Throughout his career, Salo became infamous for being injury-prone, having suffered over 40 career injuries. Despite his injuries, he was known as a two-way defenceman with a powerful slapshot.
Playing career
TPS and Jokerit
After developing his skills with the junior club of his hometown, Turku, Finland, Salo turned professional with TPS of the SM-Liiga in 1994–95. He appeared in seven games, recording a goal and two assists in his first season in the SM-Liiga. The following campaign, he recorded a Finnish career-high 14 assists and 21 points over 47 games. In the off-season, Salo was selected by the Ottawa Senators with their last selection in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft, 239th overall in the ninth round. He remained in Finland for two more seasons upon being drafted. He improved from seven goals to nine in 1996–97. The following season, he transferred from TPS to Jokerit. In his lone season with the Helsinki-based team, he tallied three goals and eight points over 35 games.
Ottawa Senators
Following a four-year career in Finland, Salo signed with the Senators in July 1998.[1] He played in the first 3 games of the 1998/99 season before he was assigned to the Detroit Vipers, Ottawa's International Hockey League (IHL) affiliate, due to his first NHL injury and was recalled on 18 November 1998.[2] Twenty-seven games into his rookie campaign, he scored his first NHL goal against Boston Bruins goaltender Byron Dafoe, a game-winner, in a 3–1 win on 21 January 1999.[3] Completing the 1998–99 season with seven goals and 19 points, he was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team.[4] The following season, Salo notched a hat trick in a 6–4 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins on 30 March 1999.[5] His campaign was shortened, however, to 37 games due to injury and he was limited to 14 points. In 2000, he missed two games as he suffered from a snakebite.[6]
Salo continued to be sidelined in 2000–01 with various ailments, including shoulder, foot and knee injuries, as well as the flu.[7] In March 2001, he was also cross-checked in the face by Rick Tocchet of the Philadelphia Flyers, suffering broken teeth and a mild concussion.[8] He finished his third NHL season with 18 points in 31 games.
Before the 2001–02 season began, Salo injured his groin in an exhibition game against the Toronto Maple Leafs in September.[7] In addition to missing the first three games of the season, he was later sidelined for a total of 13 more contests due to separate cases of the flu, a broken finger and back spasms.[4] He recorded 18 points in 66 games. In the proceeding off-season, Salo underwent shoulder surgery.[9] Becoming a free agent, he accepted an $880,000 qualifying offer from the Senators on 31 July 2002.[9] Nearly two months later, he was traded to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for forward Peter Schaefer on 21 September.[4]
Vancouver Canucks
Salo with the Canucks in October 2005
Salo established himself as a top-four defenceman with the Canucks, ranking fourth among team blueliners in average ice time per game during his first season with Vancouver.[10] He also appeared in a career-high 79 games while recording nine goals and 30 points. The Canucks re-signed him in the off-season to a two-year, $3.2 million contract.[11] The following campaign, he recorded seven goals and 26 points in 74 games.
Due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Salo went overseas to play for Frölunda HC in the Swedish Elite League. He notched six goals and 14 points in 41 games, helping Frölunda to the league's best regular season record.[12] The club went on to capture the Le Mat Trophy as playoff champions, defeating Färjestads BK four games to one in the finals.[13] Salo assisted on the overtime goal by Niklas Andersson in game five to win the championship.[14] Salo completed the playoffs with a goal and seven points in 14 post-season contests.
As NHL play was set to resume the following season, Salo signed another two-year contract with the Canucks at $1.5 million per season.[15][16] He was limited to 59 games in the subsequent 2005–06 season, suffering a shoulder injury with the Finnish national team during the 2006 Winter Olympics, colliding with a teammate during a line change.[17] He recorded 10 goals and 33 points with the Canucks, second among team defencemen in scoring.[18] His 23 assists were also a career high.
