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Sami Salo

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Sami Salo
Born (1974-09-02) September 2, 1974 (age 49)
Turku, FIN
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 204 lb (93 kg; 14 st 8 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Right
NHL team
Former teams		 Vancouver Canucks
Frölunda HC (SEL)
Ottawa Senators
Detroit Vipers (IHL)
Jokerit (SM-l)
TPS (SM-l)
National team  Finland
NHL draft 239th overall, 1996
Ottawa Senators
Playing career 1994–present

Sami Salo (born September 2, 1974) is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman with the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He began his professional career with TPS of the SM-liiga before being selected by the Ottawa Senators with their last pick in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft. He joined the Senators in 1998–99 and was selected to the NHL All-Rookie Team. In the 2002 off-season, he was traded to the Canucks with whom he has recorded three 30-point campaigns. Due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Salo played overseas with Frölunda HC of the Swedish Elite League and helped the club capture the Le Mat Trophy as league champions. Internationally, Salo has competed for Finland, appearing in two World Championships, three Winter Olympics and one World Cup. He won silver medals at the 2001 World Championships and the 2006 Winter Olympics, as well as a bronze medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics. Throughout his career, Salo has become infamous for being injury prone. He is known as a two-way defenceman with a powerful slapshot.

Playing career

TPS Turku and Jokerit

After developing his skills with the junior club of his hometown, Turku, Finland, Salo turned professional with TPS Turku of the SM-Liiga in 1994–95. He appeared in seven games, recording a goal and two assists in his first season in the SM-Liiga. The following campaign, he recorded a Finnish career-high 14 assists and 21 points over 47 games. In the off-season, Salo was selected by the Ottawa Senators with their last selection in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft, 239th overall in the ninth round. He remained in Finland for two more seasons upon being drafted. He improved from seven goals to nine in 1996–97. The following season, he transferred from TPS to Jokerit. In his lone season with the Helsinki-based team, he tallied three goals and eight points over 35 games.

Ottawa Senators

Following a four-year career in Finland, Salo signed with the Senators in July 1998.[1] He was initially assigned to the Detroit Vipers, Ottawa's International Hockey League (IHL) affiliate, but was recalled on November 18, 1998.[2] Twenty-seven games into his rookie campaign, he scored his first NHL goal against Boston Bruins goaltender Byron Dafoe, a game-winner, in a 3-1 win on January 21, 1999.[3] Completing the 1998–99 season with seven goals and 19 points, he was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team.[4] The following season, Salo notched a hat trick in a 6–4 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 30, 1999.[5] His campaign was shortened, however, to 37 games due to injury and he was limited to 14 points.

Salo continued to be sidelined in 2000–01 with various ailments, including shoulder, foot and knee injuries, as well as the flu.[6] In March 2001, he was also cross-checked in the face by Rick Tocchet of the Philadelphia Flyers, suffering broken teeth and a mild concussion.[7] He finished his third NHL season with 18 points in 31 games.

Before the 2001–02 season began, Salo injured his groin in an exhibition game against the Toronto Maple Leafs in September.[6] In addition to missing the first three games of the season, he was later sidelined for a total of 13 more contests due to separate cases of the flu, a broken finger and back spasms.[4] He recorded 18 points in 66 games. In the proceeding off-season, Salo underwent shoulder surgery.[8] Becoming a free agent, he accepted an $880,000 qualifying offer from the Senators on July 31, 2002.[8] Nearly two months later, he was traded to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for forward Peter Schaefer on September 21.[4]

Vancouver Canucks

An ice hockey player dressed in a black jersey. He is walking on the players' bench and looking downwards.
Salo with the Canucks in 2005

Salo established himself as a top-four defenceman with the Canucks, ranking fourth among team blueliners in average ice time per game during his first season with Vancouver.[9] He also appeared in a career-high 79 games while recording nine goals and 30 points. The Canucks re-signed him in the off-season to a two-year, $3.2 million contract.[10] The following campaign, he recorded seven goals and 26 points in 74 games.

