Julius Saari – 2025 NHL Draft Prospects Information – Hockey Writer – NHL Drafts
Julius Saari
Team 2024-25: Jokerit (Mestis)
Date of birth: March 7, 2007
Place of birth: Vantatta, Finland
HT: 6 feet 2 wt: 187 lbs
Shooting: Left
Position: Defender
NHL Draft Qualification: Qualifications in 2025
Ranking
Julius Saari is a defensive defender and he has a very good figure. He tends to fight back to prevent his breakthrough and doesn’t do much in the offensive area. His stick is good and he has his own gap in those entering the defensive zone. He needs to become more physical over time, but despite this, he is still good at winning hockey battles.
Saari does have a good lady on the blue line – not too heavy, but it can enter when there is traffic on the front. That said, he needs to work hard to be a two-way defender. Currently, there aren’t many offensive productions in his game.
Saari started his junior high school career with Kiekko-Vantaa U16 in 2021-22, scoring five points in 32 games. In 2022-23, he joined Jokerit U16, showing off his offensive growth flash with 11 points in 18 games and added goals in three playoff games. In the same season, he separated from Jokerit U18, scored five points in 21 games, and then represented Finland U16 internationally, recording one point in 12 games.
Related: THW’s 2025 NHL Draft Guide
In 2023-24, Saari returned to Jokerit U18 and received a promotion to the U20 level. He scored a total of four points in 23 U18 games and added an assist in nine playoff games. At the U20 level, he played 15 regular season games (2 assists) and one playoff game. Internationally, he fits in the Finnish U17 (including the World Hockey Challenge) and scores 3 points in 22 matches.
The 2024-25 season marks a step forward in responsibility. Saari played the entire season with Jokerit U20, recording 34 games with 4 and 17 points while also appearing in four playoff games. He made his debut with Jokerit’s senior team, scoring once in five games.
Internationally, Saari won Finland’s U18 team at the World Championships, where he posted three assists in five games and ended three assists. He recorded eight assists in 25 games in all U18 international games that season.
Despite its limited offensiveness, Saari’s game is based on structure, maturity and mastering a small amount of defensive details, but I’m still not sure how this will translate into North American hockey, where the game gets faster and the rink is smaller.
Julius Saari – NHL draft prediction
I think he ranks too high in some media. In my opinion, he is more of the fifth to seventh rounds. For a team looking for people to close, the value of steady is late and there are some fines to rise.
Other draft information
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“Saari’s average average of 18:12 toi is on par with Jokerit, with only 19 seconds of power playback and nearly 2 minutes of PK (which clearly reflects his role). Statistically, his game is built around defensive reliability and efficiency: He blocked the last game (0.92) (0.92) (0.92), won 62% of Puck Batts, and won 88% of Pastes precs precs precsive indsive of times persive 58% of pilots, which is 58% of 08% (58% both by/match), but his 6.2 pucks have recovered, with 1.23 per game highlighting his ability to kill matches and reset under international pressure, with his average of 21:22 on Hlinka on average TOI, in the U18 world at 15:00 and over 15:00. – Neutral zone
“Julius Saari is a physically powerful, state-of-the-art left-handed defender with international leadership experience and clear identity as a shutdown. He recorded a full season with Jokerit’s U20 team, where he was the first four minutes and free throws and free throw kills Mainstay, played 4 points in 4 points (3 goals, 1 goal) and scored 34 hits on +17 times, his 34 games and his overall effect in 34 games, and earned 34 names in 34 games. The role of Finland’s U18 team has proved his maturity, competitiveness and consistency in both the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup and the World U18 Championship.” – Neutral Zone
Advantages
- size
- ice skating
- Stop rushing
- Shooting blockage
- Win the hockey battle
- Clean up the ice hockey
Under construction/improvement
- Two-way game
- Body
- Fewer mistakes
NHL Potential
Saari could be the bottom-level, deep-deep defender in the NHL. More likely to be someone from the American Hockey League (AHL) who can bring solid time and kill penalties. He may not be able to adapt well to North American competitions – cross-country and faster speeds can be a challenge, but I may be wrong. He is a No. 2 fine killer who can clean up the puck and keep the structure, but he needs to adjust quickly.
We have to see if he goes to the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), the American Hockey League (USHL), goes directly to the NCAA, or jumps directly to the professional level. This decision could shape his development to a large extent.
Risk/Reward Analysis
Risk – 2.5/5, Reward – 3/5
Fantasy Hockey Potential
Offense – 4/10, Defense – 8/10
Awards/Achievements
- U16 Pohjola Camp All-Stars
- U18 SM-Sarja Champion
Interview/Link
Julius Saari Statistics
video
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