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Dallas Stars
JoonaSaarelainen
CAge: 20175 CM88 KGFIN FIN
54PNHLe
Joona Saarelainen
NHLNHL Draft2024, TBL (149th overall)5th round, 20th pick
THLTHL Draft2024, DAL (141st overall)5th round, 13th pick

Projected potential

Bio

A smart undersized forward with a relentless motor who could develop into a consistent bottom-six piece if he beats the odds.

PNHLe

Projected potential: 54 · 2nd Line Potential2025-26 · Liiga · KalPa

What is PNHLe?

PNHLe is an offensive stat that is used to project a player’s point potential at the NHL level and is meant to standardize a variety of leagues so that prospects can be compared from one league with another.

PNHLe attempts to equalize all leagues, age and positions so that the offensive potential of a prospect can easily be compared with others, while also projecting future NHL point potential in the prime years of a player.

The problem with NHLe

The premise of the NHLe stat is certainly a great idea. If a player jumps directly from one league to the NHL there should be some precedent set by historical values that would indicate how many points that player should project to having in a full NHL season. However, it always bothered me that NHLe never took into account that younger players in the same league would always have a massive disadvantage compared to those that have more experience and are physically more mature in the same league. NHLe only looks at the present to predict how many points in one league are equated at the NHL level.

NHL Certainty
4.0
40% odds
Odds of becoming a full-time NHL player (10.0 = 100%). Draft guideline is a starting point and should rise as the prospect proves himself.
Upside
4.0
 
Best-case offensive upside (peak season points potential). Forwards: 8.0 ≈ 80 points. Defense and goalie scales differ.

Scouting Feed

Saarelainen was selected 149th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning.

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



Career Stats
SeasonTypeLeagueTeamGPGAP+/-PIMPPGSHGSOG
2019-20RegularU16 MestisJukurit U16785132
2020-21RegularU16 SM-sarjaJukurit U162926174316
2021-22RegularU18 SM-sarjaJukurit U18261913328
2021-22RegularU16 SM-sarjaJukurit U161414142864
2021-22RegularU20 SM-sarjaJukurit U20222410
2022-23RegularU20 SM-sarjaJukurit U2011033-24
2022-23RegularHlinka Gretzky CupFinland U1841012
2022-23RegularWHC-17Finland U17743710
2022-23RegularU18 SM-sarjaJukurit U1862684
2022-23RegularU20 SM-sarjaKalPa U2014055-92
2022-23RegularU18 SM-sarjaKalPa U1823582
2022-23PlayoffsU20 SM-sarjaKalPa U203000-10
2023-24RegularLiigaKalPa801100
2023-24RegularHlinka Gretzky CupFinland U1851126
2023-24RegularU20 SM-sarjaKalPa U20411323361120
2023-24RegularU18 SM-sarjaKalPa U1832350
2023-24RegularSpengler CupKalPa100000
2023-24RegularWJC-18Finland U18531442
2023-24PlayoffsU20 SM-sarjaKalPa U20100000
2023-24PlayoffsU18 SM-sarjaKalPa U18487152
2023-24PlayoffsMestisIPK100000
2024-25RegularLiigaKalPa2123514
2024-25RegularU20 SM-sarjaKalPa U20151241640
2024-25RegularWJC-20Finland U207011-10
2024-25RegularMestisHokki3000-72
2024-25PlayoffsLiigaKalPa7011-10
2024-25PlayoffsU20 SM-sarjaKalPa U20222432
2025-26RegularLiigaKalPa5181624-112
2025-26RegularChampions HLKalPa502232
2025-26PlayoffsLiigaKalPa11235-24