Due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Salo went overseas to play for Frölunda HC in the Swedish Elite League. He notched six goals and 14 points in 41 games, helping Frölunda to the league's best regular season record.[11] The club went on to capture the Le Mat Trophy as playoff champions, defeating Färjestads BK four games to one in the finals.[12] Salo assisted on the overtime goal by Niklas Andersson in game five to win the championship.[13] Salo completed the playoffs with a goal and seven points in 14 post-season contests.

As NHL play was set to resume the following season, Salo signed another two-year contract with the Canucks at $1.5 million per season.[14][15] He was limited to 59 games in the subsequent 2005–06 season, suffering a shoulder injury with the Finnish national team during the 2006 Winter Olympics, colliding with a teammate during a line change.[16] He recorded 10 goals and 33 points with the Canucks, second among team defencemen in scoring.[17] His 23 assists were also a career-high.

In 2006–07, Salo sprained his knee in a game against the Minnesota Wild on November 2, 2006.[18] Soon after returning, he sustained nerve damage in his shoulder from a hit against the Edmonton Oilers in December.[19] Towards the end of the season, he suffered a groin injury, sidelining him for five games in March and April.[4] Although he cumulatively missed 15 games, Salo still managed to have a career year, recording personal bests with 14 goals, 23 assists and 37 points. He tied for 10th among league defencemen in goals and ranked first in game-winning goals with six.[20][21] Late in the season, he avoided his pending unrestricted free agency by re-signing with the Canucks to a four-year, $14 million contract extension on March 29, 2007.[22] The Canucks entered the 2007 playoffs as the third seed. After eliminating the Dallas Stars in the first round, Vancouver was defeated by the Anaheim Ducks in five games. Salo missed the first two games of the second round due to the flu.[4] He notched an assist over 10 post-season games.

With an accumulation of injuries over the years, Salo spent the 2007 off-season recovering from chronic groin, back and shoulder problems. Salo was immediately sidelined once more before the start of the 2007–08 season, fracturing his wrist during an intra-squad game in training camp.[23] Shortly after returning, he was hit in the face by a clearing attempt from teammate Alexander Edler during a game against the Nashville Predators on November 2, 2007.[24] The impact from the puck broke his nose and he mised 19 games.[24] In 63 games, Salo recorded 25 points, his lowest output since his 2001–02 season with the Senators. Despite this, he still led all Canucks defencemen in scoring, as all the team's blueliners also suffered injuries over the season.[25]

The 2008–09 season began with more time off in November due to separate leg and shoulder injuries.[26][27] After returning, he was hit into the boards by Edmonton Oilers captain Ethan Moreau on December 17, 2008, and suffered a broken rib.[28] He missed 15 games before returning on January 20, 2009.[4] Limited to 60 games, he managed five goals and 25 points in the regular season. In the ensuing playoffs, Salo scored seven points in seven games, including game-winning goals in both game ones of the first and second rounds against the St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks, respectively.[29][30] Salo injured himself in game two of the second round, tearing his gluteus medius muscle while taking a slapshot in which he scored. He played through the injury the following game before missing the next two matches.[31] Following his return, the Canucks were eliminated in the sixth game by the Blackhawks. Salo had three goals and seven points in seven games.

Early in the 2009–10 season, Salo suffered a medial collateral ligament (MCL) sprain to his right knee during a game against the Dallas Stars on October 11, 2009.[32] Sidelined for seven games, he returned by the end of the month.[4] Salo missed additional games during the season to various injuries,[4] ending the campaign with nine goals and 28 points in 68 games. Towards the second half of the season, Salo took on a more defensive role, replacing Willie Mitchell, who was sidelined with a concussion, as the team's primary shutdown defenceman.[33]

In game five of the second round of the 2010 playoffs, Salo was hit in the groin by a slapshot from Chicago Blackhawks defenceman Duncan Keith. Needing to be helped off the ice, he was taken to hospital with what was falsely believed to be a ruptured testicle.[34][35] He played through an undisclosed injury the following game, as the Canucks were eliminated by the Blackhawks by a 5–1 score.[36] He completed the playoffs with a goal and six points in 12 post-season games.

