Kristian Vesalainen

{{Infobox ice hockey player

| image = Kristian Vesalainen (51833140091) (cropped).jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Vesalainen with the Winnipeg Jets in 2022

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1999|6|1}}

| birth_place = Helsinki, Finland

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 3

| weight_lb = 207

| position = Left wing

| shoots = Left

| league = Liiga

| team = HIFK

| prospect_team =

| prospect_league = AHL

| former_teams = Frölunda HC
HPK
Oulun Kärpät
Winnipeg Jets
Jokerit
Malmö Redhawks

| ntl_team =

| draft = 24th overall

| draft_year = 2017

| draft_team = Winnipeg Jets

| career_start = 2015

| career_end =

}}

Kristian Vesalainen (born 1 June 1999) is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward for HIFK of the Finnish Liiga. Vesalainen was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in the first round, 24th overall, in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

Vesalainen originally played as a youth in his native Finland, appearing up to the Junior A level with HIFK before opting to continue his development in Sweden with Frölunda HC on 27 August 2015. Vesalainen made his professional debut at the senior level with Frölunda in the Swedish Hockey League during the 2015–16 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.shl.se/lag/087a-087aTQv9u__frolunda-hc/qQ9-9f82F0qDo__kristian-vesalainen|title=Kristian Vesalainen player profile |website= Swedish Hockey League | date = 2 November 2015 | accessdate = 2 November 2015 | language = Swedish}} After an initial loan period to return to Finland during the 2016–17 season with HPK of the Liiga, Vesalainen made his move permanent in agreeing to a one-year deal with HPK on 28 April 2017.{{cite web| url = http://www.hpk.fi/hpklle-yhdeksan-uutta-ja-kolme-jatkosopimusta-tassa-hpk-2017-2018/ | title = HPK announce nine new agreements | website = HPK | date = 28 April 2017 | accessdate = 28 April 2017 | language = Finnish}} In his first year of eligibility, Vesalainen was selected in the first round, 24th overall, by the Winnipeg Jets at the 2017 NHL Entry Draft on 23 June 2017.{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/jets/news/highly-coveted-kristian-vesalainen-drafted-with-24th-pick/c-290109472 | title = Highly coveted Vesalainen drafted with 24th overall pick | publisher = Winnipeg Jets | date = 23 June 2017 | accessdate = 23 June 2017}}

In the 2017–18 season, despite his age Vesalainen impressively secured a top-line role with HPK. With the club out of playoff contention and while leading the HPK in scoring with 19 goals and 39 points, Vesalainen was loaned for the remainder of the season to league leaders Oulun Kärpät on 21 February 2018.{{cite web| url = http://www.hpk.fi/oula-palve-ja-kristian-vesalainen-21022018/ | title = HPK's Palve and Vesalainen continue their seasons elsewhere | website = HPK | date = 21 February 2018 | accessdate = 21 February 2018 | language = Finnish}} Kärpät would eventually win the Liiga championship, with Vesalainen scoring 8 points in 18 playoff games. On 26 August 2018, Vesalainen signed a three-year, $4.476 million entry-level contract with the Jets,{{cite web |title=Jets sign Kristian Vesalainen to three-year contract |url=https://www.nhl.com/jets/news/jets-sign-kristian-vesalainen-to-three-year-contract/c-299859940 |website=NHL.com |accessdate=28 August 2018 |date=26 August 2018}} which included an out clause that would permit him to play in Europe during the 2018–19 season if he did not make the team's roster during the training camp.{{cite web |last1=Wiebe |first1=Ken |title=Vesalainen inks deal with Jets |url=https://winnipegsun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/winnipeg-jets/vesalainen-inks-deal-with-jets |website=Winnipeg Sun |accessdate=28 August 2018 |date=26 August 2018}}

Vesalainen made his NHL debut on 4 October 2018 in a 5–1 win over the St. Louis Blues. He played 8:12 minutes of ice time and earned one assist.{{cite web |last1=Korac |first1=Louie |title=Jets, Hellebuyck handle Blues, Allen |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/winnipeg-jets-st-louis-blues-game-recap/c-300639152 |website=NHL.com |accessdate=5 October 2018 |date=5 October 2018}} On 22 November, the Jets assigned Vesalainen to Jokerit of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).{{cite web |title=Jets reassign Kristian Vesalainen from Manitoba to Jokerit |url=https://www.nhl.com/jets/news/jets-reassign-kristian-vesalainen-from-manitoba-to-jokerit/c-302204548 |website=NHL.com |accessdate=24 November 2018 |date=22 November 2018}}{{cite web |last1=Beneteau |first1=Josh |title=Jets assign forward Kristian Vesalainen to Jokerit of KHL |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/jets-assign-forward-kristian-vesalainen-jokerit-khl/ |website=Sportsnet.ca |accessdate=24 November 2018 |date=22 November 2018}}

On 21 October 2020, Vesalainen returned to HPK on loan from the Winnipeg Jets, until the commencement of the delayed North American 2020–21 season.{{cite web| url = https://hpk.fi/hpk-sopimukseen-kristian-vesalaisen-kanssa/ | title = HPK enters into agreement with Kristian Vesalainen | publisher = HPK | date = 21 October 2020 | accessdate = 21 October 2020 | language = Finnish}} In the following {{nhly|2021}} season, Vesalainen scored his first NHL goal against the Nashville Predators on 23 October 2021.{{Cite web|title=Nashville Predators - Winnipeg Jets - October 23rd, 2021|url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/nsh-vs-wpg/2021/10/23/2021020076|access-date=2021-10-24|website=NHL.com|language=en-US}} He appeared in a career best 53 regular season games with the Jets, totalling just 3 points, before he was re-assigned to close out the season with the Manitoba Moose in the AHL.

As an impending restricted free agent with the Jets, Vesalainen chose to return to Europe by signing a one-year contract with Swedish club, Malmö Redhawks of the SHL, on 23 May 2022.{{cite web| url = https://www.malmoredhawks.com/artikel/slayal3io-33nad/finsk-nhl-forward-klar-for-redhawks | publisher = Malmö Redhawks | title = Finnish NHL forward signs with Malmö Redhawks | date = 23 May 2022| accessdate = 23 May 2022 | language = Swedish}} He opted to return to his home country in November that same year.{{cite web |title=Kristian Vesalainen lämnar Malmö • åker hem till Finland |date=8 November 2022 |url=https://www.expressen.se/sport/hockey/shl/kristian-vesalainen-lamnar-malmo--aker-hem-till-finland/ |publisher=Expressen |access-date=12 November 2022}}

Personal life

He is in a relationship with Finnish footballer Amanda Rantanen. In January 2025, they revealed she was expecting their first child.[https://www.is.fi/sm-liiga/art-2000010936715.html Suomen urheilutähdet paljastivat suhteensa: vauva tulossa], Ilta-Sanomat, 1 January 2025