Sami Vatanen

Sami Vatanen
Vatanen with JYP in 2011
Born	(1991-06-03) 3 June 1991 (age 34) Jyväskylä, Finland
Height	5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight	185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position	Defence
Shoots	Right
Liiga team Former teams	JYP Anaheim Ducks New Jersey Devils Carolina Hurricanes Dallas Stars Genève-Servette HC
National team	Finland
NHL draft	106th overall, 2009 Anaheim Ducks
Playing career	2009–present

Sami Vatanen (born 3 June 1991) is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman for JYP of the Finnish Liiga. He was drafted in the fourth round, 106th overall, by the Anaheim Ducks at the 2009 NHL entry draft, and played in National Hockey League for the Ducks, New Jersey Devils, Carolina Hurricanes and Dallas Stars. Vatanen started his career in hometown Jyväskylä playing for JYP with whom he won the 2011–12 SM-liiga championship. In 2023, Vatanen won the Swiss National League (NL) championship with Genève-Servette HC, and the Champions Hockey League (CHL) in the 2023–24 season.

Internationally, Vatanen has represented Finland and was part of the gold medal-winning teams at the 2022 Winter Olympics, and the 2022 World Championships.

Playing career

Vatanen was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in the fourth round of the 2009 NHL entry draft. 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 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 and 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] On 12 April, Vatanen was claimed off waivers by the Dallas Stars. ^[8]

On 26 September 2021, Vatanen signed a one-year contract with Genève-Servette HC of the Swiss National League (NL). ^[9]

International play

Medal record
Representing   Finland
Ice hockey
Winter Olympics
	2022 Beijing
	2014 Sochi
World Championships
	2022 Finland
IIHF World U18 Championships
	2009 United States

In 2010, Vatanen represented Finland internationally at the junior level (2010 World Junior Championships held in Saskatchewan) ^[10] and at the senior level (2010 World Championships held in Germany). ^[11] 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. ^[12]

Vatanen represented Finland at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey held in Toronto in September 2016. ^[13]

Vatanen represented Finland at the 2022 Winter Olympics, where Finland beat Russia to win Olympic Gold.

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	Jr. A		—	—	—	—	—		2	0	0	0	0
2008–09	JYP	FIN.2 U18		2	2	3	5	0		1	1	1	2	14
2008–09	JYP	Jr. A		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
2020–21	New Jersey Devils	NHL		30	2	4	6	18		—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	Dallas Stars	NHL		9	0	0	0	2		—	—	—	—	—
2021–22	Genève–Servette HC	NL		38	9	30	39	12		2	1	0	1	0
2022–23	Genéve-Servette HC	NL		13	1	13	14	6		17	7	6	13	0
2023–24	Genéve-Servette HC	NL		48	9	29	38	10		2	0	0	0	0
2024–25	Genéve-Servette HC	NL		42	3	16	19	4		—	—	—	—	—
Liiga totals				156	32	71	103	114		21	6	5	11	10
NHL totals				473	47	153	200	212		51	6	20	26	24
NL totals				141	22	88	110	32		21	8	6	14	2

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
2022	Finland	OG			6	0	3	3	4
2022	Finland	WC			8	2	4	6	2
Junior totals					29	5	14	19	18
Senior totals					30	2	12	14	14

Awards and honours

Award	Year	Ref
Liiga
Pekka Rautakallio trophy Awarded to the best defenceman in SM-liiga	2010–11, 2011–12	[14]
Matti Keinonen trophy Awarded to the player with the best +/- rating	2010–11	[14]
SM-Liiga championship	2011–12	[15]
Swiss National League Champion	2022–23

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. 24 February 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
7. "RELEASE: Devils Sign Sami Vatanen". NHL.com. 7 January 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
8. "Stars claim defenseman Sami Vatanen off waivers from Devils". NHL.com. 12 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
9. "Sami Vatanen rejoint le GSHC". gshc.ch (in Swiss French). 26 September 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
10. "Roster - Finland". The Sports Network . Retrieved 9 May 2010.
11. "Team Roster - Finland" (PDF). IIHF . Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 June 2010. Retrieved 9 May 2010.
12. 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.
13. "Ducks Daily - Sami Vatanen". 2 March 2016.
14. "Sami Vatanen's SM-liiga trophies". liiga.fi (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 17 February 2014. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
15. "SM-liiga playoff table 2012". liiga.fi (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 17 February 2014.

External links

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