Vili Saarijärvi

Vili Saarijärvi (born 16 November 1998) is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman for Lukko of the Finnish Liiga. He was drafted 73rd overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.

Vili Saarijärvi
Born (1997-05-15) 15 May 1997
Rovaniemi, Finland
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 183 lb (83 kg; 13 st 1 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Right
Liiga team
Former teams		 Lukko
Grand Rapids Griffins
Tucson Roadrunners
NHL Draft 73rd overall, 2015
Detroit Red Wings
Playing career 2017–present

Playing career

During the 2014–15 season, Saarijärvi recorded six goals and 17 assists in 57 games for the Green Bay Gamblers, leading the Gamblers' defenceman in scoring, and finishing tied for 20th in scoring among all USHL defenceman. His first career USHL goal was a game-winning overtime goal on October 4, 2014, against the Chicago Steel. Following an outstanding season, Saarijärvi was named to the All-Rookie Second Team.[1]

On 30 June 2015, Saarijärvi was drafted 9th overall by the Flint Firebirds in the CHL Import Draft.[2] On 12 August 2015, the Firebirds signed Saarijärvi to an Ontario Hockey League (OHL) contract for the 2015–16 season.[3] Saarijärvi played his first career OHL game with the Firebirds on 24 September 2015, where he recorded his first career OHL point, an assist, in a game against the Saginaw Spirit.[4] On 24 June 2016, Saarijärvi was traded to the Mississauga Steelheads in exchange for Everett Clark, a second-round pick in the 2017 OHL Priority Selection, a fifth-round pick in the 2019 OHL Priority Selection and a conditional second-round pick in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection. During the 2016–17 season, he recorded 11 goals and 20 assists in 34 games for the Steelheads.[5][6]

On 3 July 2015, the Detroit Red Wings signed Saarijärvi to a three-year, entry-level contract.[7] During the 2017–18 season, in his first full professional season in North America, Saarijärvi split time between the ECHL's Toledo Walleye and the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins. He made his AHL debut for the Griffins on 28 October 2017, and recorded his first career AHL point, an assist.[8] In 10 games with the Walleye, he had two goals and four assists. In 42 games with the Griffins, he had 11 assists.[9] During the 2018–19 season, in his second full professional season in North America, Saarijärvi recorded two goals, 14 assists, and a team-leading plus-19 rating, in 70 games for the Grand Rapids Griffins. He recorded his first career AHL goal on 20 October 2019 in a game against the Chicago Wolves.[10]

On 30 November 2019, Saarijärvi was traded to the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for Eric Comrie.[11] Prior to being traded, he recorded one assist in 13 games with the Griffins. On 2 December 2019, he was assigned to the Coyotes' AHL affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners. He finished the season with six assists in 25 games for the Roadrunners.[12]

On 15 May 2020, Saarijärvi signed with Lukko of the Finnish Liiga.[13][14]

International play

Saarijärvi represented Finland at the 2015 IIHF World U18 Championships, where he led all defenceman in scoring, recording three goals and six assists in seven games, and won a silver medal. He was selected as the tournament's best defenceman and was named to the 2015 IIHF World U18 Championship All-Star Team.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2014–15 Green Bay Gamblers USHL 57 6 17 23 14 — — — — —
2015–16 Flint Firebirds OHL 59 12 31 43 32 — — — — —
2015–16 Toledo Walleye ECHL 5 1 3 4 0 — — — — —
2016–17 Mississauga Steelheads OHL 34 11 20 31 14 20 5 10 15 8
2017–18 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 42 0 11 11 10 1 0 0 0 0
2017–18 Toledo Walleye ECHL 10 2 4 6 2 — — — — —
2018–19 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 70 2 14 16 20 1 1 0 1 0
2019–20 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 13 0 1 1 2 — — — — —
2019–20 Tucson Roadrunners AHL 25 0 6 6 4 — — — — —
AHL totals 150 2 32 34 36 2 1 0 1 0

References
  1. "USHL Names 2014-15 All-Rookie Teams". USHL.com. Archived from the original on 4 July 2015. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  2. "Firebirds Select Red Wings Draft Pick Saarijarvi & Kantner in CHL Import Draft". flintfirebirds.com. 30 June 2015. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  3. "Red Wings Draft Pick Vili Saarijärvi To Play in Flint This Season". flintfirebirds.com. 12 August 2015. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  4. "Flint Shuts Out Saginaw 3-0 In Historic OHL Season Opener". flintfirebirds.com. 24 September 2015. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  5. "Firebirds Complete Trade with Mississauga". flintfirebirds.com. 24 June 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  6. Manzullo, Brian (24 June 2016). "Firebirds trade Red Wings prospect Vili Saarijarvi to Mississauga". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  7. Roose, Bill (3 July 2015). "Wings ink Saarijarvi, who may play in Flint". NHL.com. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  8. Wakiji, Dana (9 May 2018). "By the Numbers Prospects: Vili Saarijarvi". NHL.com. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  9. Wakiji, Dana (3 August 2018). "Saarijarvi looking forward to pivotal season". NHL.com. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  10. "2018-19 in Review: Vili Saarijarvi". griffinshockey.com. 5 July 2019. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  11. Kujawa, Kyle (30 November 2019). "Red Wings acquire Eric Comrie from Coyotes". NHL.com. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  12. "Coyotes Assign Vili Saarijarvi To Tucson". tucsonroadrunners.com. 2 December 2019. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  13. ""Odotuksissa on hänen olevan liigatasolla kärkipuolustajia"". raumanlukko.fi (in Finnish). 15 May 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  14. "Vili Saarijärvellä on suuret suunnitelmat Lukon takalinjoilla: "Tavoitteena on kuulua Liigan parhaimpiin puolustajiin"". liiga.fi (in Finnish). 29 September 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
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