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Sami Salo

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Sami Salo
Sami Salo 2009
Position Defence
Shoots Right
Height
Weight 		6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
212 lb (96 kg)
NHL Team
F. Teams 		Vancouver Canucks
Frölunda HC (SEL)
Ottawa Senators
Detroit Vipers (IHL)
Jokerit (SM-l)
TPS (SM-l)
Born (1974-09-02)September 2, 1974,
Turku, FIN
NHL Draft 239th overall, 1996
Ottawa Senators
Pro 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, having suffered over 40 career injuries. He is known as a two-way defenceman with a powerful slapshot.

Playing career[]

TPS and Jokerit[]

After developing his skills with the junior club of his hometown, Turku, Finland, Salo turned professional with TPS 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. In 2000, he missed two games as he suffered from a snakebite.[6]

Salo continued to be sidelined in 2000–01 with various ailments, including shoulder, foot and knee injuries, as well as the flu.[7] 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.[8] 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.[7] 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.[9] Becoming a free agent, he accepted an $880,000 qualifying offer from the Senators on July 31, 2002.[9] 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.[10] 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.[11] 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.[12] The club went on to capture the Le Mat Trophy as playoff champions, defeating Färjestads BK four games to one in the finals.[13] Salo assisted on the overtime goal by Niklas Andersson in game five to win the championship.[14] 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.[15][16] 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.[17] He recorded 10 goals and 33 points with the Canucks, second among team defencemen in scoring.[18] 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.[19] Soon after returning, he sustained nerve damage in his shoulder from a hit against the Edmonton Oilers in December.[20] 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.[21][22] 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.[23] 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.[24] 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.[25] The impact from the puck broke his nose and he mised 19 games.[25] 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.[26]

Sami Salo 2010

Salo with the Canucks in 2010

The 2008–09 season began with more time off in November due to separate leg and shoulder injuries.[27][28] After returning, he was hit into the boards by Edmonton Oilers captain Ethan Moreau on December 17, 2008, and suffered a broken rib.[29] 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.[30][31] 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.[32] 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.[33] 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.[34]

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.[35][36] He played through an undisclosed injury the following game, as the Canucks were eliminated by the Blackhawks by a 5–1 score.[37] 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.[38] After undergoing surgery, he was sidelined for the first four months of the 2010–11 season. Before returning to the Canucks lineup, he was sent to the team's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, for a conditioning assignment. Making his AHL debut on February 4, 2011, he scored two goals for the Moose in a 3–2 win against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.[39] Salo played two more games for the Moose, going pointless in both, before being called up by the Canucks on February 11.[40] Salo appeared in 27 games in 2010–11, recording three goals and four assists. During the first and second rounds of the 2011 playoffs, Salo missed four games with a leg injury.[4] The Canucks eliminated the Blackhawks and Nashville Predators in the first two rounds to qualify for the Western Conference Finals against the San Jose Sharks. During Game 4 of the series, Salo set a Canucks playoff record for fastest back-to-back goals, scoring 16 seconds apart on a pair of 5-on-3 powerplays. The feat also tied Larry Murphy's NHL record for fastest two power play goals in the playoffs since 1957.[notes 1][41] Combined with Ryan Kesler's goal a minute and thirty-nine seconds previously, the trio of goals were also the fastest scored in Canucks playoff history at a minute and fifty-five seconds. Vancouver went on to win the game 4–2,[42] while winning the series 4–1. Advancing to the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals, the Canucks were defeated in seven games by the Boston Bruins. During the off-season, Salo re-signed with the Canucks to a one-year, $2 million deal on July 1, 2011, prior to becoming an unrestricted free agent.[43]

International play[]

Medal record
A Caucasian ice hockey player dressed in a blue jersey with green and white trim, as well as a blue helmet. He stands relaxed on the ice, holding his hockey stick in one hand.
Salo after receiving his bronze medal at the 2010 Olympics
Competitor for Flag of Finland Finland
Ice hockey
Winter Olympics
Bronze 2010 Vancouver
Silver 2006 Turin
World Championships
Silver 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.[44] Finland advanced to the gold medal game, where they lost 3–2 to the Czech Republic, earning silver.[45]

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.[46] 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.[47]

