UNIONDALE, New York (Ticker) - The New York Islanders signed center Petteri Nokelainen, their first-round pick in 2004, on Tuesday.
Terms were not disclosed.
The 19-year-old Nokelainen was Team Finland's Most Valuable Player in last year's World Junior Championships.
"It's great news for us to be able to bring Petteri to North America just a year after drafting him," Islanders general manager Mike Milbury said. "We're anxious to take a good look at him in camp and see how he does against our NHLers and other top prospects. Petteri is a very strong player that will have an impact with the Islanders in the near future."
Nokelainen has spent the last three seasons with SaiPa Lappeenranta of the Finnish League. In 2004-05, he recorded 15 goals in 52 games.
"Petteri has played very well in his homeland, but his game may even be more well-suited to the NHL style," said Islanders European scout Anders Kallur. "He doesn't really have any glaring weaknesses. In time, he's going to be an excellent player for us."
The 6-1, 190-pound Nokelainen is known as a solid two-way center with a defensive mindset. At the 2005 World Junior Championship, he was responsible for shutting down the opposing team's top line, but also had a goal and four assists.
Nokelainen will join several other prospects at a rookie camp prior to the opening of the Islanders' training camp on September 12 in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.