Eliteprospects
Finland Joona Saarelainen
#12 KalPa / Liiga - 25/26
1-time U20 WJC Silver Medal 1
1-time Hlinka Gretzky Cup Bronze Medal 1
1-time U17 WHC Bronze Medal 1
1-time Liiga Champion 1
Date of Birth
Apr 04, 2006
Position
C/RW
Age
19
Height
5'9" / 176 cm
Place of Birth
Mikkeli, FIN
Weight
187 lbs / 85 kg
Nation
Finland
Shoots
L
Youth Team
Jukurit
Contract
25/26
NHL Rights
Tampa Bay Lightning Tampa Bay Lightning / Unsigned
Drafted
2024 round 5 #149 overall by Tampa Bay Lightning
Agency
PREMIUM

Saarelainen combines a fast-twitch stride and projectable quickness with relentless motor and detailed two-way game. He facilitates his teammates in transition through his puck-carrying ability but also by taking smart supporting routes. -EliteProspects 2024 NHL Draft Guide

Brother: Vili Saarelainen
Father: Jarno Saarelainen

© Photo: Dan Hickling

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Joona Saarelainen Statistics

S Team League GP G A TP PIM +/-   POST GP G A TP PIM +/-
2019-20 Jukurit U16 U16 Mestis Q 6* 9* 1* 10* 0* -* |
Jukurit U16 U16 Mestis 7* 8* 5* 13* 2* -* |
2020-21 Jukurit U16 U16 SM-sarja 29* 26* 17* 43* 16* -* |
2021-22 Jukurit U16 U16 SM-sarja 14* 14* 14* 28* 64* -* |
Jukurit U18 U18 SM-sarja 26* 19* 13* 32* 8* -* |
Jukurit U20 U20 SM-sarja 2* 2* 2* 4* 0* 1* |
Finland U16 (all) “A” International-Jr 8* 4* 5* 9* 2* 11* |
2022-23 Jukurit U18 U18 SM-sarja 6* 2* 6* 8* 4* -* |
Jukurit U20 U20 SM-sarja 11* 0* 3* 3* 4* -2* |
KalPa U18 U18 SM-sarja 2* 3* 5* 8* 2* -* |
KalPa U20 U20 SM-sarja 14* 0* 5* 5* 2* -9* | Playoffs 3 0 0 0 0 -1
Finland U17 WHC-17 7* 4* 3* 7* 10* -* |
Finland U17 (all) International-Jr 18* 7* 7* 14* 16* 4* |
Finland U18 (all) International-Jr 5* 1* 0* 1* 2* -* |
2023-24 KalPa U18 U18 SM-sarja 3* 2* 3* 5* 0* -* | Relegation 4 8 7 15 2 -
KalPa U20 “A” U20 SM-sarja 41* 13* 23* 36* 20* 11* | Playoffs 1 0 0 0 0 0
KalPa Liiga 8* 0* 1* 1* 0* 0* |
IPK Mestis 0* 0* 0* 0* 0* 0* | Playoffs 1 0 0 0 0 0
Finland U18 “A” WJC-18 5* 3* 1* 4* 2* 4* |
Finland U18 (all) International-Jr 17* 13* 4* 17* 10* -* |
2024-25 KalPa U20 U20 SM-sarja 15* 12* 4* 16* 0* 4* | Playoffs 2 2 2 4 2 3
KalPa Liiga 21* 2* 3* 5* 4* 1* | Playoffs 7 0 1 1 0 -1
Hokki Mestis 3* 0* 0* 0* 2* -7* |
Finland U20 WJC-20 7* 0* 1* 1* 0* -1* |
Finland U20 (all) International-Jr 18* 4* 7* 11* 4* 2* |
2025-26 KalPa U20 U20 SM-sarja -* -* -* -* -* -* |
KalPa Liiga 24* 0* 8* 8* 4* 0* |
Finland U20 (all) International-Jr 10* 3* 2* 5* 4* 0* |
Projected Liiga 58* 0* 19* 19* 10* 0* |

Joona Saarelainen Tournament Statistics

S Team League GP G A TP PIM +/-   POST GP G A TP PIM +/-
2022-23 Finland U18 Hlinka Gretzky Cup 4* 1* 0* 1* 2* -* |
2023-24 KalPa Spengler Cup 1* 0* 0* 0* 0* 0* |
Finland U18 “C” Hlinka Gretzky Cup 5* 1* 1* 2* 6* -* |
2025-26 KalPa Champions HL 9* 1* 2* 3* 2* 4* |

Joona Saarelainen Career Totals

League Years GP G A TP PPG PIM +/- | Years GP G A TP PPG PIM +/-
Champions HL 1 9* 1* 2* 3* 0.33* 2* 4* | 0 * * * * * *
Hlinka Gretzky Cup 2 9* 2* 1* 3* 0.33* 8* -* | 0 * * * * * *
International-Jr 5 76* 32* 25* 57* 0.75* 38* 17* | 0 * * * * * *
Liiga 3 53* 2* 12* 14* 0.26* 8* 1* | 1 7 0 * 1 * 1 * 0.14 * 0 * -1 *
Mestis 2 3* 0* 0* 0* 0.00* 2* -7* | 1 1 0 * 0 * 0 * 0.00 * 0 * 0 *
Spengler Cup 1 1* 0* 0* 0* 0.00* 0* 0* | 0 * * * * * *
U16 Mestis 1 7* 8* 5* 13* 1.86* 2* -* | 0 * * * * * *
U16 Mestis Q 1 6* 9* 1* 10* 1.67* 0* -* | 0 * * * * * *
U16 SM-sarja 2 43* 40* 31* 71* 1.65* 80* -* | 0 * * * * * *
U18 SM-sarja 3 37* 26* 27* 53* 1.43* 14* -* | 1 4 8 * 7 * 15 * 3.75 * 2 * - *
U20 SM-sarja 5 83* 27* 37* 64* 0.77* 26* 5* | 3 6 2 * 2 * 4 * 0.67 * 2 * 2 *
WHC-17 1 7* 4* 3* 7* 1.00* 10* -* | 0 * * * * * *
WJC-18 1 5* 3* 1* 4* 0.80* 2* 4* | 0 * * * * * *
WJC-20 1 7* 0* 1* 1* 0.14* 0* -1* | 0 * * * * * *
* Some data is missing to provide a correct summary.

Joona Saarelainen Career Highlights

Season
Awards by season
Transactions
DATE STATUS FROM TO SOURCE
05/27/2025
05/27/2025 Extension KalPa KalPa
02/11/2025
02/11/2025 Loan KalPa Hokki
12/12/2022
12/12/2022 Confirmed Jukurit U20 KalPa
Player Biography and Trivia

2024 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #198 by FCHockey

2024 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #172 by McKeen's Hockey

2024 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #49 by NHL Central Scouting