Urho Vaakanainen

Urho Vaakanainen

26-Year-Old DefensemanD
New York Rangers
2024 Fantasy Outlook
Played for the going-nowhere Ducks, Vaakanainen saw his role increase in his second full season in Anaheim. He appeared in 68 games, posting a career-best 14 points and averaging 17:29 of ice time per game, more than an additional minute than the year prior. That's the good news. The bad news is that the Ducks brought Brian Dumoulin in from Seattle and appear committed to giving top prospect Olen Zellweger a full-time role, meaning Vaakanainen most certainly could find himself in the press box more often than not this coming season. Read Past Outlooks
$Signed a one-year, $1.1 million contract with Anaheim in July of 2024.
Three points in win Tuesday
DNew York Rangers
February 26, 2025
Vaakanainen recorded a goal and two assists in Tuesday's 5-1 win over the Islanders.
ANALYSIS
Vaakanainen gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead at the 6:22 mark of the first period, scoring with a shot from the top of the right circle that deflected off Islanders defenseman Scott Perunovich. It was his second goal across his last four outings, but his impressive outing didn't stop there, as he also notched two helpers throughout the rest of the game. He's up to nine points in 26 contests this season, with four of those points coming in his last four appearances.
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NHL Stats
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2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2024 NHL Game Log
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2023 NHL Game Log
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2022 NHL Game Log
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2021 NHL Game Log
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2020 NHL Game Log
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2019 NHL Game Log
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2018 NHL Game Log
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2024–25 Time On Ice Stats
  • Average Time On Ice:
    13:36
  • Average Power Play TOI:
    0:00
  • Average Short-Handed TOI:
    0:44
  • Average Time On Ice:
    15:59
  • Average Power Play TOI:
    0:02
  • Average Short-Handed TOI:
    0:49
 
Ice Time
Power Play
Short-Handed
2022–23
16:27
0:03
0:24
2023–24
17:29
0:02
1:56
2024–25
13:36
0:00
0:44
2024–25
15:59
0:02
0:49
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2023
2022
2019
2018
Vaakanainen was taken by Boston with the No. 18 overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, but he hasn't developed as hoped. The defenseman was dealt from Boston to Anaheim in March 2022 as part of the package that sent Hampus Lindholm to the Bruins and the change of scenery hasn't helped Vaakanainen. He had two assists, 18 hits and 28 blocks in 23 contests with Anaheim last season before getting hurt Jan. 28 and undergoing hip surgery in March. The 24-year-old was projected to need five-to-six months to recover dating back to the time of the operation, so it wouldn't be surprising if he was healthy for the start of the 2023-24 campaign. Even still, he probably won't be more than a third-pairing option in Anaheim, and he might even find himself occasionally serving as a healthy scratch.
A first-round pick for the Bruins in 2017 (18th overall), Vaakanainen split last season between Boston and Anaheim, appearing in 29 games and posting six assists. Vaakanainen has yet to score a goal through his first 45 NHL games spread over parts of four separate seasons. There's room for immediate and significant playing time on a rebuilding Ducks team in 2022-23, but everything we have seen from Vaakanainen thus far tells us he's best suited as a depth option for Anaheim.
In addition to making a two-game cameo with the Bruins, the No. 18 overall pick from the 2017 NHL Entry Draft registered four goals and 14 points in 30 games for AHL Providence last season. The 20-year-old's calling cards are his smooth skating and good stick, but it remains to be seen what sort of offensive ceiling he has at the NHL level. Given the team's current blue-line depth, Vaakanainen is probably destined to see some more AHL time in 2019-20, but the young Finn has established himself as the team's top blue-line prospect and it's only a matter of time before he becomes a fixture in Boston.
The 18th overall pick from the 2017 NHL Entry Draft registered four goals and 11 points in 43 games last season while playing for SaiPa in the Finnish Liiga. The 19-year-old is a smooth skater with a good stick, but it remains to be seen what sort of offensive ceiling he has. He'll have a shot to make the big club in his first campaign in North America, but given the team's blue-line depth, Vaakanainen will probably open the 2018-19 season in the AHL.
More Fantasy News
Credited with goal
DNew York Rangers
February 9, 2025
Vaakanainen scored a goal in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Blue Jackets.
ANALYSIS
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Ready to play
DNew York Rangers
February 8, 2025
Vaakanainen (illness) will suit up Saturday versus the Blue Jackets, Mollie Walker of the New York Post reports.
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Game-time call Saturday
DNew York Rangers
Illness
February 8, 2025
Vaakanainen (illness) is expected to be a game-time decision Saturday versus Columbus, per Mollie Walker of the New York Post.
ANALYSIS
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Still under the weather
DNew York Rangers
Illness
February 7, 2025
Vaakanainen (illness) won't be in action versus the Penguins on Friday, Peter Baugh of The Athletic reports.
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Sitting out Wednesday
DNew York Rangers
Illness
February 5, 2025
Vaakanainen (illness) won't play versus the Bruins on Wednesday.
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Might play in 4 Nations Face-Off
DNew York Rangers
January 30, 2025
Vaakanainen might join Team Finland for the 4 Nations Face-Off after Miro Heiskanen was ruled out due to a lower-body injury, Mollie Walker of the New York Post reports Thursday.
ANALYSIS
Vaakanainen has six assists, 10 PIM, 11 hits and 27 blocks over 25 appearances between Anaheim and the Rangers in 2024-25. If he joins the Finnish team, he'll probably serve in a depth capacity. His last international tournament was in 2019, when he registered four assists across seven outings for Finland in the World Junior Championship.
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