2007-08: Ranked second on the club and third among NHL rookies in plus/minus rating (+13)… Tied for ninth among first-year skaters in power-play assists (9) and power-play points (11)… Notched his first career goal/game-winning goal as part of his first three-point game (1g-2a) on Dec. 27 vs. Columbus. Also put seven shots on goal in the game, the second-highest total by a rookie in franchise history… Posted a career-high +4 rating in addition to his second multiple-point game on March 4 vs. Edmonton… Collected points in three straight games he dressed for from Feb. 23 – March 4… Earned a bronze medal while representing Finland at the 2008 World Championships.
2006-07: Played his first season in North America… Tied for eighth among AHL defensemen in points (9g-32a-41pts), despite playing in just 59 games with Milwaukee… Also finished second on the Admirals in scoring among blueliners and finished fifth overall on the club… Registered nine multi-point games… Posted an assist for PlanetUSA at the 2007 Rbk AHL All-Star Classic… Missed 21 games due to injury.
CAREER NOTES: Led Finnish Elite League defensemen in scoring (8g-26a-34pts) and assists with Ilves Tampere in 2005-06… Played in all 56 games for Ilves Tampere in 2005-06, leading the team in assists and finishing third on the club in points… Ranked second among Ilves Tampere defensemen in scoring (6g-14a-20pts) in 2004-05… Ranked second among Ilves Tampere defensemen in scoring (7g-16a-23pts) in 2003-04… Split three seasons (2000-2003) between Ilves Tampere’s senior and junior league teams.
BACKGROUND: Enjoys fishing and spending time with family… Favorites include Dumb & Dumber (movie), Prison Break (TV show), burritos (food), FC Barcelona (non-hockey sports team), Martin Lawrence (actor)… Lists his mom and grandfather as the biggest influences on his career… Lists Jessica Simpson as the person he would most like to meet… Lists Ville Nieminen as the player he idolized growing up… Lists his favorite hockey moment as scoring his first goal in the Finnish Elite League… Wife – Nina; Son - Nikolas.
TRANSACTIONS: May 18, 2006 – Signed as a free agent by Nashville.