In 2006–07, Salo sprained his knee in a game against the Minnesota Wild on 2 November 2006.[19] Soon after returning, he sustained nerve damage in his shoulder from a hit against the Edmonton Oilers in December.[20] Towards the end of the season, he suffered a groin injury, sidelining him for five games in March and April.[4] Although he cumulatively missed 15 games, Salo still managed to have a career year, recording personal bests with 14 goals, 23 assists and 37 points. He tied for 10th among league defencemen in goals and ranked first in game-winning goals with six.[21][22] Late in the season, he avoided his pending unrestricted free agency by re-signing with the Canucks to a four-year, $14 million contract extension on 29 March 2007.[23] The Canucks entered the 2007 playoffs as the third seed. After eliminating the Dallas Stars in the first round, Vancouver was defeated by the Anaheim Ducks in five games. Salo missed the first two games of the second round due to the flu.[4] He notched an assist over 10 post-season games.
With an accumulation of injuries over the years, Salo spent the 2007 off-season recovering from chronic groin, back and shoulder problems. Salo was immediately sidelined once more before the start of the 2007–08 season, fracturing his wrist during an intra-squad game in training camp.[24] Shortly after returning, he was hit in the face by a clearing attempt from teammate Alexander Edler during a game against the Nashville Predators on 2 November 2007.[25] The impact from the puck broke his nose and he missed 19 games.[25] In 63 games, Salo recorded 25 points, his lowest output since his 2001–02 season with the Senators. Despite this, he still led all Canucks defencemen in scoring, as all the team's blueliners also suffered injuries over the season.[26]
Salo practicing with the Canucks in March 2012
The 2008–09 season began with more time off in November due to separate leg and shoulder injuries.[27][28] After returning, he was hit into the boards by Edmonton Oilers captain Ethan Moreau on 17 December 2008, and suffered a broken rib.[29] He missed 15 games before returning on 20 January 2009.[4] Limited to 60 games, he managed five goals and 25 points in the regular season. In the ensuing playoffs, Salo scored seven points in seven games, including game-winning goals in both game ones of the first and second rounds against the St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks, respectively.[30][31] Salo injured himself in game two of the second round, tearing his gluteus medius muscle while taking a slapshot in which he scored. He played through the injury the following game before missing the next two matches.[32] Following his return, the Canucks were eliminated in the sixth game by the Blackhawks. Salo had three goals and seven points in seven games.
Early in the 2009–10 season, Salo suffered a medial collateral ligament (MCL) sprain to his right knee during a game against the Dallas Stars on 11 October 2009.[33] Sidelined for seven games, he returned by the end of the month.[4] Salo missed additional games during the season to various injuries,[4] ending the campaign with nine goals and 28 points in 68 games. Towards the second half of the season, Salo took on a more defensive role, replacing Willie Mitchell, who was sidelined with a concussion, as the team's primary shutdown defenceman.[34]
In game five of the second round of the 2010 playoffs, Salo was hit in the groin by a slapshot from Chicago Blackhawks defenceman Duncan Keith. Needing to be helped off the ice, he was taken to hospital with what was falsely believed to be a ruptured testicle.[35][36] He played through an undisclosed injury the following game, as the Canucks were eliminated by the Blackhawks by a 5–1 score.[37] He completed the playoffs with a goal and six points in 12 post-season games.
