Antti Raanta is finally going home. On Monday, Liiga club Lukko, located in Raanta’s hometown of Rauma, on Finland’s west coast, announced that the 36-year-old goaltender had signed a one-year contract.

“There’s a little boyish enthusiasm, Raanta smiled in a press conference. “Of course, I feel a little nervous about returning home, but at the same time I’m really excited and have found some peace – now I know where I’m going and I’ll have the opportunity to play in Rauma again.”

“It’s a great thing that Antti is coming home,” said Lukko sports director Kalle Sahlsted. “‘Ana’ has, of course, had a great career so far and now he was quite mature and a return to Lukko was possible. We strongly believe that he will be one of the top players in the league next season.”

Sahlstedt continued, “The best thing about this is that we get a boy from our own village back home.”

Raanta had considered signing with Lukko last year summer when he decided to end his NHL career and return to play in Europe. However, he learned that, according to Finnish tax laws, if he signed a professional contract in Finland in 2024, he would be taxed by the Finnish government for all of his income during that calendar year, which included a half-season’s NHL salary and proceeds from the sale of his house in North Carolina.

Instead, he played in Switzerland for Genève-Servette, where he posted a goals-against average of 2.74, a save percentage of .902 and one shutout in 24 National League games. He also played in five Champions Hockey League games, where he backstopped his team to the semifinals with a goals-against average of 1.80, a save percentage of .944 and two shutouts. Raanta was one of the pan-European competition’s five MVP finalists.

Antti Raanta Won’t Return To Geneva – Finland Next? Antti Raanta’s first season back in Europe after ending his NHL career had its ups and downs.

Raanta grew up and turned pro with Lukko until 2011. He also played two Liiga seasons for Ässät before going to North America in 2013. Over the next 11 seasons, he played 277 NHL regular-season games and 24 playoff games for the Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers, Arizona Coyotes and Carolina Hurricanes.

Last season, Lukko finished first in the Liiga standings and was eliminated in the semifinals by SaiPa Lappeenranta.

“We’ve got a chance to win here,” said Raanta. “The team here has been built in such a way that we are very close to that ultimate goal and a championship. I have also heard a lot of good things about the entire organization and how things are handled here.”

Raanta is one of eight players that Lukko has under contract for next season. Among the others is Canadian defenseman Éric Gélinas, who signed a one-year contract extension in March.

Ex-NHL D-Man Will Return To Finnish Team Next YearCanadian defenseman Éric Gélinas, 33, has agreed to a one-year contract extension with Lukko Rauma,