Antti Saarela

Antti Saarela
Born (2001-06-27) 27 June 2001 (age 23)
Laitila, Finland
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 183 lb (83 kg; 13 st 1 lb)
Position Winger
Shoots Left
NHL team (P)
Cur. team
Former teams		 Chicago Blackhawks
Lukko (Liiga)
Ilves
NHL draft 123rd overall, 2019
Chicago Blackhawks
Playing career 2018–present

Antti Saarela (born June 27, 2001) is a Finnish professional ice hockey winger currently playing with Lukko in the Liiga on loan as a prospect for the Chicago Blackhawks in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted 123rd overall by the Blackhawks in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.[1]

Playing career

Saarela made his Liiga debut for Lukko, playing one game during the 2017–18 Liiga season. He followed up by playing in twenty-four regular season games for Lukko during the 2018–19 Liiga season, scoring two goals and eight assists for ten points.[2][3] On April 3, 2019, Saarela signed an optional three-year contract for fellow Liiga club, Ilves.[4]

At the conclusion of his contract with Ilves, Saarela returned to his original club, Lukko, agreeing to a one-year contract on 30 April 2022.[5]

Following the conclusion of the 2022–23 season with Lukko, Saarela was signed by the Chicago Blackhawks to a two-year, entry-level contract on 28 March 2023.[6]

In the 2023–24 season, Saarela moved to North America and played exclusively with the Blackhawks AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs. With the campaign blighted with injury, he posted 5 goals and 6 points through just 27 appearances.

On 18 July 2024, Saarela was loaned by the Blackhawks to return to former club Lukko of the Liiga to continue his development for the 2024–25 season.[7]

Personal

His father, Pasi Saarela, was a professional hockey player who enjoyed a lengthy career in the SM-liiga, most notably as a star player for local club, Lukko.[8] Antti was also coached through his junior career by Pasi at Lukko. His older brother Aleksi is also a professional hockey player currently playing with the Florida Panthers in the National Hockey League.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2017–18 Lukko Jr. A 25 6 9 15 6 — — — — —
2017–18 Lukko Liiga 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2018–19 Lukko Jr. A 21 7 8 15 32 — — — — —
2018–19 Lukko Liiga 24 2 8 10 20 4 0 0 0 0
2019–20 Ilves Liiga 40 4 8 12 12 — — — — —
2020–21 Ilves Liiga 47 7 7 14 51 5 0 3 3 4
2021–22 Ilves Liiga 37 12 7 19 24 — — — — —
2022–23 Lukko Liiga 41 7 11 18 10 6 2 0 2 2
2023–24 Rockford IceHogs AHL 27 5 1 6 11 — — — — —
Liiga totals 190 32 41 73 117 15 2 3 5 6

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2017 Finland U17 6th 5 2 2 4 4
2018 Finland HG18 7th 3 0 0 0 2
2019 Finland U18 7th 5 1 2 3 6
2020 Finland WJC 4th 7 0 0 0 6
Junior totals 20 3 4 7 18

References

  1. ^ "2019 NHL Draft: Blackhawks select Antti Saarela with No. 123 pick in 4th round". secondcityhockey.com. 22 June 2019. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
  2. ^ Antti Saarela profile - eurohockey.com
  3. ^ "Antti Saarela player profile" (in Finnish). Liiga. 4 November 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  4. ^ "Ilvekselle kuusi uutta pelaajasopimusta" (in Finnish). Ilves. 3 April 2019. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  5. ^ "Antti Saarela returns to blue and yellow" (in Finnish). Lukko. 30 April 2022. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  6. ^ "Blackhawks sign Saarela to entry-level contract". Chicago Blackhawks. 28 March 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  7. ^ "Chicago Blackhawks loan Antti Saarela to the blue and yellows" (in Finnish). Lukko. 18 July 2024. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  8. ^ "Pasi Saarela player profile". eliteprospects.com. 23 March 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2020.

Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or The Internet Hockey Database

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