Top Aleksi Saarela News
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Panthers' Aleksi Saarela: Still playing overseas
Saarela isn't expected to report to training camp Sunday, David Work of WPLG Local 10 News reports.
Saarela is an unsigned restricted free agent, although the Panthers did table a qualifying offer. The 23-year-old showcased his potential last season with four points -- one on the power play -- over nine games. He's been superb with Lukko of Finnish Liiga this year, ringing up 12 goals and six assists over 19 contests. He won't return to Florida in time to quarantine for the start of training camp, and it's unclear when or if he'll play in the NHL this year.
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Panthers' Aleksi Saarela: No impact in return
Saarela (upper body) skated 13:01 and won his only faceoff in Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Coyotes.
Saarela returned to a fourth-line role Tuesday. He's at two goals in seven contests this season -- fantasy owners aren't likely keeping track of his production at this stage in the Finn's career.
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Panthers' Aleksi Saarela: Good to go
Saarela (upper body) is expected to be available for Tuesday's game against Arizona, George Richards of The Athletic reports.
Saarela exited Saturday's loss to Vegas in the third period with an upper-body injury, but whatever forced him from that contest clearly wasn't overly serious. The 23-year-old rookie is expected to center the Panthers' fourth line against the Coyotes.
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Panthers' Aleksi Saarela: Injured in Saturday's game
Saarela (upper body) was injured in the third period of Saturday's 5-3 loss to the Golden Knights, George Richards of The Athletic reports.
Saarela brought the Panthers within a goal earlier in the third period, but he didn't return after seemingly injuring his shoulder. Per Richards, head coach Joel Quenneville had no update on the Finn's status after the contest. He'll have a couple days to heal up before Tuesday's game against the Coyotes.
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Panthers' Aleksi Saarela: Notches first NHL goal
Saarela potted a goal on five shots and went plus-2 in Wednesday's 4-1 win over the Ducks.
Saarela corralled Aaron Ekblad's shot that bounced off the end boards, tucking the puck past John Gibson for the Panthers' third tally. The 23-year-old Finn earned his first NHL goal and point on the play -- he's added eight shots in four contests this year. For now, Saarela figures to serve in a bottom-six role, which makes it unlikely that fantasy owners will have interest in the third-round pick from 2015.
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Panthers' Aleksi Saarela: Up from AHL
The Panthers recalled Saarela from AHL Springfield on Tuesday.
Saarela will bolster the Panthers' depth at forward as the club begins a four-game road trip on the West Coast. The 23-year-old previously appeared in three games with Florida in December, averaging 11:41 of ice time in those outings.
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Panthers' Aleksi Saarela: Reassigned to minors
Saarela was demoted to AHL Springfield on Wednesday.
Shipping Saarela back to the minors could be an indication that Jayce Hawryluk (upper body) will be ready to go against the Islanders on Thursday. The 22-year-old Saarela logged three games for the Panthers in which he tallied three shots, and one block while averaging 11:41 of ice time. While this may not be the last we've seen of the Finnish center in the NHL this year, he figures to spend the bulk of his time with the Thunderbirds.
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Panthers' Aleksi Saarela: Windy road leads to Florida debut
Saarela will make his NHL regular-season debut Saturday against the Blue Jackets, Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site reports.
Florida promoted Saarela from AHL Springfield on Friday, and he won't have to wait long to slot into game action. The 22-year-old Finn was originally a third-round selection of the Rangers back in 2015 before being traded to Carolina, where he dressed for one playoff game. He was later traded to Chicago and then Florida, but Saarela has finally worked his way up to the NHL. Now let's see if he's here to stay.
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Panthers' Aleksi Saarela: Promoted from minors
Saarela was recalled from AHL Springfield on Friday.
Saarela's promotion will provide the Panthers with additional forward depth for their back-to-back Saturday and Sunday against the Blue Jackets and Sharks, respectively, with Jayce Hawryluk (upper body) still unavailable. The 22-year-old Saarela has racked up 10 points in 17 minor-league contests this year, which could earn him a look in a bottom-six role while with the big club.
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Panthers' Aleksi Saarela: Dealt in minor-league deal
Saarela was traded to Florida from Chicago in exchange for defenseman Ian McCoshen on Tuesday, Chris Kuc of The Athletic reports.
