract

The Pittsburgh Penguins signed another member of their 2024 NHL Draft class, defenseman Chase Pietila, to a three-year entry-level contract Sunday evening, the club announced.

Pietila, 21, was chosen by the Penguins in the fourth round (No. 111 overall) of last year’s draft.

His contract begins in 2025-26 and runs through the 2027-28 campaign.

A 6-foot-2, right-handed shot, Pietila turns professional after two seasons at Michigan Tech.

In 2024-25, his sophomore year, Pietila played in 36 games for the Huskies, scoring seven goals with 15 assists while averaging 26 minutes, 37 seconds of nightly ice time.

Chase Pietila rips in his 2nd of the weekend and 7th of the season for a 4-3 Tech lead! #mtuhky #FollowTheHuskies pic.twitter.com/8IUy3wpTiI

— Michigan Tech Hockey (@mtuhky) February 16, 2025

The prior season, as a freshman at Michigan Tech, Pietila skated in 40 NCAA contests, scoring three goals with 19 assists.

Pietila is an alumni of the United States Hockey League’s Youngstown Phantoms, with whom he played two seasons (‘21-22, ‘22-23).

Pietila’s 25-year-old brother, Logan, is also in the Penguins organization, having appeared in 56 games this season for the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL.

The two played one season together at Michigan Tech in ‘23-24.

Chase Pietila is the fourth of the Penguins’ 2024 draft picks — following defensemen Harrison Brunicke (second round, No. 44) and Finn Harding (seventh round, No. 223) plus forward Tanner Howe (second round, No. 46) — to turn pro and ink entry-level deals.

With Pietila locked up, only forward 19-year-old Mac Swanson (seveth round, No. 207) and 20-year-old defenseman Joona Vaisanen (sixth round, No. 175) remain unsigned from Pittsburgh’s 2024 draft class.