Former Boston Bruins defenseman Urho Vaakanainen has been added to Finland’s roster for the upcoming NHL 4 Nations Face-Off, set to begin February 12. Vaakanainen, currently with the New York Rangers, will be stepping in as an injury replacement for Dallas Stars’ Miro Heiskanen and Toronto Maple Leafs’ Jani Hakanpaa.
Vaakanainen, 26, has had a busy season, playing 26 games split between the Anaheim Ducks and Rangers, registering six assists. The former first-round pick of the Bruins in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft was part of a trade earlier this season that saw him sent to New York in exchange for Rangers captain Jacob Trouba.
The Finnish defenseman made his NHL debut with the Bruins in the 2018-19 season. Over the course of four seasons with Boston, Vaakanainen appeared in 31 games, accumulating six assists, 34 blocked shots, and 21 hits.
The NHL 4 Nations Face-Off kicks off on February 12 with Team Canada facing off against Team Sweden. Team USA will take on Team Finland the following day, where Vaakanainen will make his tournament debut for Finland. The addition of Vaakanainen provides a solid defensive presence for the team as they look to compete in the international showcase.
