Santeri Hatakka Explained

Santeri Hatakka
Birth Date:15 January 2001
Birth Place:Riihimäki, Finland
Height Ft:6
Height In:0
Weight Lb:182
Position:Defence
Shoots:Left
League:NHL
Team:New Jersey Devils
Prospect Team:Utica Comets
Prospect League:AHL
Former Teams:Ilves
San Jose Sharks
Draft:184th overall
Draft Year:2019
Draft Team:San Jose Sharks
Career Start:2019

Santeri Hatakka (born 15 January 2001) is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman for the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Playing career

Hatakka played his junior career in the Jokerit system, and was an alternate captain for their under-20 team in the 2018–19 season.[1] Following that season, he was drafted in the sixth round, 184th overall, of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft by the San Jose Sharks.[2]

Hatakka made his professional debut during the 2019–20 season, splitting time between Ilves in the Liiga and their farm club Koovee. He scored three points in 28 Liiga games.

On 12 May 2021, Hatakka signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Sharks.[3] He made his NHL debut for the Sharks on 30 October, in a 2–1 win over the Winnipeg Jets.[4] On 9 November, Hatakka recorded his first NHL point, an assist, in a 4–1 win over the Calgary Flames.[5]

In the 2022–23 season Hatakka played just eight games, all at the AHL level, due to a major upper-body injury sustained early in the year.[6] On 26 February 2023, Hatakka was traded to the New Jersey Devils along with Timo Meier in a blockbuster multi-player trade.[7] Hatakka was recalled to the Devils on 18 January 2024, as multiple of their regular defencemen were injured or sick. He made his debut for the team on 22 January, in a 6–5 overtime win against the Vegas Golden Knights.[8] [9]

International play

Hatakka has represented Finland at the under-16, under-17, under-18, and under-20 levels, including semifinal appearances at the 2020 and 2021 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, at the latter of which he was an alternate captain and won a bronze medal. Across his two World Junior appearances, he scored three points in 14 games.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGP PIMGP G A Pts PIM
2017–18JokeritU20 SM-liiga46 4 12 16 28
2018–19JokeritU20 SM-liiga43 4 9 13 30
2019–20IlvesLiiga28 1 2 3 14
2019–20KooveeMestis15 2 5 7 6
2020–21IlvesLiiga44 1 6 7 345 0 0 0 2
2021–22San Jose SharksNHL9 0 2 2 2
2021–22San Jose BarracudaAHL41 3 9 12 22
2022–23San Jose BarracudaAHL8 0 2 2 2
2023–24Utica CometsAHL48 5 15 20 32
2023–24New Jersey DevilsNHL12 0 2 2 4
NHL totals21 0 4 4 6

International

YearTeamEventResultGP G A Pts PIM
2017FinlandU176th5 0 1 1 2
2019FinlandU187th5 0 0 0 2
2020FinlandWJC4th7 0 1 1 4
2021FinlandWJC7 1 1 2 4
Junior totals24 1 3 4 12

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Santeri Hatakka at eliteprospects.com . 5 November 2023 . www.eliteprospects.com.
  2. News: NHL Draft 2019: Sharks select Santeri Hatakka in sixth round. fearthefin.com. 22 June 2019. 22 June 2019.
  3. Web site: Sharks Sign Defenseman Santeri Hatakka. San Jose Sharks. 12 May 2021 . 12 May 2021.
  4. Web site: Sharks top Jets in OT after coach, seven players put in COVID-19 protocol. National Hockey League. 30 October 2021.
  5. Web site: Hill, Sharks end Flames point streak at 10. National Hockey League. 9 November 2021.
  6. Web site: New Jersey Devils Prospect Update: Five Takeaways from Development Camp . 5 November 2023 . All About The Jersey . 18 July 2023.
  7. Web site: Meier, Prospects, Pick Acquired by Devils in Trade with Sharks . NHL.com . 27 February 2023 . 26 February 2023.
  8. Web site: Flannery . Kristy . Santeri Hatakka Will Make Devils Debut Against Golden Knights . thehockeynews.com . The Hockey News . 22 January 2024 . 22 January 2024.
  9. Web site: Kasan . Sam . Toffoli's Trick Bests Golden Knights . NHL.com . 23 January 2024 . 22 January 2024.