SAMI VATANEN"THE NEXT FINNISH SUPERSTAR"

Player's Profile

• Name: Sami Vatanen
• Position: D
• Shoots: Right
• Height: 5-9
• Weight: 159 lbs
• Birthdate: 1991-06-03
• Eligible for Draft: 2009
• Drafted: 2009
• Hometown: Jyvaskyla, Finland
• Acquired: 2009 by ANA
• Playing In: Europe

Sami Vatanen

Prospect Grade: 7.0 D (About Prospect Grades)

History

2007-08: In 35 games with JYP's U20 squad, the D-man scored nine goals and 29 assists. He also competed with Finland's national team at the U18 WJC, registering three helpers in six games.

2008-09: Suited up for 20 games with JYP in the U20 SM-Liiga, posting three goals and seven assists. Captained the Finnish entry in the U18 World Championships, winning a bronze medal in the process.

Talent Analysis

Vatanen is highly talented, but his size at just 5'9 could keep him from NHL success. He is a very good skater, quarterbacks the power play, and is solid defensively. Good leader as well.

Future

Vatanen is a smooth-skating, quick defensemen whose best assets are his play-making ability and his ability to read the play on the fly. Undersized and thus vulnerable in his own end, he is able to compensate by using his skating ability and good recognition of passing/shooting lanes. Willing to compete for lose pucks though his size is sometimes a disadvantage. Doesn’t have a powerful shot but is accurate and has a quick release. He is a very good passer. Yet to mature physically, so his size and strength should improve. A team leader, he was the captain of the Under-18 Finnish national team in 2008-2009.