New Jersey Devils: All-Time Winter Olympic Lineups
By Mike Luci
Team Finland
Forwards
Tuomo Ruutu (2014-2016): GP: 129 G: 10 A: 12
Janne Ojanen (1988-1990, 1992-1993): GP: 98 G: 21 A: 23
Jukka Porvari (1981-1983): GP: 39 G: 3 A: 9
Defense
Tapio Levo (1981-1983): GP: 107 G: 16 A: 53
Sami Vatanen (2017-2020) GP: 154 G: 12 A: 56
Goaltender
Hannu Kamppuri (1984-1985): GP: 13 Record: 1-10-1 GAA: 5.11 SV% .845
Aside from Tuomo Ruutu and Sami Vatanen, many New Jersey Devils fans probably don’t recognize or remember most of the players in this lineup, mainly since the four other Finns only had brief stints on the team dating back to the 80s and early-90s. Janne Ojanen had a decent showing in 1989-1990 when he notched 17 goals and 30 points in 64 contests. Ruutu’s best years were long behind him when he was acquired by the Devils in 2014, a trade that will probably go down as one of Lou Lamoriello’s most moot. Jukka Porvari is one of the few players featured in this piece who was with both the Colorado Rockies and New Jersey Devils, but only lasted two seasons, over which he barely played.
Like Porvari, defenseman Tapio Levo played on both the Colorado Rockies and New Jersey Devils, arriving and leaving around the same time as Porvari. Levo was a solid defenseman during his two NHL seasons, getting nine goals and 22 points in 34 games during his first NHL year with the Rockies (1981-1982). In New Jersey’s inaugural season, he led the team’s defense in scoring with seven goals and 47 points, after which he left the NHL and spent the remainder of his professional career in Europe.
When Vatanen was moved at this year’s deadline, he left the Devils one point shy of tying the organization’s all-time leader among Finnish players with 68 points, coincidently trailing Levo. While Vatanen’s time in New Jersey was plagued by injuries, he helped the team make their first playoff appearance since 2012. Hannu Kamppuri is the only Finnish goaltender to wear a Devils jersey and one of two in the franchise’s entire history. He appeared in 13 games during the 1984-1985 season, only winning one of those contests.
Honorable Mentions: Veli-Pekka Ketola, Reijo Ruotsalainen, Anssi Salmela