Sami Lepistö
Encyclopedia
Sami Lepistö (born October 17, 1984 in Espoo
, Finland
) is a Finnish professional ice hockey
defenceman
who is currently playing for the Chicago Blackhawks
. He is the son of former Jokerit captain and youth international defenceman Jussi Lepistö. Sami was drafted by the Washington Capitals
as their third-round pick, #66 overall, in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft
.
in the SM-liiga
. In his first season in 2003-04, Lepistö had three goals and seven points in 53 games, followed by an assist in eight playoff games for Jokerit. He also played for Finland
in the 2004 World Junior Hockey Championship, scoring four goals and eight points in seven games. Lepistö saw his offensive numbers rise in 2004-05, as he had seven goals and 25 points in 55 games. Lepistö also had a solid playoff performance for Jokerit, as he had a goal and eight points in 12 games. Lepistö returned to Jokerit in 2005-06, and increased his offensive numbers once again, scoring eight goals and 29 points in 56 games. Lepistö had an injury plagued 2006-07 season, as he had one goals and 10 points in 26 games. On May 31, 2007, Lepistö was signed to a two-year entry-level contract by the Washington Capitals
.
of the AHL
in 2007-08, where in 55 games, he scored four goals and 45 points, as well as having a solid +29 rating. Lepistö also made his NHL debut on February 16, 2008 with the Capitals. In seven games with Washington in 2007-08
, Lepistö had an assist. He was returned to Hershey, where he had an assist in five playoff games. After the season, Lepistö played for Finland
at the 2008 World Hockey Championship, where he had a goal and an assist in seven games.
Lepistö spent most of the 2008-09 season with Hershey once again, as in 70 games, he had four goals and 42 points, as well as a +24 rating. He once again appeared in seven games with the Capitals, where Lepistö earned four assists. On June 27, 2009, Washington traded Lepistö to the Phoenix Coyotes
for the Coyotes fifth round draft pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft
.
Lepistö spent the entire 2009-10 season with the Phoenix Coyotes
, where he scored a goal and 11 points in 66 games, helping the club to the playoffs. In seven playoff games with the Coyotes, Lepistö had a goal. Lepistö also played for Finland
at the 2010 Winter Olympics
, as he had an assist in six games. He returned to the Coyotes for the 2010-11 season, where Lepistö had four goals and 11 points in 51 games.
On February 28, 2011, the Coyotes sent Lepistö and Scottie Upshall
to the Columbus Blue Jackets
for Rostislav Klesla
and Dane Byers
. On July 15, 2011, Lepistö signed a one year deal with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Espoo
Espoo is the second largest city and municipality in Finland. The population of the city of Espoo is . It is part of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area along with the cities of Helsinki, Vantaa, and Kauniainen. Espoo shares its eastern border with Helsinki and Vantaa, while enclosing Kauniainen....
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
) is a Finnish professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
defenceman
Defenceman (ice hockey)
Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...
who is currently playing for the Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
. He is the son of former Jokerit captain and youth international defenceman Jussi Lepistö. Sami was drafted by the Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
as their third-round pick, #66 overall, in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft
2004 NHL Entry Draft
The 2004 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 26 at the RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. It is especially notable because it was the last NHL event to take place before the beginning of the lockout which canceled all the games scheduled for the 2004–05 NHL season.- Selections by round :Listed...
.
Jokerit
Lepistö played professional hockey for JokeritJokerit
Jokerit is an ice-hockey team from Helsinki, Finland, playing in the Finnish Elite League, SM-liiga. The team has won 6 league championships...
in the SM-liiga
SM-liiga
The SM-liiga is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. As of March 2008, it is ranked by the IIHF as the second strongest league in Europe. It was created in 1975 to replace the SM-sarja, which was fundamentally an amateur league. The SM-liiga is not directly overseen by the Finnish Ice...
. In his first season in 2003-04, Lepistö had three goals and seven points in 53 games, followed by an assist in eight playoff games for Jokerit. He also played for Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
in the 2004 World Junior Hockey Championship, scoring four goals and eight points in seven games. Lepistö saw his offensive numbers rise in 2004-05, as he had seven goals and 25 points in 55 games. Lepistö also had a solid playoff performance for Jokerit, as he had a goal and eight points in 12 games. Lepistö returned to Jokerit in 2005-06, and increased his offensive numbers once again, scoring eight goals and 29 points in 56 games. Lepistö had an injury plagued 2006-07 season, as he had one goals and 10 points in 26 games. On May 31, 2007, Lepistö was signed to a two-year entry-level contract by the Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
.
National Hockey League
Lepistö was sent to the Hershey BearsHershey Bears
The Hershey Bears Hockey Club is a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League, and is currently the top affiliate of the NHL Washington Capitals. The hockey club is based in the unincorporated town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, located within Derry Township some 14 miles east of...
of the AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
in 2007-08, where in 55 games, he scored four goals and 45 points, as well as having a solid +29 rating. Lepistö also made his NHL debut on February 16, 2008 with the Capitals. In seven games with Washington in 2007-08
2007-08 NHL season
The 2007–08 NHL season was the 91st season of operation of the National Hockey League . It began on September 29, 2007, with the regular season ending April 6, 2008...
, Lepistö had an assist. He was returned to Hershey, where he had an assist in five playoff games. After the season, Lepistö played for Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
at the 2008 World Hockey Championship, where he had a goal and an assist in seven games.
