Antti Saarela

April 2026 – The December slide did not stick. Saarela closed the 2025-26 Liiga regular season with 15 goals and 25 assists for 40 points in 51 games for Lukko, a clear jump from the 12 goals and 31 points he posted in 59 games last season. He did a lot of that damage after midseason, including a three-point night against JYP on Feb. 3, a two-goal game against Jukurit on Feb. 24, and another two-point outing against KooKoo on Mar. 6. The projection still looks more like a complementary winger than a true line driver, but this year helped steady the outlook again. His pace, support habits, and off-puck timing started turning into production instead of just respectable detail work. The stronger finish also carried into the playoffs, where he scored both Lukko goals in a 2-1 win over HPK on March 20 and pushed his postseason line to two goals in four games. Andrew Epps

December 2025 – Saarela’s taken a noticeable step back this year after the solid jump he showed last season. He went from 31 points to just eight through his first 22 games. Even with the lighter numbers, his strengths have not changed. He still pushes the pace, works responsibly in all three zones, and helps drive possession through transition. Those are the traits that keep him in the lineup and keep coaches leaning on him in tougher minutes. From Chicago’s perspective, this doesn’t shift his projection much. He still profiles as a high-energy bottom-six option who can forecheck, disrupt plays early, and take on penalty-kill responsibility. Last year’s bump looks more like the high end of what he can offer when the usage lines up, while this season is probably a better indicator of what his deployment will allow him to be. Puneet Sharma

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 123^rd 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