Rangers Acquire 2027 NHL Draft Prospect Luca Santala from London

KITCHENER, ON – The Kitchener Rangers announced today that the club has acquired Finnish forward Luca Santala and London’s third-round selection in the 2027 CHL Import Draft from the London Knights in exchange for four OHL Priority Selection picks and Kitchener’s first-round selection in the 2027 CHL Import Draft.

Kitchener Receives:
F Luca Santala
London’s third-round selection in the 2027 CHL Import Draft

London Receives:
Kitchener’s second-round selection in the 2030 OHL Priority Selection
Kitchener’s third-round selection in the 2030 OHL Priority Selection
Kitchener’s fourth-round selection in the 2030 OHL Priority Selection
Kitchener’s eighth-round selection in the 2030 OHL Priority Selection
Kitchener’s first-round selection in the 2027 CHL Import Draft

Santala, 17, is a 6-foot-2, 190-pound forward from Finland who is eligible for the 2027 NHL Draft. The forward was selected 40th overall by London in the 2026 CHL Import Draft before signing with the Knights in July.

“We are very excited to welcome Luca to the Rangers,” said Rangers General Manager Mike McKenzie. “Luca is a high-end NHL prospect who plays a very well-rounded game. We had flexibility to add an import player, and when Luca became available, we jumped at the opportunity and think it is a great fit. We look forward to seeing Luca develop in Kitchener for the next two seasons.”

Before coming to the OHL, Santala spent the 2025-26 season in Finland with Kiekko-Espoo. Playing against older competition at the U20 level, Santala recorded seven goals and five assists for 12 points in 25 regular-season games. He also registered 22 points (12G, 10A) in 17 games at the U18 level.
Santala has represented Finland extensively on the international stage. At the 2026 IIHF U18 World Championship, he recorded four goals and two assists for six points in five games. He followed that performance with six points (2G, 4A) in five games at the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, helping Finland win a bronze medal.

Capable of playing both centre and wing, Santala is regarded as one of the notable prospects eligible for the 2027 NHL Draft. He was recently ranked No. 19 in TSN’s preseason ranking of 2027 NHL Draft-eligible players. Hockey also runs in the Santala family. Luca’s father, Tommi Santala, played professional hockey for parts of 20 seasons, with stops in Finland, Switzerland and Russia. He also appeared in 63 NHL games during his career.

Luca will join the Rangers immediately and is expected to jump into the lineup for a busy weekend of OHL action. Santala will wear #23 for the Kitchener Rangers. Kitchener will play three games in three days, starting Friday night (vs. Erie, 7pm) at The Aud, then hit the road Saturday (at Erie, 6pm) and return home Sunday (vs. Kingston, 6pm) to close out the weekend.

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Rangers fans can welcome Luca Santala to Kitchener, along with Luca Romano and Alexander Bilecki as they return from NHL camps, during a busy weekend at The Aud. Tickets are available at KITCHENERLIVE.CA.