Playing floorball in the off-season, Salo tore his achilles tendon on July 22, 2010. He underwent surgery soon thereafter and was projected to be sidelined for the first two to five months of the 2010–11 season.[37]

International play

Sami Salo
Medal record
Representing  Finland
Ice hockey
Winter Olympics
Bronze medal – third place 2010 Vancouver
Silver medal – second place 2006 Turin
World Championships
Silver medal – second place 2001 Germany

Salo made his international debut with the Finnish national team at the 2001 World Championships in Germany. He recorded an international career-high nine points in nine games, second among tournament defencemen to Finnish teammate Petteri Nummelin.[38] Finland advanced to the gold medal game, where they lost 3–2 to the Czech Republic, earning silver.[39]

On December 13, 2001, Salo was selected to the Finnish national team for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, along with Senators teammate Jani Hurme.[40] He appeared in four games without registering a point as Finland was defeated by the gold-medal winning Canadians in the quarterfinal by a 2–1 score.[41]

In Salo's next World Championships appearance in 2004, he recorded three assists in seven games. Finland failed to medal, losing their quarterfinal to Canada.[42] Salo assisted on the go-ahead goal in the third period before Canada tied up the score and won 5–4 in overtime.[42] Several months later, at the 2004 World Cup, Salo helped Finland to the final, notching three assists in seven games. For his third straight national team appearance, however, Finland was eliminated by Canada, losing the championship game 3–2.[43]

He made his second Olympics appearance at the 2006 Games in Turin. He recorded four points in six games before suffering a tournament-ending shoulder injury in a collision with teammate Ville Peltonen during a line change in front of the team bench.[16] The injury kept him from playing in the semifinal and gold medal game, where Finland won the silver medal in a 3–2 loss to Sweden.[44] Despite missing two games, Salo ranked second among team defencemen, behind Kimmo Timonen, with a goal and four points in six games.[45] Four years later, Salo competed once again for Finland at the 2010 Winter Olympics in his NHL hometown Vancouver. He recorded two points in six games, while leading all Finnish players in ice time.[46] He scored his lone goal during the bronze medal game, opening the score against Slovakia in a 5–3 win.[47]

Playing style

Salo is known as a two-way defenceman, capable of being matched up against opposing team's top players,[33] while also contributing offensively. His offensive game is characterized by his powerful slapshot.[48] He has won numerous hardest shot titles with the Canucks in the team's SuperSkills competitions, clocking one shot at 101.6 miles-per-hour in 2006.[48] As a result, he is used frequently on the powerplay, being set up by teammates for shots from the point.[48] A well-rounded defenceman, Salo also earns time on the penalty kill.[49]

Personal life

Salo has a wife, Johanna, and three children. From youngest to oldest, they are Peppi, Oliver and Julia.[50] Salo has spent time coaching Oliver, his only son, on his hockey team.[51]

Growing up in Turku, Finland, Salo had aspirations of playing with the Finnish national team, rather than the NHL.[51] He idolized Jari Kurri and was more familiar with other Finnish players, such as Esa Peltonen and Heikki Riihiranta, than he was with any NHL stars.[51]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1994–95 TPS Turku SM-l 7 1 2 3 6 1 0 0 0 0
1995–96 TPS Turku SM-l 47 7 14 21 32 11 1 3 4 8
1996–97 TPS Turku SM-l 48 9 6 15 10 10 2 3 5 4
1997–98 Jokerit SM-l 35 3 5 8 10 8 0 1 1 2
1998–99 Ottawa Senators NHL 61 7 12 19 24 4 0 0 0 0
1998–99 Detroit Vipers IHL 5 0 2 2 0 — — — — —
1999–00 Ottawa Senators NHL 37 6 8 14 2 6 1 1 2 0
2000–01 Ottawa Senators NHL 31 2 16 18 10 4 0 0 0 0
2001–02 Ottawa Senators NHL 66 4 14 18 14 12 2 1 3 4
2002–03 Vancouver Canucks NHL 79 9 21 30 10 12 1 3 4 0
2003–04 Vancouver Canucks NHL 74 7 19 26 22 7 1 2 3 2
2004–05 Frölunda HC SEL 41 6 8 14 18 14 1 6 7 2
2005–06 Vancouver Canucks NHL 59 10 23 33 32 — — — — —
2006–07 Vancouver Canucks NHL 67 14 23 37 26 10 0 1 1 4
2007–08 Vancouver Canucks NHL 63 8 17 25 38 — — — — —
2008–09 Vancouver Canucks NHL 60 5 20 25 26 7 3 4 7 2
2009–10 Vancouver Canucks NHL 68 9 19 28 18 12 1 5 6 2
NHL totals 665 81 192 273 228 74 9 17 26 14

