Saku Mäenalanen

Saku Mäenalanen (born 29 May 1994) is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward. He is currently playing with the Jokerit in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). His National Hockey League (NHL) rights are owned by the Carolina Hurricanes. Mäenalanen was selected by the Nashville Predators in the 5th round (125th overall) of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.

Saku Mäenalanen
Born (1994-05-29) 29 May 1994
Tornio, Finland
Height 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight 192 lb (87 kg; 13 st 10 lb)
Position Right Wing
Shoots Left
KHL team
Former teams		 Jokerit
Oulun Kärpät
Lahti Pelicans
Carolina Hurricanes
National team  Finland
NHL Draft 125th overall, 2013
Nashville Predators
Playing career 2013–present

Playing career

Mäenalanen played junior hockey within the Oulun Kärpät organization. Following his selection in the NHL draft by the Predators, he made his professional debut in the Liiga with Oulun Kärpät during the 2013–14 season.

Unsigned by the Nashville Predators, Mäenalanen continued in the Liiga with Oulun Kärpät, also enduring a shortened loan stint with fellow Liiga club, Lahti Pelicans in the 2014–15 season.[1]

In the 2017–18 season, Mäenalanen enjoyed a breakout season in totalling 17 goals and 46 points in 59 games, ranking 11th among scorers in Liiga. He added 10 points in the postseason, helping Oulun capture the league championship. On 18 May 2018, Mäenalanen gained NHL interest and signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Carolina Hurricanes. In signing with the Hurricanes he was reunited with former Finnish junior teammate, Sebastian Aho.[2]

Mäenalanen began the 2018–19 season with the Hurricanes American Hockey League affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers. He was recalled to the NHL on 6 December after playing in 23 games and recording 11 points for the Checkers.[3] He made his NHL debut the following day in a 4–1 win over the Anaheim Ducks.[4] He recorded his first NHL goal on 8 January in a 4–3 win over the New York Islanders.[5]

As a restricted free agent after his first North American season, Mäenalanen was unable to agree to terms with the Hurricanes on a new contract. With his rights still held by the Hurricanes, Mäenalanen opted to return to his native Finland to resume his career in the KHL. He agreed to an optional two-year contract with Jokerit on 25 September 2019.[6]

International play

Maenalanen made his senior debut for Finland, at the 2018 IIHF World Championship. In a fifth-place finish, he posted 2 goals and 3 assists in 8 contests.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2012–13 Oulun Kärpät Jr. A 45 23 35 58 43 5 5 2 7 18
2013–14 Oulun Kärpät Jr. A 5 3 3 6 2 12 4 4 8 10
2013–14 Oulun Kärpät Liiga 25 4 3 7 0 — — — — —
2013–14 Jokipojat Mestis 15 9 6 15 4 — — — — —
2014–15 Oulun Kärpät Jr. A 6 2 6 8 2 — — — — —
2014–15 Oulun Kärpät Liiga 20 4 1 5 2 7 0 1 1 0
2014–15 Lahti Pelicans Liiga 8 1 0 1 0 — — — — —
2014–15 Hokki Mestis 17 5 8 13 6 10 2 4 6 22
2015–16 Oulun Kärpät Liiga 46 6 10 16 14 13 3 1 4 6
2016–17 Oulun Kärpät Liiga 34 11 10 21 6 2 0 0 0 0
2017–18 Oulun Kärpät Liiga 59 17 29 46 26 18 5 5 10 16
2018–19 Charlotte Checkers AHL 31 7 7 14 8 — — — — —
2018–19 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 34 4 4 8 20 9 0 1 1 6
2019–20 Jokerit KHL 26 5 4 9 8 6 2 3 5 6
Liiga totals 192 43 53 96 48 40 8 7 15 22
NHL totals 34 4 4 8 20 9 0 1 1 6
Medal record
Ice hockey
Representing  Finland
World Junior Championships
2014 Malmö

International
Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2014 Finland WJC 7 7 4 11 0
2018 Finland WC 5th 8 2 1 3 8
Junior totals 7 7 4 11 0
Senior totals 8 2 1 3 8

Awards and honours
Award Year
Jr. A SM-liiga
All-Star Team 2012–13 [7]
Liiga
Kanada-malja (Oulun Kärpät) 2018

References
  1. "Maenalanen loaned to Pelicans" (in Finnish). Oulun Kärpät. 24 September 2014. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  2. "Canes sign Maenalanen to one-year contract". Carolina Hurricanes. 18 May 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  3. "Canes Recall Maenalanen from Charlotte". NHL.com. 6 December 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  4. "Hurricanes snap Ducks' five-game win streak". tsn.ca. 8 December 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2018. made his NHL debut for Carolina after Staal was sidelined for the first time this season due to a concussion.
  5. Brian Compton (8 January 2019). "Hurricanes edge Islanders for fifth straight victory". NHL.com. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  6. "Saku Maenalanen in Jokerit" (in Finnish). Jokerit. 25 September 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  7. "All-Star Team announced". eliteprospects.com. 5 April 2015. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
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