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.[48] Salo assisted on the go-ahead goal in the third period before Canada tied up the score and won 5–4 in overtime.[48] 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.[49]

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.[17] 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.[50] Despite missing two games, Salo ranked second among team defencemen, behind Kimmo Timonen, with a goal and four points in six games.[51] 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.[52] He scored his lone goal during the bronze medal game, opening the score against Slovakia in a 5–3 win.[53]

Playing style[]

Salo is known as a two-way defenceman, capable of being matched up against opposing team's top players,[34] while also contributing offensively. His offensive game is characterized by his powerful slapshot.[54] 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 (163.5 kph) in 2006.[54] As a result, he is used frequently on the powerplay, being set up by teammates for shots from the point.[54] A well-rounded defenceman, Salo also earns time on the penalty kill.[55]

Personal life[]

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

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
2010–11 Manitoba Moose AHL 3 2 0 2 2 — — — — —
2010–11 Vancouver Canucks NHL 27 3 4 7 14 21 3 2 5 2
NHL totals 692 84 196 280 242 95 12 19 31 16

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[13]
Silver medal (with Finland) 2001 World Championships[45]
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.[9]
  • 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.[11]
  • 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.[15]
  • March 29, 2007 - Signed to a four-year, $14-million contract extension with the Vancouver Canucks.[23]

Notes[]

