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Sami Vatanen
45
D

DOB: 1991/06/03
Age: 32
H/W: 5-10/185/
Salary: $2,000,000
Contract: 2021
Shoots: R
Draft By: ANA
Draft Year: 2009
Draft Round: 4
Draft Selection: 106
McKeen’s 2018-19 Yearbook - Scouting: Undersized sparkplug is a wild and adventurous puckmover, fueled by talented all-access skating, and powered by quick, nimble feet .. light and fluid with exceptional lateral agility and quickness accelerating through each stride .. doesn’t lose upper-body form or puck contact during seamless transitions .. excels on breakouts - makes solid outlets and manipulating his quick feet and dexterity to open lanes .. effortless puck carrier executing in top gear - backed by a good, accurate right-handed shot .. aggressive and courageous for his size .. proactive blocking shots and throwing hits despite just bouncing off bigger opponents .. relies on a quick active stick .. will need to refine his coverage skills and defensive postures - and continue to maximize his strength potential. Analysis: Surpassed the 30-point milestone in 2017-18 (72-4-28-32) despite missing the first nine games of the regular season due to a shoulder injury and having to adjust to a trade .. got off to a slow start with Anaheim after returning from the injury (15-1-3-4) .. dealt to the New Jersey Devils on Nov. 30 .. took a while to get going with his new team (11-0-1-1), but he enjoyed his first big hot streak of 2017-18 from Dec. 17-Jan. 18 (9-1-8-9) .. caught fire again from Feb. 11-March 14 (16-2-3-15) .. was quiet after that and missed the Devils’ final playoff game on April 21 due to a concussion .. had a big role with Anaheim and that remained the case with the Devils .. averaged 22:45 minutes per game with New Jersey, including 2:29 minutes per contest with the man advantage .. 5v5 on-ice expected goals differential was high, but there aren’t any major warning signs pointing to a possible regression .. now that the trade and his injury are well...

McKeen’s 2018-19 Yearbook - Scouting: Undersized sparkplug is a wild and adventurous puckmover, fueled by talented all-access skating, and powered by quick, nimble feet .. light and fluid with exceptional lateral agility and quickness accelerating through each stride .. doesn’t lose upper-body form or puck contact during seamless transitions .. excels on breakouts - makes solid outlets and manipulating his quick feet and dexterity to open lanes .. effortless puck carrier executing in top gear - backed by a good, accurate right-handed shot .. aggressive and courageous for his size .. proactive blocking shots and throwing hits despite just bouncing off bigger opponents .. relies on a quick active stick .. will need to refine his coverage skills and defensive postures - and continue to maximize his strength potential. Analysis: Surpassed the 30-point milestone in 2017-18 (72-4-28-32) despite missing the first nine games of the regular season due to a shoulder injury and having to adjust to a trade .. got off to a slow start with Anaheim after returning from the injury (15-1-3-4) .. dealt to the New Jersey Devils on Nov. 30 .. took a while to get going with his new team (11-0-1-1), but he enjoyed his first big hot streak of 2017-18 from Dec. 17-Jan. 18 (9-1-8-9) .. caught fire again from Feb. 11-March 14 (16-2-3-15) .. was quiet after that and missed the Devils’ final playoff game on April 21 due to a concussion .. had a big role with Anaheim and that remained the case with the Devils .. averaged 22:45 minutes per game with New Jersey, including 2:29 minutes per contest with the man advantage .. 5v5 on-ice expected goals differential was high, but there aren’t any major warning signs pointing to a possible regression .. now that the trade and his injury are well in the rear-view mirror, Vatanen could end up doing a bit better this season.

