34 Days to Opening Night: Sami Salo (34th* All-Time Scoring)
September 6, 2024
34 Days to Opening Night: Sami Salo (34th* All-Time Scoring)
8 comments
34. Sami Salo — 566GP | 74G | 162A | 236P | 2003-2012
Sami Salo recently celebrated his 50th birthday on September 2nd. Born in Turku, Finland, Salo grew up playing minor hockey for his hometown team. It wasn’t until 1993 that the Finnish defenseman got an opportunity to play on TPS’s U20 team. Salo then had an opportunity to play on the men’s team in 1994-95. He had 3-points in 7-games. The following year he had an impressive 21-points in 47-games at 20-years old.
In 1996, the NHL Entry draft still had 9-rounds and 241-selections. Sami Salo was selected 239th overall by the Ottawa Senators that year. After being drafted, Salo stayed in Finland for two additional seasons. One with TPS and one with Jokerit.
Salo officially signed with the Senators in 1998. He managed to play in 3-games before sustaining an injury for which he was sent down to the Detroit Vipers of the IHL. Salo was recalled in November that year and he finished his rookie season with 7-goals and 19-points over 61-games. He was voted to the NHL All-rookie team as well.
While Salo had great offensive skill and a good two-way game, he was often injured throughout his career. He only played 37-games in his 2nd NHL season and just 31-games the following year.
In March, 2001, Salo suffered a nasty injury after a cross-check to the face from Philadelphia Flyer’s forward Rick Tocchet broke Salo’s teeth and gave him a mild concussion.
The following season, Salo rebounded and managed to play 66-games averaging close to 20-minutes per game. Injuries still piled up and he even had shoulder surgery in the off-season.
Two months after signing an $880K qualifying-offer, Salo was traded by Ottawa to Vancouver in exchange for forward Peter Schaefer.
Salo made an impact with Vancouver right away. He immediately established himself as a top-four defenseman and he managed to stay healthy. Salo played in 79-games his first season in Vancouver with a career-high 30-points. He played over 70-games in 2003-04 but his production dropped slightly to 26-points.
With the 2004-05 lockout in effect, Salo went to Sweden and played for Frölunda HC In the SEL. Frölunda finished first in the league that year and also won the Le Mat Trophy as playoff champions. Salo happened to assist on the overtime goal that clinched the playoff title.
When NHL hockey resumed in 2005-06, Salo signed a two-year extension with the Canucks. He played just 59-games after suffering a shoulder injury in the Olympics when he collided with a teammate during a line change. Salo earned a silver medal after Finland lost to Sweden.
Although the injuries continued to pile on for Salo, 2006-07 was one of his best years totalling 37-points across 67-games. He also set a career-high with 14-goals. Before the season ended, Salo re-signed with Vancouver for 4-more seasons carrying an AAV of $3.5 Million.
Before the start of the 2007-08 season, Salo was injured yet again with a fractured wrist from a training camp battle. Although he was able to return relatively soon, within just a few games he caught an errand puck in the face from a clearing by Alex Edler which broke Salo’s nose causing him to miss 19-games. Despite the missed games, Salo still managed to lead all defenders on the team in scoring that season with 25-points in 63-games.
In 2008-09 Salo was limited again to just 60-games after dealing with leg & shoulder injuries to start the year, followed by a broken rib from a hit against the Oilers in the regular season. Salo made an impact in the playoffs that year, but was limited with more injuries. He had 7-points in 7-games including two game-one winners against the Blues and Blackhawks before tearing his gluteus medius muscle.
2009-10 was no different. Salo suffered an MCL sprain to his right knee. He had additional injuries that resulted in him only being able to play in 68-games. In the playoffs that year, Salo infamously blocked a Duncan Keith slapshot in the groin. He was originally taken to hospital with what was believed to be a ruptured testicle, but that was later debunked by Jason Bothford of The Province.
In the off–season, Salo tore his achilles tendon playing floorball and was forced to miss the first 4-months of the 2010-11 season. After a brief conditioning stint with the Manitoba Moose, Salo rejoined the Canucks in February and managed to play 27-games in the regular season. Salo was an integral part of the playoff run in 2011. Most notably, Salo set a team record for fastest consecutive goals at 16-seconds in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals against the San Jose Sharks.
Balls of steel. Legend.
I wish there was a stat for how many people left the ice after blocking his shot
I’ll never forget when he injured his ass while scoring a goal (at least that’s how I remember it…)
The joke between my friends was Salo is week to week with hurt feelings.
Sami solo was THE talk of the middle school istg
I will never forget Salo’s 5-on-3 bombs from the point against the Sharks in the playoffs.