  1. ↑ "Transactions", New York Times, 1998-07-18. Retrieved on 2010-04-01. 
  2. ↑ "Transactions", New York Times, 1998-11-19. Retrieved on 2010-04-01. 
  3. ↑ NHL Roundup. New York Times (1999-01-22). Retrieved on 2008-11-28.
  4. ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 Sami Salo. The Sports Network. Retrieved on 2010-05-11.
  5. ↑ Salo's Hat Trick Stuns Igloo. CBS News (1999-03-30). Retrieved on 2009-11-18.
  6. ↑ Sports Illustrated, August 2, 2010, p.43, Pierre McGuire's In the Crease
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Sens' Salo injured during exhibition game. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (2001-09-23). Retrieved on 2008-11-28.
  8. ↑ Injury bug bites Senators. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (2001-03-27). Retrieved on 2008-11-28.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Sens sign Salo. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (2002-07-31). Retrieved on 2008-11-28.
  10. ↑ Ice Time Per Game. National Hockey League. Retrieved on 2010-09-10.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Roundup: Czekarwski returns to Isles with 1-year deal. CNN Sports Illustrated (2003-07-17). Retrieved on 2008-11-28.
  12. ↑ Elitserien - 2004/05 (slut) (Swedish). Swedish Elite League. Retrieved on 2010-09-11.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 SM-slutspel - 2004/05 (slut) (Swedish). Swedish Elite League. Retrieved on 2010-09-11.
  14. ↑ 1-0 (Swedish). Swedish Elite League. Retrieved on 2010-09-11.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Sharks re-sign Marleau, Sturm. USA Today (2005-08-15). Retrieved on 2008-11-28.
  16. ↑ "Sami Salo focusing on the present", The Vancouver Sun, 2007-02-09. Retrieved on 2010-09-11. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 More fuel for NHL-Games debate; Modano backtracks. ESPN (2006-02-24). Retrieved on 2008-11-28.
  18. ↑ Total Points. National Hockey League. Retrieved on 2010-09-10.
  19. ↑ Canucks' Salo sidelined. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (2006-11-03). Retrieved on 2008-11-28.
  20. ↑ Pyatt, Salo, Rypien out for Canucks. ESPN (2006-12-05). Retrieved on 2008-11-28.
  21. ↑ Total Goals. National Hockey League. Retrieved on 2010-09-10.
  22. ↑ Game Winning Goals. National Hockey League. Retrieved on 2010-09-10.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Jason Botchford. "Salo signs on the dotted line", The Province, 2007-03-30. Retrieved on 2010-09-13. 
  24. ↑ Canucks lose Salo to wrist injury. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (2007-09-17). Retrieved on 2008-11-28.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Bieksa to miss 6-8 months with calf injury, Salo uncertain. USA Today (2007-11-03). Retrieved on 2008-11-28.
  26. ↑ Total Points. National Hockey League. Retrieved on 2010-09-10.
  27. ↑ Salo's sidelined again. The Vancouver Sun (2008-11-21). Retrieved on 2008-11-28.
  28. ↑ Tough break for Canucks. The Vancouver Sun (2008-11-14). Retrieved on 2008-11-28.
  29. ↑ Career injury No. 34 for Salo. The Province (2008-12-19). Retrieved on 2008-12-19.
  30. ↑ Canucks 2, Blues 1. National Hockey League (2009-04-15). Retrieved on 2009-09-04.
  31. ↑ Canucks 5, Blackhawks 3. National Hockey League (2009-04-29). Retrieved on 2009-09-04.
  32. ↑ Derek Jory. "Canucks' Salo will play in Game 5", National Hockey League, 2009-05-09. Retrieved on 2010-09-13. 
  33. ↑ Canucks' Salo out 4-6 weeks with knee injury. The Sports Network (2009-10-13). Retrieved on 2009-10-13.
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 "You just never, ever known with Sami Salo", The Province, 2010-03-11. Retrieved on 2010-05-11. 
  35. ↑ Jason Botchford. "Sami Salo's testicle still intact", The Province, 2010-05-11. Retrieved on 2010-05-11. 
  36. ↑ Elliott Papp. "Canucks' Sami Salo not limping despite groin pain, status 'day-to-day' for Game 6 vs. Blackhawks", The Vancouver Sun, 2010-05-11. Retrieved on 2010-05-11. 
  37. ↑ "Canucks' Salo guts it out in Game 6", Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, 2010-05-11. Retrieved on 2010-05-22. 
  38. ↑ Iain MacIntyre. "Canucks' Sami Salo vows to play again, but 'really not time frame' for return", The Vancouver Sun, 2010-09-09. Retrieved on 2010-09-12. 
  39. ↑ "Canucks' Salo starts comeback from Achilles injury", Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, 2011-02-04. Retrieved on 2011-02-04. 
  40. ↑ "Salo in, Hamhuis out for Canucks", Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, 2011-02-11. Retrieved on 2011-02-11. 
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 Walker, Ian. "Ehrhoff might return to blue-line tonight", The Vancouver Sun, 2011-05-24. Retrieved on 2011-07-02. 
  42. ↑ "Canucks 4, Sharks 2", Vancouver Canucks, 2011-05-22. Retrieved on 2011-05-22. 
  43. ↑ Kuzma, Ben. "Canucks kick the tires, look forward to summer trade market", The Province, 2011-07-01. Retrieved on 2011-07-02. 
  44. ↑ Defenseman Scoring Leaders. International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved on 2010-09-11.
  45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 Playoff Round. International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved on 2010-09-11.
  46. ↑ Bruce Garrioch. "Finns answer call", Ottawa Sun, 2001-12-15. Retrieved on 2010-04-01. 
  47. ↑ Playoff Round. International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved on 2010-09-12.
  48. ↑ 48.0 48.1 Game Summary (PDF). International Ice Hockey Federation (2004-05-06). Retrieved on 2010-09-12.
  49. ↑ Associated Press. "Brodeur's 27 saves secure 3–2 win over Finland", ESPN, 2004-09-15. Retrieved on 2010-09-12. 
  50. ↑ 2006 Olympic Men Tournament. International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved on 2010-09-12.
  51. ↑ Player Statistics By Team (PDF). International Ice Hockey Federation (2006-02-26). Retrieved on 2010-09-12.
  52. ↑ Team Finland Tournament Standings and Statistics. Vancouver Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on 2010-04-09. Retrieved on 2010-04-01.
  53. ↑ Game Summary (PDF). International Ice Hockey Federation (2010-02-27). Retrieved on 2010-09-12.
  54. ↑ 54.0 54.1 54.2 "Salo's slapshot a sure thing once more", The Province, 2006-09-07. Retrieved on 2010-09-12. 
  55. ↑ Associated Press. "Canucks D Sami Salo tears Achilles' tendon", National Hockey League, 2010-07-23. Retrieved on 2010-09-12. 

References[]

External links[]



This page uses content from Wikipedia. The original article was at Sami Salo. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with Ice Hockey Wiki, the text of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License 3.0 (Unported) (CC-BY-SA).



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