The flashiest Finn in the Lightning system climbs one spot in this year’s ranking. He’ll have to turn things up another notch to keep rising in the Bolt’s system.
| Name | Joona Saarelainen |
| Position | Center |
| Age (as of October 1) | 19 |
| Height/Weight | 5’9″, 187 lbs |
| Expected 2024-25 Team | KalPa |
| Draft – Year, Round | 2024, 5th Round, #149 |
| Previous Rankings | 19 (2024) |
| Justin G.’s Ranking | 23 |
| Final Rank | 18 |
Stats:
Our Thoughts:
One thing about doing these rankings from year to year is that, for some players, there isn’t much to add to the previous year’s. That’s kind of the case with Joona Saarelainen. The young Finn had a solid season split between KalPa and their U20 squad, but the questions we had about him last season remain. It’s not a matter of effort or skill, two aspects of his game in which his cornucopia overflows, but it’s going to be how he handles playing against players of larger size.
Questions about his size are going to plague him his entire career, and the only thing he can do is keep proving folks wrong. The good news is that Saarelainen played bigger than his size. Despite barely qualifying to ride the Iron Gwazi at Busch Gardens, the 19-year-old isn’t afraid to throw a hit or three while he’s on the ice.
It wasn’t the smoothest season for Saarelainen as he went back-and-forth to the U20 team, was a healthy scratch for a few games, and was loaned to Hokki for a few games. Still, as an 18-year-old the fact that he appeared in 7 playoff games for KalPa, who won the Kanada-malja as the playoffs champions, is a sign of his skills.
In his 21 games with KalPa Saarelainen put up 5 points (2 goals, 3 assists) while averaging about 11 minutes of ice time per night. What was somewhat surprising is that they entrusted him with some penalty killing time, showing some trust in the rookie. His style of play will make him a pesky penalty killer in the vein of Brandon Hagel and Anthony Cirelli. He’s a tenacious skater who constantly bothers the puck carrier.
Offensively, he’s an excellent skater that can alter his speed to throw off defenders and elude hits along the boards. His shot plays better than goaltenders expect, and there is a feeling that he has some room to grow. He’s still a bit of a long shot to make it to the NHL. He’ll have to earn a full-time spot with KalPa’s top team, and then in a season or two make the jump to the AHL and, then still have to show he can play at the NHL level.
It’s going to be a constant fight for him to prove the doubters wrong, but he seems to have the mental fortitude to pull it off. It will be a big season for him internationally as well. He played well at the Summer Showcase for Team Finland and is in line for a middle-six role with the team at the U20 Men’s World Junior Championship this winter.
In last year’s tournament he had just 1 assist in 7 games, but overall he had 11 points in 18 international games over the season. He’s already at 3 points in 6 games for this international season. The success he’s having at these tournaments shows that he can be a top-level player among his peer group, which bodes well as he ages in the professional leagues.
Much like Nikko Huuhtanen before him, Saarelainen is a wait-and-watch prospect. There is no need to hurry him to North America. At this point, he’s in the best spot for his development. Hopefully, he spends the entire season with KalPa and his offensive game catches up with his defensive game.
Highlight Videos:
Joona Saarelainen tips in a shot from Daniel Nieminen and it's 4-1 Finland.
— Steven Ellis (@SEllisHockey) August 1, 2025
Tough one for the Americans, who had one second left in a penalty kill. #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/b487W24j6G
There is nothing outrageously difficult about this goal, unless you count the extraordinary hand-eye coordination to tip a puck flying by you at 80+ MPH as difficult. On the power play Saarelainen is able to post up in front of the net regularly to tip home pucks or bang away at rebounds.
🍏 Joona Saarelainen (#14 in yellow) picks up assist #1 of the Liiga Playoffs.#GoBolts
— Future Bolts (@LightningProsp1) April 30, 2025
pic.twitter.com/33ojyaqLOE
He makes the play here with his quick acceleration. He reads the play nicely and ups his pace before receiving the pass. By the time the puck is on his stick, the defender has already realized he’s taken the wrong angle and Saarelainen is past him. He threads the puck back right where it needs to be to allow his teammate to get the one-timer off quickly.
🍎 Sheesh this guy is way too good for this league. Joona Saarelainen (#14 in black) picks up assist #2 of the U20 SM-Sarja Playoffs on this power play goal.#GoBolts pic.twitter.com/d7DswTcqV0
— Future Bolts (@LightningProsp1) March 21, 2025
This was during one of his stints with KalPa’s U20 team, and the caption is correct. He’s too good for that league. Fast enough to split the defense, talented enough to tap the pass to himself, and strong enough on his skates to complete the pass.
🚨 Joona Saarelainen (#14 in black) goes coast to coast, splits the defense, and finishes on the backhand for his 1st goal of the U20 SM-Sarja Playoffs!#GoBolts pic.twitter.com/ixAYmYuTyx
— Future Bolts (@LightningProsp1) March 21, 2025
Here he makes a nice play in his own zone, calmly skates through the neutral zone, and then beats the defender wide before finishing it off with a nice little shot in close. It’s the entire Joona Saarelainen package in one play.
🚨 Joona Saarelainen (#12 in yellow) puts it home in the slot for his 2nd goal of the Liiga season!#GoBolts
— Future Bolts (@LightningProsp1) October 26, 2024
pic.twitter.com/Tgk618b9qB
The finish is nice, but what he did before the goal is an indication of what he can do despite not being the biggest player on the ice. He never stopped moving. The defender initially pushed him off of the spot, but Saarelainen spun off of him and shifted to an open spot. He can’t allow bigger players to keep him out of the play and the only way he can do that is to keep moving.
