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Fantasy Summary

Complementary forward with middle-six upside. Has played center in junior but projects to be a winger at the pro level.


Observations

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June 2025 – Saarela was loaned to Lukko of the Liiga for the 2024-2025 season scoring 12 goals and adding 19 assists for 31 points in 59 games. The soon-to-be 24 year-old saw his contract with Chicago expire at the end of the season, and given that he elected to play in Finland rather than return for a second AHL season, one could imagine that he plans to stay there. Alex Wyatt

October 2020- You can follow Saarela’s progress as he plays for Ilves in Liiga. He is off to a pretty good start to the 2020 season and could fast track his way to Rockford if this type of production continues. Tony Carr

June 2019 – Saarela has been drafted 123rd overall by the Blackhawks.  Jokke Nevalainen

June 2019 – Saarela was officially measured at 5-foot-11.75 and 190 pounds at the NHL Draft Combine.  Jokke Nevalainen

March 2019 – Saarela started this season in Jr. A SM-liiga which is the top junior level in Finland. While there, he put up seven goals and 15 points in 21 games. After that time, he’s been mostly playing at the top level in Liiga where he’s put up two goals and 10 points in 23 games. Saarela’s production in Liiga is very impressive but he’s also received great usage which has allowed him to produce points alongside talented players. Saarela comes from a true hockey family as his father Pasi was a long-time pro player and a local legend with Lukko which is probably partly why Antti has received such a great opportunity there as well. And Antti’s older brother Aleksi was drafted by the Rangers and is currently playing in Carolina’s system. The younger Saarela has also played 11 games with Finland’s U18 team and scored six points there. He’s expected to play an important role for Finland at the U18 Worlds.

Saarela has played center in junior but has been used purely as a winger at the pro level. His game is better suited for the wing, so I would expect him to stay there. He’s not big (5-11, 176) but he plays a fearless style of game and isn’t afraid to get his nose dirty. Saarela is a great skater who can create offensive opportunities because of his speed but his acceleration and agility are also great. His puck-skills are very good which makes him very dangerous in one-on-one situations. He also has a good shot. His playmaking skills are decent but he’s more of a complementary player than someone who drives the offense. He plays a reliable defensive game as well. Besides skating, his tools don’t appear to be high-end which is why he projects to become a complementary third-line winger. Saarela is likely going to be drafted in the third round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.  Jokke Nevalainen

Attributes
Fantasy Upside 5.5
NHL Certainty 4.0
Country FIN
Position RW
Roster Type Europe
Shoot/Glove Left
Date of Birth June 27, 2001
Height 6‘0”
Weight 190 lbs
Drafted 2019 Round 4; Overall: 123
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Stats – Frozen Tools – Profile on FT

SeasonLeagueTeamGPGAPTSPIM+/-
2024-2025LiigaLukko591219313919
2023-2024AHLRockford IceHogs2751611-5
2022-2023LiigaLukko417111810-1
2021-2022LiigaIlves3712719246
2020-2021LiigaIlves477714510
2019-2020WJC-20Finland U2070006-5
2019-2020LiigaIlves404812127
2018-2019WJC-18Finland U1851236-3
2018-2019U20 SM-liigaLukko U2021781532-5
2018-2019LiigaLukko242810203
2018-2019Hlinka Gretzky CupFinland U18300020
2017-2018WHC-17Finland U17522440
2017-2018U20 SM-liigaLukko U2025691561
2017-2018U18 SM-sarjaLukko U18524640
2017-2018LiigaLukko100000
2016-2017U18 SM-sarjaLukko U183451520400
2015-2016U16 SM-sarjaLukko U1626201535240

Highlights