Balls of steel days to go!
Will never forget his slap shot. No harder shot in Canucks history I’m sure.
8 comments
34. Sami Salo — 566GP | 74G | 162A | 236P | 2003-2012
Sami Salo recently celebrated his 50th birthday on September 2nd. Born in Turku, Finland, Salo grew up playing minor hockey for his hometown team. It wasn’t until 1993 that the Finnish defenseman got an opportunity to play on TPS’s U20 team. Salo then had an opportunity to play on the men’s team in 1994-95. He had 3-points in 7-games. The following year he had an impressive 21-points in 47-games at 20-years old.
In 1996, the NHL Entry draft still had 9-rounds and 241-selections. Sami Salo was selected 239th overall by the Ottawa Senators that year. After being drafted, Salo stayed in Finland for two additional seasons. One with TPS and one with Jokerit.
Salo officially signed with the Senators in 1998. He managed to play in 3-games before sustaining an injury for which he was sent down to the Detroit Vipers of the IHL. Salo was recalled in November that year and he finished his rookie season with 7-goals and 19-points over 61-games. He was voted to the NHL All-rookie team as well.
While Salo had great offensive skill and a good two-way game, he was often injured throughout his career. He only played 37-games in his 2nd NHL season and just 31-games the following year.
In March, 2001, Salo suffered a nasty injury after a cross-check to the face from Philadelphia Flyer’s forward Rick Tocchet broke Salo’s teeth and gave him a mild concussion.
The following season, Salo rebounded and managed to play 66-games averaging close to 20-minutes per game. Injuries still piled up and he even had shoulder surgery in the off-season.
Two months after signing an $880K qualifying-offer, Salo was traded by Ottawa to Vancouver in exchange for forward Peter Schaefer.
Salo made an impact with Vancouver right away. He immediately established himself as a top-four defenseman and he managed to stay healthy. Salo played in 79-games his first season in Vancouver with a career-high 30-points. He played over 70-games in 2003-04 but his production dropped slightly to 26-points.
With the 2004-05 lockout in effect, Salo went to Sweden and played for Frölunda HC In the SEL. Frölunda finished first in the league that year and also won the Le Mat Trophy as playoff champions. Salo happened to assist on the overtime goal that clinched the playoff title.
When NHL hockey resumed in 2005-06, Salo signed a two-year extension with the Canucks. He played just 59-games after suffering a shoulder injury in the Olympics when he collided with a teammate during a line change. Salo earned a silver medal after Finland lost to Sweden.
Although the injuries continued to pile on for Salo, 2006-07 was one of his best years totalling 37-points across 67-games. He also set a career-high with 14-goals. Before the season ended, Salo re-signed with Vancouver for 4-more seasons carrying an AAV of $3.5 Million.
Before the start of the 2007-08 season, Salo was injured yet again with a fractured wrist from a training camp battle. Although he was able to return relatively soon, within just a few games he caught an errand puck in the face from a clearing by Alex Edler which broke Salo’s nose causing him to miss 19-games. Despite the missed games, Salo still managed to lead all defenders on the team in scoring that season with 25-points in 63-games.
In 2008-09 Salo was limited again to just 60-games after dealing with leg & shoulder injuries to start the year, followed by a broken rib from a hit against the Oilers in the regular season. Salo made an impact in the playoffs that year, but was limited with more injuries. He had 7-points in 7-games including two game-one winners against the Blues and Blackhawks before tearing his gluteus medius muscle.
2009-10 was no different. Salo suffered an MCL sprain to his right knee. He had additional injuries that resulted in him only being able to play in 68-games. In the playoffs that year, Salo infamously blocked a Duncan Keith slapshot in the groin. He was originally taken to hospital with what was believed to be a ruptured testicle, but that was later debunked by Jason Bothford of The Province.
In the off–season, Salo tore his achilles tendon playing floorball and was forced to miss the first 4-months of the 2010-11 season. After a brief conditioning stint with the Manitoba Moose, Salo rejoined the Canucks in February and managed to play 27-games in the regular season. Salo was an integral part of the playoff run in 2011. Most notably, Salo set a team record for fastest consecutive goals at 16-seconds in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals against the San Jose Sharks.
Balls of steel. Legend.
I wish there was a stat for how many people left the ice after blocking his shot
I’ll never forget when he injured his ass while scoring a goal (at least that’s how I remember it…)
The joke between my friends was Salo is week to week with hurt feelings.
Sami solo was THE talk of the middle school istg
I will never forget Salo’s 5-on-3 bombs from the point against the Sharks in the playoffs.
Balls of steel days to go!
Will never forget his slap shot. No harder shot in Canucks history I’m sure.