International

Year Team Event   GP G A Pts PIM
2001 Finland WCh 9 3 6 9 9
2002 Finland Oly 4 0 0 0 0
2004 Finland WCh 7 0 3 3 0
2004 Finland WCp 6 0 1 1 2
2006 Finland Oly 6 1 3 4 0
2010 Finland Oly 6 1 1 2 4
Senior int'l totals 38 5 14 19 15

Awards

Award Year
NHL All-Rookie Team 1999[4]
Le Mat Trophy (with Frölunda HC) 2005[12]
Silver medal (with Finland) 2001 World Championships[39]
2006 Winter Olympics[4]
Bronze medal (with Finland) 2010 Winter Olympics[4]

Transactions

  • June 22, 1996 - Drafted by Ottawa Senators in the 9th round, 239th overall, in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft.
  • July 31, 2002 - Signed a one-year, $880,000 qualifying offer from the Ottawa Senators.[8]
  • September 21, 2002 - Traded to the Vancouver Canucks for Peter Schaefer.[4]
  • July 17, 2003 - Re-signed to a two-year, $3.2 million contract with the Vancouver Canucks.[10]
  • September 15, 2004 – Signed to a one-year contract with Frölunda HC.[4]
  • August 14, 2005 - Re-signed to a two-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks.[14]
  • March 29, 2007 - Signed to a four-year, $14-million contract extension with the Vancouver Canucks.[22]

