Joona Luoto

Last updated

Joona Luoto
Born (1997-09-26) 26 September 1997 (age 27)
Lempäälä, Finland
Height 191 cm (6 ft 3 in)
Weight 87 kg (192 lb; 13 st 10 lb)
Position Right wing
Shoots Left
SHL team
Former teams
HV71
Tappara
Winnipeg Jets
HIFK
Columbus Blue Jackets
SC Bern
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 2016present

Joona Luoto (born 26 September 1997) is a Finnish professional ice hockey player. He is currently under contract with HV71 in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL).

Contents

Playing career

Undrafted, he previously played professionally in the Liiga for Tappara. [1] In his rookie season with Tappara he helped the team claim the Liiga title adding 1 goal in 10 post-season games.

In the following two seasons, Luoto established himself as a two-way forward and matched his offensive totals with 16 points in each campaign. On 15 June 2019, Luoto was signed to a three-year, two-way contract with the Winnipeg Jets, joining former junior teammate, Patrik Laine. [2]

After competing in his first training camp with the Winnipeg Jets, on 1 October 2019, Luoto was reassigned to familiarise himself with the North American style to AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose to begin the 2019–20 season. [3] On 7 November 2019, after recording 3 assists in 9 games with the Moose, Luoto received his first recall to NHL by the Jets. [4] The following day Luoto made his NHL debut with the Jets on the fourth-line in a 4–1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks at Bell MTS Place. [5]

Prior to entering the 2021–22 season, Luoto was placed on unconditional waivers and mutually released from the final year of his contract with the Winnipeg Jets on 14 September 2021. [6] As a free agent he returned to his original club, Tappara of the Liiga, agreeing to a one-year contract for the remainder of the season on 8 October 2021. [7] In the 2021–22 season, Luoto added 9 goals and 14 points through 27 regular season games with Tappara. In the post-season, Luoto elevated his game and recording 8 goals and 17 points in just 14 games to lead Tappara to the Championship and was awarded the Jari Kurri Trophy as the playoffs most Valuable player. [8]

On 1 June 2022, Luoto as a free agent returned to the NHL in securing a one-year, two-way contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets. [9]

At the conclusion of his contract with the Blue Jackets, Luoto was unable to gain NHL interest. On 12 September 2023, Luoto agreed to an initial trial contract with Swiss club, SC Bern of the NL, with the option of extending to the length of the 2023–24 season. [10]

International play

During the 2016–17 season, Luoto made his junior international debut in playing for Team Finland at the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships tournament in Montreal. In the tournament, he played 6 games with 10+10=20 in scoring. [11]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
2014–15 Tappara Jr. A 1754910
2015–16TapparaJr. A3620153526
2016–17TapparaJr. A42462
2016–17 Tappara Liiga 245166101014
2016–17 LeKi Mestis 2453865
2017–18 TapparaLiiga47881614130222
2018–19 TapparaLiiga58881632112240
2019–20 Manitoba Moose AHL 1804413
2019–20 Winnipeg Jets NHL 160002
2020–21 HIFK Liiga195492
2020–21 Manitoba MooseAHL112249
2021–22 TapparaLiiga279514121489172
2022–23 Cleveland Monsters AHL4514112510
2022–23 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL71010
2023–24 SC Bern NL 45189272072134
Liiga totals17535266166481113248
NHL totals231012

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2017 Finland WJC 9th61122
Junior totals61122

Awards and honours

AwardYear
Liiga
Kanada-malja (Tappara) 2017, 2022 [8]
Jari Kurri Trophy 2022 [8]

References

  1. "Jets sign Finnish forward Joona Luoto to three-year, two-way contract". Sportsnet.ca . 15 June 2019. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  2. "Jets sign Joona Luoto to three-year, two-way contract". Winnipeg Jets. 15 June 2019. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  3. "Jets assign five players to Moose". Winnipeg Jets. 1 October 2019. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
  4. "Jets recall Joona Luoto from the Manitoba Moose". Winnipeg Jets. 7 November 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  5. "Connor, Jets beat Canucks for 9th straight time". The Sports Network. 8 November 2019. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  6. "Joona Luoto placed on unconditional waivers". prohockeyrumors.com. 14 September 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  7. "Joona Luoto returns home" (in Finnish). Tappara. 8 October 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  8. 1 2 3 "Finnish championship goes to Tappara". International Ice Hockey Federation. 30 April 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  9. "CBJ sign Joona Luoto to one-year, two-way contract". Columbus Blue Jackets. 1 June 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  10. "SC Bern signs Joona Luoto" (in German). SC Bern. 12 September 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  11. "Joona Luoto player profile". eliteprospects.com. 14 August 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2020.