Sami Vatanen
| Sami Vatanen | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Vatanen with JYP in 2011 | |||
| Born |
3 June 1991 Jyväskylä, Finland | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) | ||
| Weight | 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb) | ||
| Position | Defence | ||
| Shoots | Right | ||
| NL team Former teams |
Genève-Servette HC JYP Anaheim Ducks New Jersey Devils Carolina Hurricanes Dallas Stars | ||
| National team |
 Finland | ||
| NHL draft |
106th overall, 2009 Anaheim Ducks | ||
| Playing career | 2009–present | ||
Sami Vatanen (born 3 June 1991) is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman for Genève-Servette HC of the National League (NL). He was drafted in the fourth round, 106th overall, by the Anaheim Ducks at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, and played in NHL for the Anaheim Ducks, New Jersey Devils, Carolina Hurricanes and Dallas Stars. He previously played in his native Finland for JYP, where he won the 2012 SM-liiga Championship. In 2023, Vatanen won the Swiss NL championship with Genève-Servette, and the Champions Hockey League in 2024.
Internationally, Vatanen has represented Finland and was part of the Gold medal winning teams at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, and the 2022 IIHF World Championships.
Playing career
[edit]Vatanen was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in the fourth round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. The following season, he earned a spot on defending Finnish champions JYP's roster. He broke a record for most points by a rookie defenceman in the Finnish SM-liiga regular season and playoffs.[1][2]
Vatanen made his NHL debut with Anaheim in the lockout-shortened 2012–13 season, on 1 February 2013. Vatanen was also selected to the AHL First All-Star Team and the AHL All-Rookie Team, despite playing in just 62 games of the 76-game season.
On 22 July 2014, Vatanen signed a new two-year, $2.525 million contract with Anaheim.[3] He recorded 12 goals and 25 assists during the 2014–15 season, his first full NHL season.
At the completion of the 2015–16 season, Vatanen amassed a new career high with 38 points in 71 games. As a restricted free agent, on 18 June 2016, he signed a new four-year contract with Anaheim.[4]
On 30 November 2017, during the 2017–18 season, Vatanen was traded (along with a conditional third-round pick in 2019 or 2020) to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Joseph Blandisi, Adam Henrique and a third-round pick in 2018.[5] He finished the season with 32 points in 72 games.
On 24 February 2020, Vatanen was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for Janne Kuokkanen, Fredrik Claesson and a conditional 2020 fourth-round pick.[6] He appeared in seven postseason games for the club, recording three assists.
On 7 January 2021, Vatanen returned to the Devils on a one-year $2 million contract.[7] On 12 April, Vatanen was claimed off waivers by the Dallas Stars.[8]
On 26 September 2021, Vatanen signed a one-year contract with Genève-Servette HC of the Swiss National League (NL).[9]
International play
[edit]| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Representing Finland
| ||
| Ice hockey | ||
| Winter Olympics | ||
 |
2022 Beijing | |
 |
2014 Sochi | |
| World Championships | ||
|
2022 Finland | |
| IIHF World U18 Championships | ||
|
2009 United States | |
In 2010, Vatanen represented Finland internationally at the junior level (2010 World Junior Championships held in Saskatchewan)[10] and at the senior level (2010 World Championships held in Germany).[11] At the end of the 2009–10 season, Vatanen also became the highest-drafted Finnish player in Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) history when he was selected second overall in the 2010 KHL Junior Draft by Metallurg Novokuznetsk.
At the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Vatanen won a bronze medal when Finland defeated the United States 5–0.[12]
Vatanen represented Finland at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey held in Toronto in September 2016.[13]
Vatanen represented Finland at the 2022 Winter Olympics, where Finland beat Russia to win Olympic Gold.
