Vaakanainen, 23 (1/1/99), has recorded eight points (0-8=8) with 12 penalty minutes (PIM) in 45 career NHL games with Anaheim and Boston. The 6-2, 200-pound defensemen collected six assists (0-6=6) in 29 combined games with the Ducks and Bruins in 2021-22.
Acquired from Boston with John Moore, 2022 first-round, 2023 second-round and 2024 second-round selections in the NHL Draft for Hampus Lindholm and Kodie Curran, Mar. 19, 2022, Vaakanainen earned two assists with six PIM in 14 games before joining the Ducks. He also added 1-7=8 points with a +6 rating and 20 PIM in 23 games with the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League (AHL) prior to his acquisition.
Originally selected by Boston in the first round (18th overall) of the 2017 NHL Draft, Vaakanainen earned 11-28=39 points with a +27 rating and 54 PIM in 118 AHL contests with Providence. He also skated in 111 career Finnish Liiga games with SaiPa, JYP and Blues tallying 8-16=24 points with a +7 rating and 46 PIM.
A native of Joensuu, Finland, Vaakanainen has represented Finland at three consecutive World Junior Championships, including 2017, 2018 and 2019, winning gold in 2019. He also helped Finland to medals at the 2016 World U-18 Championship (gold) and 2017 World U-18 Championship (silver).