McKeen's 2017-18 Yearbook - Scouting: Undersized though entertainingly adventurous puckmover and talented all-access skater, powered by quick, nimble feet .. light and fluid with exceptional lateral agility and quickness in various stages of acceleration .. doesn’t lose upper-body form or puck contact during seamless transitions .. excels on breakouts - makes solid outlet plays and manipulating his mobility to open lanes .. carries the puck effortlessly and can execute in top gear - backed by a good, accurate right-handed shot .. aggressive and courageous for his size .. proactive blocking shots and throwing hits despite just bouncing off bigger opponents .. relies on a quick active stick .. will need to refine his coverage skills and defensive postures - and continue to maximize his strength potential. Analysis: Left exposed in the expansion draft due to draft regulations but worked out a deal involving Shea Theodore to retain the Finnish rearguard, shortly after announcing shoulder surgery that will delay the beginning of the season – and quite possibly affect performance, some caution to be applied here .. scored abysmally firing 1.61% at 5v5, and 2.6% at 5v4, producing a measly three goals .. earned a point on 19% of on-ice goals at 5v5, and 48.2% at 5v4, a second straight decline from 81% high two seasons ago .. partnered mostly with Cam Fowler (572 mins, 42.5 GF% & 48.3 CF%) before a stretch missing nine games with lower body injury and mystery illness .. would miss another seven games to an upper body injury – likely related to his shoulder, that cost two regular season games and five playoff markers .. monitor progress before making decisions here.

15-16 Report/16-17 Outlook: Signed a four-year, $19.5 million extension in June after posting career points similar to last season (38), in a streaky performance while leading the scoring from the blueline – half realized on the power play .. one point in the first 10 games, then exploded in mid-November for a 10-game surge (10-3-8-11) .. delivered a second burst in Feb/March for 11 games (11-3-9-12) – accounting for 60% of his points in 21 games .. skated to a 2nd pairing baseline in 5v5 P/60 (0.77) .. played four more games (71) than last year, but still saw downtime due to a late season upper body injury eating away eight games – undersized defender has now missed 26 games in two seasons .. led the Ducks in 5v4 ice time (193 mins) in percentage of team SF and CF, matching the 17 points from ’14-15 .. only defender to match year over year rates to 3-yr rates .. fired 9% more SOG/60 with an 8% drop in SF/60 and a 25% decline in on-ice Sh% .. started the season with three points in the first 14 games (14-2-1-3) .. paired up with Clayton Stoner (421 mins, 54.2 GF% & 50.2 CF%) and Kevin Bieksa (176 mins, 38.5 GF% & 52.5 CF%) up until just after mid-season, where he would partner up with Simon Despres fresh off injury, resulting in a decline in both on-ice shot attempts and personal shot attempts up until his own injury .. put up four points in the first round of the playoffs (7-1-3-4) .. entering his fourth season finishing third on the team in ice time (21:18) .. if he can provide a more consistent offensive contribution, the potential is good .. signing squelched growing persistent trade rumours ..  draft as a depth option for 40-45 points which should be achievable without the bookends of lackluster production – and could be a nice surprise if health holds.

14-15 Report/15-16 Outlook: Undersized dynamo enters the final season of a two-year deal signed in 2014, after leading the Ducks blueline in scoring - despite missing 15 games with a lower body injury .. his first ten points were all on the power play (4-6-10) and he would go on to lead the team in power goals, assists, and points and time on ice – on  the 28th ranked unit in the league (15.8%) .. fired over 10% shooting percentage in 3-of-4 quarters, but blanked in the final quarter as the team fizzled with the man advantage .. shot out of the gate scoring nine goals in the first 28 games (13.1% sh%) and three more in the remaining (34-3-10-13, 5.39% sh%) .. led NHL defensemen with 2.17 G/60 and earned a point on 81% of all 5v4 goals with him on the ice – scoring 33.33% himself Placing him 6th in the league with 5.28 Pts/60 .. finished all his per 60 rates as an elite 1st pairing defender at 5v5 and 5v4 .. dished out 75 hits and led team with 123 blocked shots.  .. 24 years old and clear # one on the power play and a sought after commodity now.

2011-12 Report .. Shifted to overdrive after a nine-game absence to a broken finger - to earn SM-Liiga ‘Top Defenseman’ honours for a second consecutive year .. led all blueliners with a career-high 14 goals - and won a playoff crown with his hometown JYP club, though was knocked out early with an ankle injury (4-2-0-2) .. averaged over 23 minutes per game (23.39) .. reached new heights after Christmas (20-10-17-27), scoring ten goals in a 20-game stretch that culminated with an 11-game consecutive points streak.

