Urho Vaakanainen

Urho Vaakanainen

25-Year-Old DefensemanD
Anaheim Ducks
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.
Not getting much playing time
DAnaheim Ducks
November 3, 2024
Vaakanainen was scratched for the 10th time in 11 games when he sat out Sunday's 4-2 loss to the Blackhawks.
ANALYSIS
Vaakanainen signed a one-year deal to remain with the Ducks in July after he was not given a qualifying offer in June. The 25-year-old defenseman has served as a healthy scratch most of the time, though he's now the only spare blueliner in Anaheim after Tristan Luneau was reassigned to AHL San Diego on Friday. Vaakanainen may rotate into the lineup for one of the Ducks' younger defensemen at times, but it would likely take another player's injury for him to have a chance at steady playing time.
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NHL Stats
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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:
    13:47
  • Average Power Play TOI:
    0:00
  • Average Short-Handed TOI:
    0:00
 
Ice Time
Power Play
Short-Handed
2022–23
16:27
0:03
0:24
2023–24
17:29
0:02
1:56
2024–25
13:47
0:00
0:00
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Ducks Power Play Depth Chart
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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
Staying with Anaheim
DAnaheim Ducks
July 1, 2024
Vaakanainen signed a one-year, $1.1 million deal with the Ducks on Monday.
ANALYSIS
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Does not receive QO
DFree Agent
June 30, 2024
Vaakanainen will become an unrestricted free agent Monday after not receiving a qualifying offer from the Ducks, Eric Stephens of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
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Can't keep steady role
DAnaheim Ducks
April 18, 2024
Vaakanainen was scratched for four of the Ducks' last 11 games.
ANALYSIS
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Picks up assist Thursday
DAnaheim Ducks
March 29, 2024
Vaakanainen registered a shorthanded assist in Thursday's 4-2 loss to the Kraken.
ANALYSIS
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Bags apple in win
DAnaheim Ducks
March 22, 2024
Vaakanainen recorded an assist in Thursday's 4-0 win over the Blackhawks.
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Might be scratched Friday
DAnaheim Ducks
April 5, 2024
Vaakanainen might be a healthy scratch Friday versus Seattle, according to Derek Lee of The Hockey News.
ANALYSIS
Vaakanainen has a goal, 14 points, 26 PIM, 49 hits and 77 blocks in 65 contests this season. His projected departure from the lineup coincides with Radko Gudas' expected return from an upper-body injury. If the Ducks' defense remains relatively healthy, Vaakanainen and William Lagesson might start rotating in and out of the lineup going forward.
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