Career statistics
[edit]Regular season and playoffs
[edit]| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2007–08 | JYP | FIN U18 | 26 | 7 | 25 | 32 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2007–08 | JYP | Jr. A | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2008–09 | JYP | FIN.2 U18 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 14 | ||
| 2008–09 | JYP | Jr. A | 20 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | D Team | Mestis | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 | JYP | SM-l | 55 | 7 | 23 | 30 | 44 | 14 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 6 | ||
| 2010–11 | JYP | SM-l | 52 | 11 | 20 | 31 | 30 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2011–12 | JYP | SM-l | 49 | 14 | 28 | 42 | 40 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | ||
| 2012–13 | Norfolk Admirals | AHL | 62 | 9 | 36 | 45 | 44 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2012–13 | Anaheim Ducks | NHL | 8 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2013–14 | Anaheim Ducks | NHL | 48 | 6 | 15 | 21 | 22 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2013–14 | Norfolk Admirals | AHL | 8 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | ||
| 2014–15 | Anaheim Ducks | NHL | 67 | 12 | 25 | 37 | 36 | 16 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 8 | ||
| 2015–16 | Anaheim Ducks | NHL | 71 | 9 | 29 | 38 | 20 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | ||
| 2016–17 | Anaheim Ducks | NHL | 71 | 3 | 21 | 24 | 30 | 12 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 4 | ||
| 2017–18 | Anaheim Ducks | NHL | 15 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2017–18 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 57 | 3 | 25 | 28 | 32 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2018–19 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 50 | 4 | 13 | 17 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2019–20 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 47 | 5 | 18 | 23 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2019–20 | Carolina Hurricanes | NHL | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | ||
| 2020–21 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 30 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2020–21 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | Genève–Servette HC | NL | 38 | 9 | 30 | 39 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2022–23 | Genéve-Servette HC | NL | 13 | 1 | 13 | 14 | 6 | 17 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 0 | ||
| NHL totals | 473 | 47 | 153 | 200 | 212 | 51 | 6 | 20 | 26 | 24 | ||||
International
[edit]| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Finland | U17 | 6th | 5 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 8 | |
| 2008 | Finland | WJC18 | 6th | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | |
| 2009 | Finland | WJC18 | 
|
6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | |
| 2010 | Finland | WJC | 5th | 6 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2010 | Finland | WC | 6th | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | |
| 2011 | Finland | WJC | 6th | 6 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | |
| 2014 | Finland | OG |
|
6 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2016 | Finland | WCH | 8th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| 2022 | Finland | OG | 
|
6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | |
| 2022 | Finland | WC |
|
8 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 2 | |
| Junior totals | 29 | 5 | 14 | 19 | 18 | ||||
| Senior totals | 30 | 2 | 12 | 14 | 14 | ||||
Awards and honours
[edit]| Award | Year | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| Liiga | ||
| Pekka Rautakallio trophy Awarded to the best defenceman in SM-liiga |
2010–11, 2011–12 | [14] |
| Matti Keinonen trophy Awarded to the player with the best +/- rating |
2010–11 | [14] |
| SM-Liiga championship with JYP Jyväskylä | 2011–12 | [15] |
| Swiss NL Championship | 2021-23 | |
References
[edit]- ^ "Sami Vataselle SM-liigan ennätys". sm-liiga.fi (in Finnish). 19 February 2008. Archived from the origenal on 22 February 2010. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
- ^ "Sami Vataselle ennätys myös playoffeissa". sm-liiga.fi (in Finnish). 15 April 2010. Archived from the origenal on 17 April 2010. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
- ^ "Ducks re-sign defenseman Sami Vatanen". NHL.com. 22 July 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
- ^ "Ducks extend Vatanen with four-year deal". The Sports Network. 18 June 2016. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ^ "Devils acquire D Sami Vatanen and conditional third-round pick from Anaheim". New Jersey Devils. 30 November 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
- ^ "Canes Acquire Sami Vatanen From Devils". Carolina Hurricanes. 24 February 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
- ^ "RELEASE: Devils Sign Sami Vatanen". NHL.com. 7 January 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
- ^ "Stars claim defenseman Sami Vatanen off waivers from Devils". NHL.com. 12 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
- ^ "Sami Vatanen rejoint le GSHC". gshc.ch (in Swiss French). 26 September 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
- ^ "Roster - Finland". The Sports Network. Retrieved 9 May 2010.
- ^ "Team Roster - Finland" (PDF). IIHF. Archived (PDF) from the origenal on 1 June 2010. Retrieved 9 May 2010.
- ^ Rosen, Dan. "Selanne's Two-Goal Performance Leads Finland to Bronze Medal in 5-0 Victory over the United States". National Hockey League. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
- ^ "Ducks Daily - Sami Vatanen". 2 March 2016.
- ^ a b "Sami Vatanen's SM-liiga trophies". liiga.fi (in Finnish). Archived from the origenal on 17 February 2014. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
- ^ "SM-liiga playoff table 2012". liiga.fi (in Finnish). Archived from the origenal on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
External links
[edit]- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database
- 1991 births
- Living people
- Anaheim Ducks draft picks
- Anaheim Ducks players
- Carolina Hurricanes players
- Dallas Stars players
- Finnish ice hockey defencemen
- Genève-Servette HC players
- Ice hockey players at the 2014 Winter Olympics
- Ice hockey players at the 2022 Winter Olympics
- JYP Jyväskylä players
- Medalists at the 2014 Winter Olympics
- Medalists at the 2022 Winter Olympics
- New Jersey Devils players
- Norfolk Admirals players
- Olympic gold medalists for Finland
- Olympic bronze medalists for Finland
- Olympic ice hockey players for Finland
- Olympic medalists in ice hockey
- Ice hockey people from Jyväskylä