Eetu Mäkiniemi

Playing career

Mäkiniemi began his youth career with Kiekko-Vantaa before moving to junior hockey with Jokerit. He played for Jokerit U20 during the 2016–17 and 2017–18 seasons in the Junior Club World Cup. For the 2018–19 Mestis season, he was transferred back to Kiekko-Vantaa but missed part of the campaign due to a hip injury. In April 2019, Ilves signed him to a two-year contract with a one-year extension option. He made his Liiga debut on 28 December 2019 in a 2–1 win over KooKoo, and recorded his first Liiga shutout on 28 November 2020 against KalPa, stopping 24 shots. On 1 May 2021, the Carolina Hurricanes signed him to a two-year entry-level contract. Playing for the Chicago Wolves of the AHL, he posted an 11–2–1 record with a .922 save percentage and two shutouts in his first 14 appearances, including a 41-save performance in his AHL debut on 22 October 2021. On 13 July 2022, he was traded to the San Jose Sharks along with Steven Lorentz and a third-round pick in the 2023 NHL entry draft for Brent Burns and Lane Pederson. He made his NHL debut on 7 December 2022 in a 6–5 overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks, and re-signed with the Sharks on a one-year contract in June 2023. After his contract ended, he went unsigned over the summer, then accepted a professional tryout with the Philadelphia Flyers on 30 August 2024, later agreeing to a one-year contract on 24 September. On 11 June 2025, he signed a one-year contract with HC TPS.