Sami Vatanen

Who is Sami Vatanen?

Sami Vatanen is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman for the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League.

He was drafted by Anaheim in the 4th round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. In the following season, he achieved a spot in JYP, the defending Finnish champions. He broke a record for most points by a rookie defenseman in both regular season and playoffs.

In 2010, Vatanen represented Finland internationally at the junior level and at the senior level.

He also was the highest-drafted Finnish player in KHL history, drafted 2nd overall in the 2010 KHL Junior Draft by HC Metallurg Novokuznetsk.

Vatanen made his NHL debut with the Anaheim Ducks in the lockout shortened 2012–13 season on February 1, 2013.

He was selected to the AHL 1st All-Star team, and the AHL all rookie team during the 2012-2013 AHL season despite playing only 62 games in a 76 game season.

At the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Vatanen won a bronze medal when Finland defeated the United States 5–0.

On July 22, 2014, it was announced that the Ducks had re-signed Vatanen to a two-year contract worth a total of $2,525,000.