Esa Pirnes

Infobox Ice Hockey Player
position = Centre
shoots = Left
height_ft = 6
height_in = 0
weight_lb = 189
team = Khimik Moscow Oblast
league = CHL
nationality = Finland
birth_date = Birth date and age|1977|4|1
birth_place = Oulu, FIN
career_start = 1995
draft = 174^th overall
draft_year = 2003
draft_team = Los Angeles Kings
former_teams = Kärpät
Espoo Blues
Tappara
Los Angeles Kings
Manchester Monarchs
Lukko
Färjestads BK

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image_size = 225px
nickname = Essi

Esa Pirnes (born April 1 1977 in Oulu) is a Finnish professional ice hockey centre. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft in the 6th round as the 174th pick overall.

Playing career

Pirnes started his career with Kärpät in the Finnish second league in 1995 and played with them until 1999, when he signed with SM-Liiga club Blues. He stayed with the Blues for two seasons before he moved to rivals Tappara in 2001. In 2003 he was drafted by the Kings after four good seasons in SM-Liiga. Pirnes went over the Atlantic to play in the NHL. But he didn't have the same success in NHL as he had in Finland. Despite playing 57 games with LA he only scored 11 points. Before the season was over he also played a few games with the Kings's farm team, Manchester Monarchs of the AHL. But he didn't stay in the NHL, instead he went back home to Finland and signed with Lukko for the 2004/05 season. After one year in Lukko he moved back to his former club, Blues. But after the season he signed with his fifth club in five years, Swedish club Färjestads BK, for the 2006/07 season. In Färjestad he will reunited with his former teammate from Lukko, Janne Niskala. In the Season 2008/2009 played for Atlant Moscow Oblast (Former Khimik Moscow Oblast`).

Career statistics

External links

*
* [http://www.nhlfinns.com/players.aspx?pid=110 Esa Pirnes] on nhlfinns.com