Lepistö spent most of the 2008-09 season with Hershey once again, as in 70 games, he had four goals and 42 points, as well as a +24 rating. He once again appeared in seven games with the Capitals, where Lepistö earned four assists. On June 27, 2009, Washington traded Lepistö to the Phoenix Coyotes
Phoenix Coyotes
The Phoenix Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in Glendale, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their home games at Jobing.com Arena....
for the Coyotes fifth round draft pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft
2010 NHL Entry Draft
The 2010 NHL Entry Draft was the 48th NHL Entry Draft, held on June 25–26, 2010 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, home arena of the Los Angeles Kings. This was the first time Los Angeles hosted the NHL Entry Draft. An unofficial record of 11 American-trained players were selected in...
.
Lepistö spent the entire 2009-10 season with the Phoenix Coyotes
Phoenix Coyotes
The Phoenix Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in Glendale, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their home games at Jobing.com Arena....
, where he scored a goal and 11 points in 66 games, helping the club to the playoffs. In seven playoff games with the Coyotes, Lepistö had a goal. Lepistö also played for Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
at the 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
, as he had an assist in six games. He returned to the Coyotes for the 2010-11 season, where Lepistö had four goals and 11 points in 51 games.
On February 28, 2011, the Coyotes sent Lepistö and Scottie Upshall
Scottie Upshall
Scott Upshall is a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger currently playing for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League...
to the Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
for Rostislav Klesla
Rostislav Klesla
Rostislav "Rusty" Klesla is a Czech professional ice hockey defenceman for the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League . During the off season, Klesla spends his time in the Czech Republic. Klesla was selected fourth overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, making...
and Dane Byers
Dane Byers
Dane Byers is a Canadian professional ice hockey player with the Columbus Blue Jackets organization...
. On July 15, 2011, Lepistö signed a one year deal with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2003–04 | Jokerit Jokerit Jokerit is an ice-hockey team from Helsinki, Finland, playing in the Finnish Elite League, SM-liiga. The team has won 6 league championships... |
SM-l SM-liiga The SM-liiga is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. As of March 2008, it is ranked by the IIHF as the second strongest league in Europe. It was created in 1975 to replace the SM-sarja, which was fundamentally an amateur league. The SM-liiga is not directly overseen by the Finnish Ice... |
53 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 20 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | ||
| 2004–05 | Jokerit | SM-l | 55 | 7 | 18 | 25 | 44 | 12 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 12 | ||
| 2005–06 | Jokerit | SM-l | 56 | 8 | 21 | 27 | 68 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | Jokerit | SM-l | 26 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 32 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | ||
| 2007–08 2007–08 AHL season The 2007–08 AHL season is the 72nd season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-nine teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Chicago Wolves won their second Calder Cup, defeating the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the Calder Cup Final.-Team changes:... |
Hershey Bears Hershey Bears The Hershey Bears Hockey Club is a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League, and is currently the top affiliate of the NHL Washington Capitals. The hockey club is based in the unincorporated town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, located within Derry Township some 14 miles east of... |
AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... |
55 | 4 | 41 | 45 | 51 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | ||
| 2007–08 | Washington Capitals Washington Capitals The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup... |
NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 2008–09 AHL season The 2008–09 AHL season is the 73rd season of the American Hockey League. 29 teams each played 80 games in the regular season, which ran from October 8 until April 12.-Team and NHL affiliation changes:... |
Hershey Bears | AHL | 70 | 4 | 38 | 42 | 80 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 2008–09 NHL season The 2008–09 NHL season was the 92nd season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the... |
Washington Capitals | NHL | 7 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 2009–10 NHL season The 2009–10 NHL season was the 93rd season of operation of the National Hockey League , and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association . It ran from October 1, 2009, including four games in Europe on October 2 and 3—until April 11, 2010, with the 2010... |
Phoenix Coyotes Phoenix Coyotes The Phoenix Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in Glendale, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their home games at Jobing.com Arena.... |
NHL | 66 | 1 | 10 | 11 | 60 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | ||
| 2010–11 2010–11 NHL season The 2010–11 NHL season was the 94th season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the fourth consecutive season that opened in Europe with NHL Premiere . A record three events were scheduled, all in previous NHL Premiere cities: Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden; and Prague, Czech... |
Phoenix Coyotes | NHL | 51 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 37 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010–11 | Columbus Blue Jackets Columbus Blue Jackets The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL | 19 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 150 | 5 | 27 | 31 | 133 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | ||||
International play
Played for Finland in:- 2004 World Junior Championships2004 World Junior Ice Hockey ChampionshipsThe 2004 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships was held between December 26, 2003 and January 5, 2004 in Helsinki and Hämeenlinna, Finland...
(Bronze medal) - 2008 World Championships2008 Men's World Ice Hockey ChampionshipsThe 2008 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships was the 72nd such event hosted by the International Ice Hockey Federation. Teams representing 48 countries will participate in four levels of competition. The competition will also serve as qualifications for the 2009 competition...
(Bronze medal) - 2011 World Championships2011 Men's World Ice Hockey ChampionshipsThe 2011 IIHF World Championship was the 75th IIHF World Championship, an annual international ice hockey tournament. It took place between the 29 April and the 15 May 2011 in Slovakia. The games were played in the Orange Arena in Bratislava, and the Steel Aréna in Košice...
(Gold medal)
International statistics
| Year | Team | Comp | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Finland | WJC World Junior Ice Hockey Championships The International Ice Hockey Federation World Under 20 Championship is an annual event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation for national under-20 ice hockey teams from around the world... |
7 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 10 |
| 2008 | Finland | WC | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 10 |
| Junior int'l totals | 7 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 10 | ||
| Senior int'l totals | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 10 | ||