Blackhawks Won't Join Team: Loaned To Lukko For 2024-2025 season
Finnish Blackhawks prospect, Antti Saarela has had a rough first year in the AHL, with the Rockford IceHogs.
The team has allowed Saarela to return home to Finland to get a fresh start in the Finnish Liiga.
He will join the HC Lukko in the Finnish league after his first season in the AHL saw him 6 points(5 G, 1 A) in 27 games with the IceHogs.
Saarela was a fourth-round pick(123rd overall) in 2019 by the Blackhawks and would have a good season in Finland with Lukko, scoring 18 points in 41 games in 2022-2023.
They would later sign him to an ELC, with a two-year term so they couldn't lose his NHL rights.
Due to injuries, Saarela would struggle and only play 27 games, he would miss post-season play too.
Saarela's contract will be expiring soon and has arbitration rights, but if he doesn't have a good showing in Finland, it appears the team could move towards letting him become a UFA, without a qualifying offer.
Source: Pro Hockey Rumors
Blackhawks Loan Antti Saarela To Finnish League
| POLL | ||
Will Antti Saarela get a qualifying offer from the Blackhawks? | ||
| Yes | 34 | 39.1 % |
| No | 53 | 60.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