References

  1. ^ "Transactions". New York Times. 1998-07-18. Retrieved 2010-04-01. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  2. ^ "Transactions". New York Times. 1998-11-19. Retrieved 2010-04-01. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  3. ^ "NHL Roundup". New York Times. 1999-01-22. Retrieved 2008-11-28. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Sami Salo". The Sports Network. Retrieved 2010-05-11.
  5. ^ "Salo's Hat Trick Stuns Igloo". CBS News. 1999-03-30. Retrieved 2009-11-18.
  6. ^ a b "Sens' Salo injured during exhibition game". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2001-09-23. Retrieved 2008-11-28.
  7. ^ "Injury bug bites Senators". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2001-03-27. Retrieved 2008-11-28.
  8. ^ a b c "Sens sign Salo". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2002-07-31. Retrieved 2008-11-28.
  9. ^ "Ice Time Per Game". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2010-09-10.
  10. ^ a b "Roundup: Czekarwski returns to Isles with 1-year deal". CNN Sports Illustrated. 2003-07-17. Retrieved 2008-11-28.
  11. ^ "Elitserien - 2004/05 (slut)" (in Swedish). Swedish Elite League. Retrieved 2010-09-11.
  12. ^ a b "SM-slutspel - 2004/05 (slut)" (in Swedish). Swedish Elite League. Retrieved 2010-09-11.
  13. ^ "1-0" (in Swedish). Swedish Elite League. Retrieved 2010-09-11.
  14. ^ a b "Sharks re-sign Marleau, Sturm". USA Today. 2005-08-15. Retrieved 2008-11-28. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  15. ^ "Sami Salo focusing on the present". The Vancouver Sun. 2007-02-09. Retrieved 2010-09-11. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  16. ^ a b "More fuel for NHL-Games debate; Modano backtracks". ESPN. 2006-02-24. Retrieved 2008-11-28.
  17. ^ "Total Points". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2010-09-10.
  18. ^ "Canucks' Salo sidelined". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2006-11-03. Retrieved 2008-11-28.
  19. ^ "Pyatt, Salo, Rypien out for Canucks". ESPN. 2006-12-05. Retrieved 2008-11-28.
  20. ^ "Total Goals". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2010-09-10.
  21. ^ "Game Winning Goals". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2010-09-10.
  22. ^ a b Jason Botchford (2007-03-30). "Salo signs on the dotted line". The Province. Retrieved 2010-09-13. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  23. ^ "Canucks lose Salo to wrist injury". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2007-09-17. Retrieved 2008-11-28.
  24. ^ a b "Bieksa to miss 6-8 months with calf injury, Salo uncertain". USA Today. 2007-11-03. Retrieved 2008-11-28. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  25. ^ "Total Points". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2010-09-10.
  26. ^ "Salo's sidelined again". The Vancouver Sun. 2008-11-21. Retrieved 2008-11-28. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  27. ^ "Tough break for Canucks". The Vancouver Sun. 2008-11-14. Retrieved 2008-11-28. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  28. ^ "Career injury No. 34 for Salo". The Province. 2008-12-19. Retrieved 2008-12-19. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  29. ^ "Canucks 2, Blues 1". National Hockey League. 2009-04-15. Retrieved 2009-09-04.
  30. ^ "Canucks 5, Blackhawks 3". National Hockey League. 2009-04-29. Retrieved 2009-09-04.
  31. ^ Derek Jory (2009-05-09). "Canucks' Salo will play in Game 5". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2010-09-13.
  32. ^ "Canucks' Salo out 4-6 weeks with knee injury". The Sports Network. 2009-10-13. Retrieved 2009-10-13.
  33. ^ a b "You just never, ever known with Sami Salo". The Province. 2010-03-11. Retrieved 2010-05-11. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  34. ^ Jason Botchford (2010-05-11). "Sami Salo's testicle still intact". The Province. Retrieved 2010-05-11. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  35. ^ Elliott Papp (2010-05-11). "Canucks' Sami Salo not limping despite groin pain, status 'day-to-day' for Game 6 vs. Blackhawks". The Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 2010-05-11. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  36. ^ "Canucks' Salo guts it out in Game 6". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2010-05-11. Retrieved 2010-05-22.
  37. ^ Iain MacIntyre (2010-09-09). "Canucks' Sami Salo vows to play again, but 'really not time frame' for return". The Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 2010-09-12. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  38. ^ "Defenseman Scoring Leaders". International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved 2010-09-11.
  39. ^ a b "Playoff Round". International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved 2010-09-11.
  40. ^ Bruce Garrioch (2001-12-15). "Finns answer call". Ottawa Sun. Retrieved 2010-04-01. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  41. ^ "Playoff Round". International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved 2010-09-12.
  42. ^ a b "Game Summary" (PDF). International Ice Hockey Federation. 2004-05-06. Retrieved 2010-09-12.
  43. ^ Associated Press (2004-09-15). "Brodeur's 27 saves secure 3–2 win over Finland". ESPN. Retrieved 2010-09-12.
  44. ^ "2006 Olympic Men Tournament". International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved 2010-09-12.
  45. ^ "Player Statistics By Team" (PDF). International Ice Hockey Federation. 2006-02-26. Retrieved 2010-09-12.
  46. ^ "Team Finland Tournament Standings and Statistics". Vancouver Olympic Committee. Retrieved 2010-04-01.
  47. ^ "Game Summary" (PDF). International Ice Hockey Federation. 2010-02-27. Retrieved 2010-09-12.
  48. ^ a b c "Salo's slapshot a sure thing once more". The Province. 2006-09-07. Retrieved 2010-09-12. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  49. ^ Associated Press (2010-07-23). "Canucks D Sami Salo tears Achilles' tendon". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2010-09-12.
  50. ^ Iain MacIntyre (2019-12-18). "Pickled herring, porridge and perogies make a Merry Christmas for Vancouver Canucks". The Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 2010-09-11. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  51. ^ a b c "Meet The Players". The Vancouver Sun. 2010-04-23. Retrieved 2010-09-11. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)

External links

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