In 51 games with Tampere Tappara (Liiga) during the 2016-17 season, Haapala recorded a league-leading 45 assists and 60 points (15-45-60). The 5-foot-9, 165-pound native of Lempaala, Finland was awarded the Veli-Pekka Ketola Trophy as Liiga's points leader.
He won his second consecutive Liiga Championship in 2017, posting nine points (2-7-9) in 16 playoffs games. Haapala played alongside Panthers forward Aleksander Barkov in Tappara during the 2012-13 season.
Internationally, Haapala won a gold medal with Team Finland at the 2014 IIHF U20 World Junior Championship, recording three points (1-2-3) in seven games.
Undrafted, Haapala was originally signed as a free agent by Florida on June 1, 2017.
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