Vili Saarijärvi
{{short description|Finnish ice hockey player (born 1997)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox ice hockey player
| name = Vili Saarijärvi
| image = Vili Saarijärvi - Flint Firebirds.JPG
| image_size = 230px
| caption = Saarijärvi with the Flint Firebirds in 2016
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|5|15|df=y}}
| birth_place = Rovaniemi, Finland
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 10
| weight_lb = 183
| position = Defence
| shoots = Right
| league = NL
| team = Genève-Servette HC
| former_teams = Lukko
SCL Tigers
| ntl_team = FIN
| draft = 73rd overall
| draft_year = 2015
| draft_team = Detroit Red Wings
| career_start = 2017
| career_end =
}}
Vili Saarijärvi (born 15 May 1997) is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman for Genève-Servette HC of the National League (NL). He was drafted 73rd overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.
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 4 October 2014, against the Chicago Steel. Following an outstanding season, Saarijärvi was named to the All-Rookie Second Team.{{cite web|url=http://www.ushl.com/news_article/show/517926?referrer_id=1348814-top-story|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150704141315/http://www.ushl.com/news_article/show/517926?referrer_id=1348814-top-story |title=USHL Names 2014-15 All-Rookie Teams |website=USHL.com |archive-date=4 July 2015 |access-date=15 December 2020|url-status=dead}}
On 30 June 2015, Saarijärvi was drafted 9th overall by the Flint Firebirds in the CHL Import Draft.{{cite web|url=https://flintfirebirds.com/saarijarvi-kantner |title=Firebirds Select Red Wings Draft Pick Saarijarvi & Kantner in CHL Import Draft |website=flintfirebirds.com |date=30 June 2015 |access-date=15 December 2020}} On 12 August 2015, the Firebirds signed Saarijärvi to an Ontario Hockey League (OHL) contract for the 2015–16 season.{{cite web|url=https://flintfirebirds.com/saarijarvi-announcement |title=Red Wings Draft Pick Vili Saarijärvi To Play in Flint This Season |website=flintfirebirds.com |date=12 August 2015 |access-date=15 December 2020}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://flintfirebirds.com/spirit09242015 |title=Flint Shuts Out Saginaw 3-0 In Historic OHL Season Opener |website=flintfirebirds.com |date=24 September 2015 |access-date=15 December 2020}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://flintfirebirds.com/article/clark |title=Firebirds Complete Trade with Mississauga |website=flintfirebirds.com |date=24 June 2016 |access-date=15 December 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2016/06/24/flint-firebirds-vili-saarijarvi-trade/86341300/ |title=Firebirds trade Red Wings prospect Vili Saarijarvi to Mississauga |newspaper=Detroit Free Press |first=Brian |last=Manzullo |date=24 June 2016 |access-date=15 December 2020}}
On 3 July 2015, the Detroit Red Wings signed Saarijärvi to a three-year, entry-level contract.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/redwings/news/wings-ink-saarijarvi-who-may-play-in-flint/c-773862 |title=Wings ink Saarijarvi, who may play in Flint |website=NHL.com |first=Bill |last=Roose |date=3 July 2015 |access-date=15 December 2020}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/redwings/news/by-the-numbers-prospects-vili-saarijarvi/c-298535196?tid=277567782 |title=By the Numbers Prospects: Vili Saarijarvi |website=NHL.com |first=Dana |last=Wakiji |date=9 May 2018 |access-date=15 December 2020}} In 10 games with the Walleye, he had two goals and four assists. In 42 games with the Griffins, he had 11 assists.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/redwings/news/saarijarvi-looking-forward-to-pivotal-season/c-299672648 |title=Saarijarvi looking forward to pivotal season |website=NHL.com |first=Dana |last=Wakiji |date=3 August 2018 |access-date=15 December 2020}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://griffinshockey.com/news/2018-19-in-review-vili-saarijarvi |title=2018-19 in Review: Vili Saarijarvi |website=griffinshockey.com |date=5 July 2019 |access-date=15 December 2020}}
On 30 November 2019, Saarijärvi was traded to the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for Eric Comrie.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/redwings/news/eric-comrie-acquired-from-coyotes/c-311988460?tid=281469168 |title=Red Wings acquire Eric Comrie from Coyotes |website=NHL.com |first=Kyle |last=Kujawa |date=30 November 2019 |access-date=15 December 2020}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.tucsonroadrunners.com/releases/coyotes-assign-vili-saarijarvi-to-tucson/ |title=Coyotes Assign Vili Saarijarvi To Tucson |website=tucsonroadrunners.com |date=2 December 2019 |access-date=15 December 2020}}