Playing floorball in the off-season, Salo tore his achilles tendon on 22 July 2010.[38] After undergoing surgery, he was sidelined for the first four months of the 2010–11 season. The injury was so severe that Salo later admitted thinking his career was over during his rehabilitation.[39] Before returning to the Canucks lineup, he was sent to the team's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, for a conditioning assignment. Making his AHL debut on 4 February 2011, he scored two goals for the Moose in a 3–2 win against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.[40] Salo played two more games for the Moose, going pointless in both, before being called up by the Canucks on 11 February.[41] Salo appeared in 27 games in 2010–11, recording three goals and four assists. During the first and second rounds of the 2011 playoffs, Salo missed four games with a leg injury.[4] The Canucks eliminated the Blackhawks and Nashville Predators in the first two rounds to qualify for the Western Conference Finals against the San Jose Sharks. During Game 4 of the series, Salo set a Canucks playoff record for fastest back-to-back goals, scoring 16 seconds apart on a pair of 5-on-3 powerplays. The feat also tied Larry Murphy's NHL record for fastest two power play goals in the playoffs since 1957.[notes 1][42] Combined with Ryan Kesler's goal a minute and thirty-nine seconds previously, the trio of goals were also the fastest scored in Canucks playoff history at a minute and fifty-five seconds. Vancouver went on to win the game 4–2,[43] while winning the series 4–1. Advancing to the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals, the Canucks were defeated in seven games by the Boston Bruins. During the off-season, Salo re-signed with the Canucks to a one-year, $2 million deal on 1 July 2011, prior to becoming an unrestricted free agent.[44]
Salo with the Lightning in October 2013
In the first half of the 2011–12 season, Salo suffered a minor groin injury that sidelined him on two separate occasions, costing him three games and one game, respectively.[4] In January 2012, the Canucks and Bruins played against each other for the first time since the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals. During the contest, Salo sustained a concussion after a clipping hit from opposing forward Brad Marchand. Salo left the game immediately, while Marchand received a five-minute major and game misconduct; he was later additionally suspended for five games following a hearing with the league.[45]
Tampa Bay Lightning
On 1 July 2012, Salo signed a two-year, $7.5 million contract worth $3.75 million per year with the Tampa Bay Lightning as a free agent.[46] When speaking of the signing, general manager Steve Yzerman announced he expected Salo to combine with Eric Brewer to "give our defense some nice veteran leadership for our younger players."[47] He officially announced his retirement from professional hockey on 13 August 2015.[48]
International play
Salo after receiving his bronze medal at the 2010 Olympics
Salo made his international debut with the Finnish national team at the 2001 World Championships in Germany. He recorded an international career-high nine points in nine games, second among tournament defencemen to Finnish teammate Petteri Nummelin.[49] Finland advanced to the gold medal game, where they lost 3–2 to the Czech Republic, earning silver.[50]
On 13 December 2001, Salo was selected to the Finnish national team for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, along with Senators teammate Jani Hurme.[51] He appeared in four games without registering a point as Finland was defeated by the gold medal-winning Canadians in the quarterfinal by a 2–1 score.[52]
In Salo's next World Championships appearance in 2004, he recorded three assists in seven games. Finland failed to medal, losing their quarterfinal to Canada.[53] Salo assisted on the go-ahead goal in the third period before Canada tied up the score and won 5–4 in overtime.[53] Several months later, at the 2004 World Cup, Salo helped Finland to the final, notching three assists in seven games. For his third straight national team appearance, however, Finland was eliminated by Canada, losing the championship game 3–2.[54]
He made his second Olympics appearance at the 2006 Games in Turin. He recorded four points in six games before suffering a tournament-ending shoulder injury in a collision with teammate Ville Peltonen during a line change in front of the team bench.[17] The injury kept him from playing in the semifinal and gold medal game, where Finland won the silver medal in a 3–2 loss to Sweden.[55] Despite missing two games, Salo ranked second among team defencemen, behind Kimmo Timonen, with a goal and four points in six games.[56] Four years later, Salo competed once again for Finland at the 2010 Winter Olympics in his NHL hometown Vancouver. He recorded two points in six games, while leading all Finnish players in ice time.[57] He scored his lone goal during the bronze-medal game, opening the score against Slovakia in a 5–3 win.[58]
In 2014, Salo competed in his fourth and last Olympic tournament at the 2014 Winter Olympics. Finland won the bronze medal and Salo recorded 1 point in 6 games. In the bronze-medal game, Salo became the last player to play without a visor at the Olympics.
Playing style
Salo is known as a two-way defenceman, capable of being matched up against an opposing team's top players,[34] while also contributing offensively. His offensive game is characterized by his powerful slapshot.[59] He has won numerous hardest shot titles with the Canucks in the team's SuperSkills competitions,[59] clocking one shot at 102.7 miles per hour (163.5km/h) in 2012.[60] As a result, he is used frequently on the powerplay, being set up by teammates for shots from the point.[59] A well-rounded defenceman, Salo also earns time on the penalty kill.[61]
Personal life
Salo has a wife, Johanna, and three children. From youngest to oldest, they are Peppi, Oliver and Julia.[62] Salo has spent time coaching Oliver, his only son, on his hockey team.[63]
Growing up in Turku, Finland, Salo had aspirations of playing with the Finnish national team, rather than the NHL.[63] He idolized Jari Kurri and was more familiar with other Finnish players, such as Esa Peltonen and Heikki Riihiranta, than he was with any NHL stars.[63]
