Ossi Vaananen

Finnish professional hockey player Ossi Vaananen plays for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League. Vaananen signed as a free agent with the Flyers on July 1, 2008.¹

Fast Facts

1. Born: August 18, 1980
2. Birthplace: Vantaa, Finland
3. Height: 6'4"
4. Weight: 215 lbs.
5. Position: Defenseman
6. Shoots: Left
7. Draft year: 1998

NHL Career

Vaananen was drafted 43rd overall in the 1998 NHL draft by the Phoenix Coyotes. He played two additional seasons in Finland, for the Jokerit Helsinki of the SM-Liiga, before joining the Coyotes in 2000 for his NHL debut. On March 9, 2004, Vaananen was traded to the Colorado Avalanche. He played 12 games with the Avalanche, then returned to the Jokerit Helsinki during the 2004-05 NHL lockout. Following the lockout, Vaananen played two additional seasons with the Avalanche before he was released and signed with the Djurgardens IF in the Swedish Elitserien. He played a single season in Sweden, 2007-08, then returned to the NHL by signing with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2008.

Career Highlights

• 2000: Finnish Junior Player of the Year
• 2000: World Ice Hockey Championships, bronze medal
• 2001: World Ice Hockey Championships, silver medal
• 2003: NHL YoungStars Game
• 2004: World Cup of Hockey, silver medal
• 2006: Winter Olympics, silver medal

Timeline

• 1995-00: Jokerit Helsinki, SM-Liiga
• 1998: Drafted by the Phoenix Coyotes
• 2000-04: Phoenix Coyotes
• 2004: Colorado Avalanche
• 2004-05: Jokerit Helsinki, SM-Liiga
• 2005-07: Colorado Avalanche
• 2007-08: Djurgardens IF, Elitserien
• 2008-present: Philadelphia Flyers

Categories