Noel Pakarinen
Penticton Vees·WHL·Age 18
Draft & Status
Has not yet played an NHL game. NHL statistics will appear here after a debut.
About
Noel Pakarinen is a Finnish forward born in Palo Alto, California, who was drafted by Vegas in the seventh round (207th overall) of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. Standing 6'2" and weighing 198 pounds, the left-shot winger split the 2025-26 season between Kiekko-Espoo's U20 team and their professional Liiga squad. In the U20 SM-sarja, he recorded 13 goals and 17 assists for 30 points in 31 games, earning the Yrjö Hakala Award as Rookie of the Year. He also appeared in nine Liiga games, recording one assist.
Pakarinen is recognized for his high physical forechecking style and refined defensive instincts. He is committed to playing for the Penticton Vees in the WHL for the 2026-27 season after signing a Scholarship and Development Agreement in July 2026.
Noel Pakarinen is part of the Vegas Golden Knights prospect pool. See every prospect in the system, ranked by organizational outlook.