17 July 2003 - Re-signed to a two-year, $3.2 million contract with the Vancouver Canucks.[11]
15 September 2004 – Signed to a one-year contract with Frölunda HC.[4]
14 August 2005 - Re-signed to a two-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks.[15]
29 March 2007 - Signed to a four-year, $14-million contract extension with the Vancouver Canucks.[23]
1 July 2011 - Re-signed with the Canucks to a one-year, $2 million contract.
1 July 2012 - Signed to a 2-year, $7.5 million contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Notes
↑ 1957 marks the year in which the NHL rules changed and a power play was ended once the attacking team scored.[42]
Related Research Articles
Markus Sten Näslund is a Swedish former professional ice hockey player and former general manager for Modo Hockey of the Swedish Hockey League. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Vancouver Canucks, and New York Rangers, as well as in the Elitserien with Modo Hockey. Nicknamed "Nazzy" by Canucks fans and "Macke" or "Mackan" in his native Sweden, he was known for his offensive skills, particularly his wrist shot and stickhandling.
Daniel Hans Sedin is a Swedish ice hockey executive and former winger who played his entire 17-season National Hockey League (NHL) career with the Vancouver Canucks from 2000 to 2018. Born and raised in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden, Sedin and his identical twin brother Henrik played together throughout their careers; the pair were renowned for their effectiveness as a tandem. During his career, Daniel was known as a goal-scorer, while Henrik was known as a playmaker. Sedin tallied 393 goals and 648 assists in 1,306 games played in the NHL, ranking him as the Canucks' second-highest points scorer all time, behind only his brother Henrik.
Henrik Lars Sedin is a Swedish ice hockey executive and former centre who played his entire 17-season National Hockey League (NHL) career with the Vancouver Canucks from 2000 to 2018. He additionally served as the Canucks' captain from 2010 until his retirement. Born and raised in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden, Sedin and his identical twin brother Daniel played together throughout their careers; the pair were renowned for their effectiveness as a tandem. Henrik, a skilled passer, was known as a playmaker while Daniel was known as a goal-scorer. Sedin tallied 240 goals and 830 assists, for 1,070 points, in 1,330 NHL games, ranking him as the Canucks' all-time leading points scorer.
Edward Jovanovski is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. He was born in Windsor, Ontario, and is of Macedonian descent.
Brendan Morrison is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre. He has played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the New Jersey Devils, Vancouver Canucks, Anaheim Ducks, Dallas Stars, Washington Capitals, Calgary Flames and Chicago Blackhawks.
Nolan Baumgartner is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. He was formerly an assistant coach with the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Baumgartner was selected by the Washington Capitals in the 1st round of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft. He played parts of ten seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for six different teams between 1995 and 2010. Baumgartner played only one full season in the NHL, 2005–06 with the Vancouver Canucks, and spent most of his playing career in the AHL.
Pavol Demitra was a Slovak professional ice hockey player. He played nineteen seasons of professional hockey, for teams in the Czechoslovak First Ice Hockey League (CSL), National Hockey League (NHL), Slovak Extraliga (SVK), and Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). A skilled offensive player, Demitra was a top-line forward throughout his career.
Kenneth Mattias Öhlund is a Swedish former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Vancouver Canucks and Tampa Bay Lightning. Öhlund played two seasons in the Swedish Allsvenskan, the second highest tier of hockey in Sweden, with Piteå HC before being selected by the Canucks 13th overall in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft. He then joined Luleå HF of the Elitserien, the highest league in Sweden, winning the Le Mat Trophy as league champions in 1996. He began his NHL career with Vancouver in 1997–98, the start of an 11-year tenure with the club in which he became the Canucks' all-time leader in points for a defenceman. Öhlund would play the final two seasons of his professional career with the Tampa Bay Lightning before retiring in 2011. A serious eye injury before his third NHL season was the first of many injuries Öhlund has sustained over his career, and he only played a full season twice in his 13-year NHL career.