The 22-year-old has yet to suit up in NHL action to this point in his career, and will join a young up-and-coming club with a new coach. Saarela collected 54 points in 69 AHL games last season, and was a big part of the Calder Cup winning Charlotte team, racking up 17 points in 19 playoff games. He is expected to report to AHL Springfield following the trade, and he could have a chance to see his first NHL action with the Panthers this season.
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Blackhawks' Aleksi Saarela: Heading to Rockford
Saarela was assigned to the Blackhawks' AHL affiliate Wednesday, Tracey Myers of NHL.com reports.
Chicago is trimming down its roster with the regular season around the corner and is down to 28 men after reassigning Saarela and Adam Boqvist to Rockford. Saarela has yet to play a minute in the NHL so he profiles as organizational depth for Chicago at this stage.
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Blackhawks' Aleksi Saarela: Dished to Blackhawks
Saarela and Calvin de Haan were dealt to Chicago from Carolina in exchange for Anton Forsberg and Gustav Forsling on Monday.
Saarela racked up 30 goals and 54 points in 69 games for AHL Charlotte last season but has yet to make his NHL debut. The 22-year-old likely could've fought for a bottom-six spot during the preseason with the Hurricanes. Chicago drafted Saarela's brother, Antti, this weekend at the 2019 NHL Draft.
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Hurricanes' Aleksi Saarela: Sent back to AHL
Saarela was demoted to AHL Charlotte on Sunday.
Saarela made his NHL debut in Game 5 on Saturday, recording a hit in 9:10 of ice time. A third-round pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, the 22-year-old scored 54 points in 69 games at the AHL level this season.
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Hurricanes' Aleksi Saarela: Making NHL debut
Saarela will make his NHL debut Saturday for Game 5 against the Capitals.
Saarela was highly productive in the minors this campaign, racking up 30 goals and 54 points in 69 appearances. The 22-year-old Finn will slot into a bottom-six role Saturday, skating with Greg McKegg and Patrick Brown on the Hurricanes' fourth line against Washington.
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Hurricanes' Aleksi Saarela: Added to playoff roster
Saarela was called up from AHL Charlotte on Friday.
With the Hurricanes getting set for Saturday's pivotal Game 5 versus the Capitals, Saarela -- a notable Finnish prospect who fashioned 54 points (30 goals, 24 assists) for Charlotte this year -- will be available as needed. Saarela's chances of seeing game action largely depend on the status of Jordan Martinook, who is currently bogged down by a lower-body injury.
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Hurricanes' Aleksi Saarela: Playing well in AHL
Saarela scored the game-winning goal in overtime in AHL Charlotte's 2-1 win over Utica on Sunday.
It was Saarela's eighth tally of the season and he chipped in a game-high seven shots on goal for good measure. Charlotte is a stacked team, but Saarela has very quietly put together a solid (19 points in 27 games) season. Originally a third-round pick of the Rangers in 2015 and shipped to the Hurricanes in the ill-fated trade that brought Eric Staal to New York briefly, Saarela is a name for deeper dynasty league owners to keep in mind.
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Hurricanes' Aleksi Saarela: Shipped back to minors
Saarela was reassigned to AHL Charlotte on Friday.
The Canes activated Marcus Kruger (lower body) from injured reserve, which made Saarela expendable. The youngster will rejoin the Checkers, for whom he's racked up 13 goals and six helpers in 31 outings. The 20-year-old should remain atop the short list of potential recalls throughout the rest of the season.
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Hurricanes' Aleksi Saarela: Promoted to big club
The Hurricanes recalled Saarela from AHL Charlotte on Wednesday.
Carolina placed Marcus Kruger (lower body) on injured reserve in a corresponding move, and Lucas Wallmark (groin) is considered doubtful for the Hurricanes' next contest, so Saarela could make his NHL debut Thursday against the Penguins. The 20-year-old pivot has notched 13 goals and 19 points in 31 games with AHL Charlotte this season.
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Player Bio
| HT/WT: 5-10, 200 lbs |
| Birthplace: Helsinki, Finland |
| Age: 28 |
| Experience: 1 |
| Shoots: Left |