Florida Panthers‘ 10th year net minder Harri Sateri(29) was wooed to return to North American pro hockey after three strong seasons with Vitayz Podolsk on a 1-year, 2-way deal.
He played 132 KHL games posting a 2.62 GAA and .923 SV% from 2014-2017 after leaving San Jose Sharks‘ prospect system.
Starting a new campaign with affiliate Springfield Thunderbirds, he’s posted a 5-6 record in 12 AHL games on a team that struggled early but was recalled just after the new year.
He struggled early with three losses in his first ever big league starts but was continued to be given opportunities and has rebounded nicely.
In his last three contests, he’s back stopped three wins, allowing only 5 goals with a .945 SV% and was voted the NHL 2nd star of the week.
If the 28-year old can continue to excel serving as main back up, there’s little doubt he’ll be in line for a multi-year extension to stay.
Harri Sateri (35)
San Jose Sharks‘ 6th year Finnish-born goaltender Harri Sateri(35) heading into his second restricted free agency decides it’s time to leave and signs a 1-year deal in the KHL with Vityaz Podolsk for 2014/2015.
It comes after 4 seasons tending net for minor league affiliate Worcester Sharks.
He played a regular season high 45 AHL games last season, winning a career best 18 but also losing a worst 24. His goals against average and save percentages also started slipping on a team that has struggled more often than not.
The 6’1″ 205 lbs. goalie played two seasons pro in his home country’s top league Liiga for Tappara before joining the Sharks‘ prospect system.
He’ll likely be qualified for another year to keep his North American playing rights but it seems likely that the 24-year old won’t be returning to these shores again.
Harri Sateri (35)
San Jose Sharks‘ rookie netminder Harri Sateri(35) got some unexpected time riding pine and playing in practices with the NHL team that drafted him in the 4th round of 2008 (#106 overall).
Late last season he joined their AHL affiliate Worcester Sharks and although he didn’t post the best stats, his play was mostly very impressive.
San Jose just reassigned him to Stockton Thunder of the ECHL. I think that’s mostly to keep him close, just in case.. .
10/19 Sateri gets reassigned to Worcester. Must mean the two starting goalies for San Jose are injury-free (for now).
Harri Sateri (35)
Finnish backstop Harri Sateri(35) is another in a long line of netminders the Worcester Sharks have brought in to stem the bleeding between the pipes since Alex Stalock went down with season-ending injury.
Sateri was chosen #106 overall in the 2008 draft by San Jose and put up some impressive numbers in a couple years of playing in Finland pro hockey.