Christopher Robert Higgins is an American former professional ice hockey winger and current Skills and Development coach for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL). While playing college hockey, he was selected 14th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. He finished a two-year career with the Yale Bulldogs, earning ECAC Hockey Player of the Year honors as a sophomore, before turning professional for the 2003–04 season. After two seasons with the Canadiens' minor league affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs of the American Hockey League (AHL), he joined the NHL in 2005–06. He recorded three consecutive 20-goal seasons to begin his NHL career before being traded to the New York Rangers in June 2009. After brief stints with the Rangers, Calgary Flames and Florida Panthers, he joined the Vancouver Canucks in February 2011. Internationally, Higgins has competed for the United States in two World Junior Championships and one World Championship (2009).
Daniel Hamhuis is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted in 2001 by the Nashville Predators.
Kevin Francesco Bieksa is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. Bieksa started and played most of his career with the Vancouver Canucks and later played for the Anaheim Ducks. After a three-year career in the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) with the Burlington Cougars, Bieksa was awarded a scholarship to Bowling Green State University. He was a one-time All-CCHA honourable mention during his four-year tenure with the Falcons of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA). He graduated from the university with a bachelor's degree (B.A.) in finance, and was a two-time CCHA All-Academic honourable mention in 2003 and 2004. Bieksa now co-hosts Hockey Night in Canada.
Keith Galen Ballard is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman who previously played in the National Hockey League with the Phoenix Coyotes, Florida Panthers, Vancouver Canucks and Minnesota Wild. He played college hockey for the Minnesota Golden Gophers of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) for three seasons. After his freshman year, he was selected 11th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. Before he made his NHL debut, he was traded twice – initially to the Colorado Avalanche, then to the Phoenix Coyotes. He played his professional rookie season in 2004–05 with the Coyotes' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Utah Grizzlies, then debuted with Phoenix the following season. After three years, he was traded to the Florida Panthers, where he spent two seasons before being dealt to Vancouver at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.
Ulf Niklas Alexander Edler is a Swedish professional ice hockey defenceman who is an unrestricted free agent. He previously played for the Vancouver Canucks and the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted out of Sweden's third-tier ice hockey league by the Canucks in the third round, 91st overall, in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, and played junior ice hockey with Modo Hockey of the J20 SuperElit and the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League (WHL).
Jordan John Schroeder is an American professional ice hockey center who currently plays for SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers of the National League (NL).
Yann Michel Sauvé is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently playing for Brûleurs de Loups of the Ligue Magnus. He was drafted by the National Hockey League (NHL)'s Vancouver Canucks in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, selected in the second round, 41st overall. He played major junior hockey with the Saint John Sea Dogs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) for four seasons before he joined the Canucks' minor league affiliates in 2010. He split the 2010–11 season between the Canucks and their two minor league teams, the Victoria Salmon Kings of the ECHL and the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League (AHL). The Canucks changed AHL affiliates twice, and Sauve joined the Chicago Wolves and Utica Comets as a result. Sauvé was born in Montreal, Quebec, but grew up in Rigaud, Quebec.
Anthony Aaron Volpatti is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger who played with the Vancouver Canucks and the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Christopher Tanev is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played for the Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames.
The 2012–13 Vancouver Canucks season was the team's 43rd season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Canucks won their fifth-straight Northwest Division title and finished third in the Western Conference. In the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs, Vancouver was swept by the San Jose Sharks in the first round. Shortly after the Canucks' playoff elimination, head coach Alain Vigneault was fired.
Brock Michael Boeser is an American professional ice hockey player for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Olli Juolevi is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently on a one-month contract with Timrå IK of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). He was selected fifth overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. Born and raised in Finland, Juolevi developed in the Jokerit program before he moved to North America to play major junior hockey with the Ontario Hockey League (OHL)'s London Knights in 2015. After one season with London, he was drafted by the Canucks.
1 2 "Playoff Round". International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved 11 September 2010.
↑ Bruce Garrioch (15 December 2001). "Finns answer call". Ottawa Sun. Archived from the original on 14 July 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2010.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
↑ "Playoff Round". International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved 12 September 2010.
1 2 "Game Summary"(PDF). International Ice Hockey Federation. 6 May 2004. Retrieved 12 September 2010.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
Finland 
