Mikael Pyyhtia is entering his fourth full season in the Blue Jackets organization after originally being drafted as a fourth-round pick in 2020. He also extended with Columbus on a two-year deal back in June.
He has consistently earned NHL playing time, although this past season saw the least amount out of his three years in America so far. However, that doesn't accurately represent his progress over the last couple of years.
Pyyhtia scored 21 goals and 49 points in 59 games with the Monsters last season, both of which rank second on the team. This is a noticeable jump from the previous two years which saw him score a combined 44 points in 88 games.
He looked noticeably more confident this time around, and really stepped up as a big part of the Monsters' game plan. Because of his success both offensively and defensively, he can be given a lot of credit to the team's success.
He is undoubtedly ready to play in the NHL
He only played five NHL games, but looked very solid in that timespan. Although in an incredibly small sample size, Pyyhtia ranked first on the team in shot attempt percentage and expected goals percentage, according to MoneyPuck.
These numbers show that he was really able to hold his own on both ends of the ice, creating chances for the Jackets while limiting those from opponents. He did only end up with a single goal in that stretch, but it was an absolute beauty. He came flying through the neutral zone, received a pass, and ripped a shot that you would miss if you blinked.
Mikael Pyyhtia with an absolute RIP for his first of the season! 🎯 pic.twitter.com/G7xiB52vt5
— NHL (@NHL) January 12, 2026
Even more important than his offensive contribution, though, is his smart two-way game. He does a great job of controlling the pace of the game and keeping opponents in check. It's similar to that of Danton Heinen, who we covered yesterday.
Although Pyyhtia has some more offensive upside than Heinen, his role in the NHL would primarily be to cancel out the top-six forwards of opponents, limiting dangerous scoring chances while playing in the corners and working hard.
I think that he can be an underrated part of the team's bottom six, although there is heavy competition for a role there. It may be a bit of an uphill battle, as he is 6 feet tall and around 180 pounds, and won't be able to slot in as a center.
With other players who have more offensive skill (like his teammates in Cleveland, Luca Del Bel Belluz and Luca Pinelli), and more experienced veterans (Heinen, Miles Wood, and Ryan Lomberg) fighting for a fourth-line spot, Pyyhtia will need to show his maturity and hockey IQ to earn a consistent role.
Add us as a preferred source on Google