Rasmus Kupari was born on March 15th, 2000, in Kotka, Finland. He is a centre who has spent his NHL playing career with the Los Angeles Kings and the Winnipeg Jets. He is listed at 6-foot-2 and 183 pounds and is a right-handed shot. There isn’t a lot of documentation on Kupari’s early playing days other than playing for Titaanit’s U16 and U18 teams. Kupari also suited up for Karpat’s U18 and U20 teams along with the men’s senior team in Liiga where he made his professional hockey debut.
Drafted 20th Overall by the Los Angeles Kings
Rasmus Kupari made his professional hockey debut with Karpat in Liiga. Kupari posted 14 points (6G, 8A) in 39 regular season games and was held scoreless in six postseason contests for Karpat during the 2017-18 season.
This was enough to impress scouts as the Los Angeles Kings selected Rasmus Kupari with the 20th overall selection in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. The Kings wouldn’t waste time signing their new draft pick as they inked Kupari to a three-year entry-level contract on July 13th which was less than a month after he was drafted.
Kupari spent the 2018-19 season in Liiga, representing Karpat. He posted 33 points (12G, 21A) in 43 games while adding 65 PIMs. He would suit up for 16 postseason contests with Karpat, adding five points (1G, 4A) during that run. He wouldn’t return to Karpat after the 2018-19 season, choosing to join the Ontario Reigns, the Kings’ AHL affiliate, for the 2019-20 season.
He was limited to just 27 games in his debut campaign for the Reign, but he still posted eight points (6G, 2A) and earned more looks beyond the AHL. In the 2020-21 season, Kupari would get the call and made his NHL debut against the St. Louis Blues on March 5th. While he didn’t score a goal or contribute an assist, the rookie centre proved that there was a bright future ahead.
Kupari netted his first career goal on May 8th, 2021, during the COVID bubble 2020-21 season. He scored the goal against the Colorado Avalanche as his first point during four NHL appearances. Kupari would spend most of the 2020-21 season with the Reign, netting 23 points (8G, 15A) in 32 games while he was limited to one goal/point in seven NHL games.
He broke through in the following seasons when he spent the majority of his season with the Kings rather than the Reign. Things were looking up for Kupari as he began adding to his point total with the Kings but ultimately was traded in the 2023 offseason.
Traded to the Winnipeg Jets
The Winnipeg Jets acquired Rasmus Kupari, Alex Iafallo, Gabriel Vilardi and a 2024 second-round pick in exchange for Pierre-Luc Dubois. Kupari and Vilardi were restricted free agents and both signed, Kupari signed a two-year contract similar to Vilardi.
Related: Pierre-Luc Dubois Traded to Los Angeles Kings
Kupari has had a rocky start since joining the Winnipeg Jets, he couldn’t seem to find his stride and was even assigned to the Manitoba Moose, the Jets’ AHL affiliate, for one game. In Kupari’s debut campaign with the Winnipeg Jets, he’s posted one assist/point in 28 games but will most likely soar under new head coach Scott Arniel in the 2024-25 season.
Outside of his NHL career, Kupari has won the Liiga championship with Karpat in the 2017-18 season. He’s also won a Liiga silver medal in the 2018-19 season. Internationally, Kupari has represented his home country, Finland. He’s won a World Junior Championship U18 Silver Medal in 2016-17 and a Gold Medal in 2017-18. He’s also added a U18 SM-Sarja Bronze Medal in 2016-17 and a U20 SM-Liiga Silver Medal in 2017-18. At the U20 World Junior Championship in 2018-19, Kupari and Team Finland won the Gold Medal, making his international playing career decorated so far.
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