Blackhawks Loan Antti Saarela To Finnish League
After a rough first year in North America last season, the Blackhawks are giving prospect forward Antti Saarela a fresh start. Per an announcement from Luuko in Finland’s Liiga, Chicago has loaned Saarela to them for the upcoming season.
The 23-year-old was a fourth-round pick by the Blackhawks in 2019, going 123rd overall. After a good showing with Lukko in 2022-23 that saw him record 18 points in 41 games, Chicago signed Saarela to a two-year, entry-level contract just a couple of months before they would have lost his NHL rights.
However, things didn’t go well for him in his first year with AHL Rockford. Between injuries and some struggles, Saarela was limited to just 27 games where he picked up five goals and one assist. He did not suit up for the IceHogs in the postseason.
Saarela is entering the final year of his entry-level contract and will be a restricted free agent next summer with salary arbitration rights. Considering how the first season went, it’s safe to say that Saarela is tracking toward non-tender status unless he has a very strong showing back home next season.
Chicago Blackhawks Sign Antti Saarela
The Chicago Blackhawks have inked another prospect, signing Antti Saarela to a two-year entry-level contract. The deal does not start until 2023-24, and carries a cap hit of $896,250.
Saarela, 21, would have become an unrestricted free agent in June had he not signed, after being selected 123rd overall back in 2019.
The young forward has been playing professional hockey in Finland for years now, first appearing at the Liiga level during the 2017-18 season. His offensive game hasn’t broken out yet, but few players in Europe can keep up with his speed.
Chicago will try to hone that elite skating ability into a valuable NHL asset, and for Saarela, there isn’t really a better landing spot than the Blackhawks in terms of NHL opportunity. The team will be turning over its entire roster in the next few years, and offering plenty of chances to youngsters looking to prove themselves.
An entry-level contract represents a no-risk investment from the Blackhawks, especially given how many open slots they have for next season. Saarela becomes just the 11th player under contract with Chicago through 2024-25.
In 41 regular season games, the speedy forward scored seven goals and 18 points. He added a pair of goals in a six-game series against HIFK that ended yesterday in an overtime loss.