Olli Juolevi Explained

Olli Juolevi
Birth Date:1998 5, df=yes
Birth Place:Helsinki, Finland
Height Ft:6
Height In:3
Weight Lb:198
Position:Defence
Shoots:Left
League:SHL
Team:Timrå IK
Former Teams:TPS
Vancouver Canucks
Florida Panthers
Detroit Red Wings
Draft:5th overall
Draft Year:2016
Draft Team:Vancouver Canucks
Career Start:2017

Olli Juolevi (in Finnish pronounced as /ˈolːi ˈjuo̯leʋi/; born 5 May 1998) is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently on a one-month contract with Timrå IK of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). He was selected fifth overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. Born and raised in Finland, Juolevi developed in the Jokerit program before he moved to North America to play major junior hockey with the Ontario Hockey League (OHL)'s London Knights in 2015. After one season with London, he was drafted by the Canucks.

Internationally, Juolevi has represented Finland in three World Junior Championships, winning gold at the 2016 tournament.

Playing career

At age 14, Juolevi began playing junior hockey in Finland for Jokerit's U16 team in 2012–13. By the following year, he was playing for Jokerit's U20 team in the Jr. A SM-liiga. After scoring 32 points (6 goals and 26 assists) in 44 games, he was named to the league's First All-Star Team and awarded Rookie of the Year.[1] During the off-season, Juolevi was selected 45th overall by the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) at the 2015 Canadian Hockey League Import Draft. Juolevi committed to the Knights shortly thereafter, leaving his junior career in Finland.[2]

With 42 points (9 goals and 33 assists) in 57 games, Juolevi ranked third among OHL rookie defencemen and 13th among defencemen overall in 2015–16.[3] He was named to the OHL Third All-Star Team and Second All-Rookie Team.[1] During the 2016 OHL playoffs, he added 14 points (3 goals and 11 assists) in 18 games, ranking second among all defencemen,[4] as the Knights won the J. Ross Robertson Cup as OHL champions. With the Knights advancing to the 2016 Memorial Cup, Juolevi recorded seven assists in four games and was named to the tournament's All-Star Team, helping London to a national championship.[1]

Having played a key role in London's championship season, Juolevi was highly regarded by scouts. NHL Central Scouting ranked him fifth among draft-eligible players competing in North America, praising his offensive play.[5] During the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, he was the first defenceman selected, fifth overall by the Vancouver Canucks. On 5 August 2016, Juolevi signed his first professional contract in agreeing to a three-year, entry-level contract with the Canucks.[6]

Juolevi was assigned to Vancouver's AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets, to start the 2018–19 season.[7] After registering 13 points in 18 games in his first AHL season, Juolevi was sidelined for the remainder of the year due to knee surgery.[8]

Following his injury-shortened season, Juolevi was again sent to Utica to start for the 2019–20 season. After 5 points in 14 games, Juolevi again suffered an injury in November 2019,[9] though he returned three weeks later.[10] Juolevi would play in 45 games with Utica, scoring 25 points, before the 2019–20 AHL season was suspended and later cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Juolevi made his NHL debut with the Canucks during the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs, playing in the fourth and final game of Vancouver's Qualifying Round series against the Minnesota Wild. He played 6:16 in the game, which Vancouver won 5–4 in overtime to eliminate Minnesota and move onto the First Round.[11]

The following season, Juolevi earned a spot on Vancouver's roster out of training camp for the first time in his career.[12] He scored his first career goal on 25 January 2021 in a 7–1 win over the Ottawa Senators.[13]

On 10 October 2021, Juolevi was traded to the Florida Panthers in exchange for Noah Juulsen and Juho Lammikko. He began the season on the Panthers roster, adding depth to the blueline in remaining as a healthy scratch. Yet to feature with the Panthers, he was assigned on a conditioning stint to AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, before returning to the Panthers and making his debut against the Arizona Coyotes on 10 December 2021. He went scoreless over 10 games before on 5 March 2022, Juolevi was placed on waivers by the Panthers. The following day, Juolevi's tenure with the Panthers ended after he was claimed by the Detroit Red Wings.[14] [15]

On July 27, 2022, Juolevi signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Anaheim Ducks.[16]

International play

Juolevi played for Finland at the 2016 World Junior Championships, where they won gold on 5 January 2016. In recognition of his play, he was named to the tournament All-star team.

Juolevi was named Finland's captain for the 2017 World Junior Championships. In the tournament, Finland was unable to match their success from the previous year, placing ninth and defeating Team Latvia to avoid relegation.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2013–14JokeritFin-Jr.111340
2014–15JokeritFin-Jr.44626322851232
2015–16London Knights57933421618311144
2016–17London KnightsOHL5810324236143588
2017–18TPS387121914112570
2018–19Utica CometsAHL18112132
2019–20Utica CometsAHL452232524
2019–20Vancouver CanucksNHL10000
2020–21Vancouver CanucksNHL232130
2021–22Charlotte CheckersAHL30112
2021–22Florida PanthersNHL100002
2021–22Detroit Red WingsNHL80004
2022–23San Diego GullsAHL381131422
Liiga totals387121914112570
NHL totals41213610000

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
FinlandIH185th4 0 1 1 4
2016FinlandWJC7 0 9 9 4
2017FinlandWJC9th6 0 2 2 0
2018FinlandWJC6th5 1 3 4 0
Junior totals22 1 15 16 8

Awards and honors

AwardYear
International
IIHF World U20 Championship Gold Medal 2016
IIHF World U20 Championship All-Star Team 2016

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Olli Juolevi. 2016-06-24. Elite Prospects.
  2. Web site: JUOLEVI & MATTINEN COMMIT TO KNIGHTS . . 2015-07-17. 2016-01-02.
  3. Web site: 2015–16 OHL Defencemen Leaders. 2016-06-24. Ontario Hockey League.
  4. Web site: 2016 OHL Playoff Defencemen Leaders. 2016-06-24. Ontario Hockey League.
  5. Web site: Dubois jumps to top of draft rankings. . 2016-05-16.
  6. Web site: Canucks sign Juolevi to entry-level contract . . 2016-08-05 . 2016-08-05.
  7. Web site: Canucks reduce pre-season roster . Vancouver Canucks . 27 September 2018 . 9 August 2020.
  8. Web site: Wagner . Daniel . Olli Juolevi undergoes knee surgery, out for the rest of the season . 19 December 2018 . Vancouver Courier . 8 September 2019.
  9. Web site: Vancouver Canucks prospect Olli Juolevi catches the injury bug once again . Straight.com . 16 November 2019 . 9 August 2020.
  10. Web site: Vancouver Canucks prospect Olli Juolevi looks good in return to action in minors . Straight.com . 8 December 2019 . 9 August 2020.
  11. Web site: Canucks' blend of youth, veterans soars into playoffs ahead of expectations . Sportsnet.ca . 8 August 2020 . 9 August 2020.
  12. Web site: Canucks: Olli Juolevi finally arrives as a roster regular . TheProvince.ca . 13 January 2021 . 19 January 2021.
  13. Web site: Kevin Woodley. Sutter scores hat trick, Canucks defeat Senators. NHL.com. January 26, 2021. January 25, 2021.
  14. Web site: Red Wings claim Olli Juolevi off waivers, Islanders pick up Czarnik . 2022-03-07 . Sportsnet.ca . en.
  15. Web site: Detroit claims Olli Juolevi from Florida . . March 6, 2022 . March 6, 2022.
  16. Web site: Ducks Sign Defenseman Juolevi to One-Year Contract . 2022-07-27 . NHL.com . 27 July 2022 . en-US.