Panthers and Penguins Swap Emil Pieniniemi for Oliver Okuliar Rights

The trade gives Pieniniemi a fresh start while Pittsburgh takes ownership of Okuliar’s NHL rights with his return from Sweden unclear.

Overview

The teams announced the deal on Saturday, June 13, 2026, with Florida receiving defenseman Emil Pieniniemi and Pittsburgh acquiring the NHL rights to forward Oliver Okuliar.
Pieniniemi was a third‑round pick in 2023 who refused an October ECHL assignment, was suspended early in the 2025–26 season, later played in both the ECHL and AHL, and still has two years left on his entry‑level contract with a cap hit just under $907,000.
Okuliar is a 26‑year‑old undrafted winger who spent 2025–26 with SHL club Skelleftea after a strong 2024–25 AHL season in Charlotte and is reported to have one year of team control as a restricted free agent.
Both outlets characterize the swap as a low‑profile, minor‑league roster move aimed at giving Pieniniemi a clean slate and extracting value for Pittsburgh from a player it might otherwise have lost for nothing.
Key next steps to watch are whether Okuliar’s Skelleftea contract contains an NHL out‑clause that would allow Pittsburgh to bring him back to North America and how each club uses the players to address minor‑league depth next season.