Fantasy Summary
A smart undersized forward with a relentless motor who could develop into a consistent bottom-six piece if he beats the odds.
Observations
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July 2024 – Saarelainen was selected 149th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning. Mark Henry
June 2024 – An undersized center with an unrelenting motor, a tendency to play his best hockey when it matters most, and an ability to elevate his linemates all the while facilitating their games, there’s a lot to like in Saarelainen’s game. His projection is a bit murkier than his on-ice value was this season, however. At 5-9 and lacking stand-out elite skill(s), the Finnish pivot will need to work about twice as hard to make the NHL than most of his peers, but if he does beat the odds, a team could have landed a fan-favourite bottom-six facilitator who brings exactly the same energy every single night: everything he has. (Final Ranking: 90) Sebastian High
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