On 15 May 2020, Saarijärvi signed with Lukko of the Finnish Liiga.{{cite web|url=https://www.raumanlukko.fi/uutiset/odotuksissa-on-hanen-olevan-liigatasolla-karkipuolustajia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200520215206/https://www.raumanlukko.fi/uutiset/odotuksissa-on-hanen-olevan-liigatasolla-karkipuolustajia |url-status=usurped |archive-date=20 May 2020 |title="Odotuksissa on hänen olevan liigatasolla kärkipuolustajia" |website=raumanlukko.fi |date=15 May 2020 |access-date=15 December 2020|language=fi-FI}}{{cite web|url=https://www.liiga.fi/fi/uutiset/2020/09/29/vili-saarijarvella-on-suuret-suunnitelmat-lukon-takalinjoilla-tavoitteena-on-kuulua-liigan-parhaimpiin-puolustajiin |title=Vili Saarijärvellä on suuret suunnitelmat Lukon takalinjoilla: "Tavoitteena on kuulua Liigan parhaimpiin puolustajiin" |website=liiga.fi |date=29 September 2020 |access-date=15 December 2020|language=fi-FI}}
On 28 February 2023, the Coyotes traded Saarijärvi's rights to the Chicago Blackhawks in a three-team trade.{{cite web |title=RELEASE: Blackhawks Trade Patrick Kane to Rangers in Three-Team Deal |url=https://www.nhl.com/blackhawks/news/release-blackhawks-trade-patrick-kane-to-rangers-in-three-team-deal/c-341615496 |website=NHL.com |access-date=1 March 2023 |date=28 February 2023}}
International play
File:Vili_Saarijärvi_21-04-23.jpg
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=
| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em" |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! colspan="5" | Regular season ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! colspan="5" | Playoffs |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Season ! Team ! League ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM |
| 2012–13
| FIN U20 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2013–14 | Oulun Kärpät | FIN U20 | 40 | 7 | 21 | 28 | 10 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| 2014–15
| USHL | 57 | 6 | 17 | 23 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2015–16 | OHL | 59 | 12 | 31 | 43 | 32 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2015–16
| ECHL | 5 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2016–17 | OHL | 34 | 11 | 20 | 31 | 14 | 20 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 8 |
| 2017–18
| AHL | 42 | 0 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 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 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2019–20 | Grand Rapids Griffins | AHL | 13 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2019–20
| AHL | 25 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2020–21 | Lukko | Liiga | 50 | 9 | 27 | 36 | 26 | 11 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 4 |
| 2021–22
| Lukko | Liiga | 52 | 17 | 26 | 43 | 12 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2022–23 | NL | 49 | 11 | 22 | 33 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2023–24
| SCL Tigers | NL | 50 | 8 | 29 | 37 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" | Liiga totals ! 102 ! 26 ! 53 ! 79 ! 38 ! 18 ! 2 ! 8 ! 10 ! 8 |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" | NL totals ! 99 ! 19 ! 51 ! 70 ! 22 ! — ! — ! — ! — ! — |
=International=
| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" ID="Table3" style="text-align:center; width:40em" | ||||
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Year ! Team ! Event ! Result ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM | ||||
| 2014
| Finland | IH18 | 5th | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2015 | Finland | U18 | {{silver2}} | 7 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 4 |
| 2016
| Finland | WJC | {{gold1}} | 7 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2017 | Finland | WJC | 9th | 6 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| 2024
| Finland | WC | 8th | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="4" |Junior totals ! 24 !! 6 !! 15 !! 21 !! 10 | ||||
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="4" |Senior totals ! 8 !! 0 !! 1 !! 1 !! 0 |
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{Ice hockey stats}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saarijärvi, Vili}}
Category:Detroit Red Wings draft picks
Category:Finnish expatriate ice hockey players in the United States
Category:Finnish ice hockey defencemen
Category:Flint Firebirds players
Category:Grand Rapids Griffins players
Category:Green Bay Gamblers players
Category:Mississauga Steelheads players
Category:Sportspeople from Rovaniemi
Category:Ice hockey people from Lapland (Finland)
Category:Toledo Walleye players