Saku Mäenalanen

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Saku Mäenalanen is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward who plays right wing and shoots left. Born on May 29, 1994, in Tornio, Finland, he is 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighs about 192 pounds. He is currently under contract with the SCL Tigers of the National League (NL) in Switzerland.

Mäenalanen was drafted 125th overall by the Nashville Predators in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. He began his pro career in Finland with Oulun Kärpät in Liiga, and had a brief loan to Lahti Pelicans during the 2014–15 season. In 2017–18 he had a breakout year, scoring 17 goals and 46 points in 59 games and helping Kärpät win the Liiga title, with 10 playoff points.

In 2018 he signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Carolina Hurricanes. He started with their AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, and was recalled to the NHL in December 2018. Mäenalanen made his NHL debut on December 7, 2018, and scored his first NHL goal on January 8, 2019. After his first North American season, he returned to Europe as a restricted free agent and signed with Jokerit in the KHL for 2019–2021.

In 2021 Mäenalanen returned to Kärpät on a three-year contract and led the team in scoring in 2021–22 with 41 points in 47 games. On July 19, 2022, he signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Winnipeg Jets. He played 64 NHL games that season, recording 4 goals and 10 points, plus five playoff games with one assist.

As a free agent in 2023, Mäenalanen did not secure an NHL deal and briefly joined the Colorado Avalanche on a professional tryout, but failed the physical and was released. He then signed a three-year contract with the SCL Tigers of the Swiss National League on September 21, 2023.

Internationally, Mäenalanen has represented Finland at the senior level, debuting at the 2018 IIHF World Championship (Finland finished fifth; he had two goals and three assists in eight games). He has also represented Finland at the Olympics and other international events, including the 2014 World Junior Championship in Malmö.