Career Stats

Player statistics powered by www.eliteprospects.com

 Season Team League GP G A TP PIM      Playoffs GP G A TP PIM 
 2006-2007 JYP U16U16 SM-sarja Q9 7 1623 30|        
  JYP U16U16 SM-sarja4 5 38 16|        
  JYP U18U18 SM-sarja0 0 00 0|Playoffs7 1 01
  Finland U16 (all)International-Jr7 1 34 2|        
 2007-2008 JYP U18U18 SM-sarja Q9 2 46 10|        
  JYP U18U18 SM-sarja26 7 2532 20|Playoffs1 0 00
  JYP U20U20 SM-sarja0 0 00 0|Playoffs2 0 00
  Finland U17WHC-175 2 35 8|        
  Finland U17 (all)International-Jr8 2 68 10|        
  Finland U18WJC-186 0 33 4|        
  Finland U18 (all)International-Jr6 0 33 4|        
 2008-2009 JYP U18U18 SM-sarja Q3 1 12 14|        
  JYP U18U18 I-divisioona2 2 35 0|Playoffs1 1 12 14 
  JYP U20U20 SM-sarja20 3 710 22|        
  D TeamMestis5 1 12 8|        
  Suomi U20Mestis2 0 00 2|        
  Finland U18WJC-186 1 12 2|        
  Finland U18 (all)International-Jr22 5 1217 48|        
 2009-2010 JYPLiiga55 7 2330 44|Playoffs14 3 47
  Suomi U20Mestis1 0 00 2|        
  Finland U20WJC-206 2 35 0|        
  Finland U20 (all)International-Jr17 8 1018 6|        
  Finland EHT3 0 00 2|        
  FinlandWC7 0 00 6|        
 2010-2011 JYPLiiga52 11 2031 30|Playoffs3 1 12
  Suomi U20Mestis1 0 00 0|        
  Finland U20WJC-206 0 44 4|        
  Finland U20 (all)International-Jr10 0 55 4|        
  Finland EHT3 0 11 2|        
 2011-2012 JYPLiiga49 14 2842 40|Playoffs4 2 02
  Finland EHT3 2 13 0|        
 2012-2013 Anaheim DucksNHL8 2 02 0|      -
  Norfolk AdmiralsAHL62 9 3645 44|        
 2013-2014 Anaheim DucksNHL48 6 1521 22|Playoffs5 0 11
  Norfolk AdmiralsAHL8 2 57 4|Playoffs5 0 33
  Finland OG6 0 55 0|        
  Finland (all)International6 0 55 0|        
 2014-2015 Anaheim DucksNHL67 12 2537 36|Playoffs16 3 811
 2015-2016 Anaheim DucksNHL71 9 2938 20|Playoffs7 1 34
 2016-2017 Anaheim DucksNHL71 3 2124 30|Playoffs12 1 56
  FinlandWCup3 0 00 2|        
  Finland (all)International6 0 11 4|        
 2017-2018 Anaheim DucksNHL15 1 34 8|        
  New Jersey DevilsNHL57 3 2528 32|Playoffs4 1 01
 2018-2019 New Jersey DevilsNHL50 4 1317 22|        
 2019-2020 New Jersey DevilsNHL47 5 1823 22|        
  Carolina HurricanesNHL0 0 00 0|Playoffs7 0 33
 2020-2021 New Jersey DevilsNHL30 2 46 18|        
  Dallas StarsNHL9 0 00 2|        
 2021-2022 Genève-ServetteNL38 9 3039 12|Playoffs2 1 01
  Finland EHT7 0 44 4|        
  Finland OG6 0 33 4|        
  FinlandWC8 2 46 2|        
  Finland (all)International25 2 1113 10|        
 2022-2023 Genève-ServetteNL13 1 1314 6|Playoffs17 7 613
 2023-2024 Genève-ServetteNL48 9 2938 10|Playoffs2 0 00
  Genève-ServetteChampions HL13 3 912 4|        
 2024-2025 Genève-ServetteNL- - -- -|        

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