Sami Vatanen

Sami Vatanen (born 3 June 1991) is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted in the fourth round, 106th overall, by the Anaheim Ducks at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

Sami Vatanen
Vatanen in 2011
Born (1991-06-03) 3 June 1991
Jyväskylä, Finland
Height 5 ft 10.4 in (179 cm)
Weight 176 lb (80 kg; 12 st 8 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Right
NHL team
Former teams		 New Jersey Devils
JYP
Anaheim Ducks
Carolina Hurricanes
National team  Finland
NHL Draft 106th overall, 2009
Anaheim Ducks
Playing career 2009–present

Playing career

Vatanen was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in the fourth round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. In 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 both 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, as well as 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]

International play
Medal record
Representing Finland
Ice hockey
Winter Olympics
2014 Sochi
IIHF World U18 Championships
2009 United States

In 2010, Vatanen represented Finland internationally at the junior level (2010 World Junior Championships held in Saskatchewan)[8] and at the senior level (2010 World Championships held in Germany).[9] 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.[10]

Vatanen represented Finland at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey held in Toronto in September 2016.[11]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
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 FIN U20 — — — — — 2 0 0 0 0
2008–09 JYP FIN.2 U18 2 2 3 5 0 1 1 1 2 14
2008–09 JYP FIN U20 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
NHL totals 434 45 149 194 192 51 6 20 26 24

International
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
Junior totals 29 5 14 19 18
Senior totals 16 0 5 5 8

Awards and honours
Award Year Ref
Liiga
Pekka Rautakallio trophy
Awarded to the best defenceman in SM-liiga		 2010–11 [12]
Matti Keinonen trophy
Awarded to the player with the best +/- rating		 2010–11 [12]
Pekka Rautakallio trophy 2011–12 [12]
SM-Liiga championship with JYP Jyväskylä 2011–12 [13]

References
  1. "Sami Vataselle SM-liigan ennätys". sm-liiga.fi (in Finnish). 19 February 2008. Archived from the original on 22 February 2010. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  2. "Sami Vataselle ennätys myös playoffeissa". sm-liiga.fi (in Finnish). 15 April 2010. Archived from the original on 17 April 2010. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  3. "Ducks re-sign defenseman Sami Vatanen". NHL.com. 22 July 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  4. "Ducks extend Vatanen with four-year deal". The Sports Network. 18 June 2016. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  5. "Devils acquire D Sami Vatanen and conditional third-round pick from Anaheim". New Jersey Devils. 30 November 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  6. "Canes Acquire Sami Vatanen From Devils". Carolina Hurricanes. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  7. "NHL rumors: Devils re-sign defenseman Sami Vatanen | What it means". NJ.com. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  8. "Roster - Finland". The Sports Network. Retrieved 9 May 2010.
  9. "Team Roster - Finland" (PDF). International Ice Hockey Federation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 February 2011. Retrieved 9 May 2010.
  10. 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.
  11. "Ducks Daily - Sami Vatanen".
  12. "Sami Vatanen's SM-liiga trophies". liiga.fi (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 17 February 2014. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
  13. "SM-liiga playoff table 2012". liiga.fi (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
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