Finnish newspaper Iltalehti reports that free agent Saku Mäenalanen is headed to the North America for the upcoming season. According to the newspaper, multiple teams are interested in signing the forward. The Nashville Predators selected him in the fifth round of the 2013 draft but he was left unsigned.
Mäenalanen won the Liiga championship with Kärpät for the third time this past season. The 6’4″ forward scored 17 goals and 46 points in 59 regular season games, more than doubling his point totals from the past season. He added 10 points in the postseason, In the past, Mäenalanen led the 2014 World Juniors with seven goals and won gold with Team Finland.
The 23-year-old winger will represent Finland at the World Championhsip tournament, It’ll be a good opportunity for Mäenalanen to impress NHL teams. He has a good shot, puck handling skills and skates rather well, although he’s not the most explosive player on his skates. He has the tools to develop into a quality player.