University of Minnesota Athletics
Haula Signs with Nashville Predators
12/23/2020 11:33:00 AM | Men's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS – With the NHL set to begin play next month, Gopher Hockey alum Erik Haula has found a new home after signing a one-year, $1.75 million deal with the Nashville Predators on Wednesday.
A native of Pori, Finland, Haula is entering his eighth NHL season after previously skating with the Minnesota Wild, the Vegas Golden Knights, the Carolina Hurricanes and the Florida Panthers. He has helped his teams earn playoff berths in each of his seven seasons including a Stanley Cup final appearance with Vegas in 2018.
In 405 regular-season NHL games, the forward has tallied 175 career points (85 goals, 90 assists) while added 23 career points (10 goals, 13 assists) in 48 Stanley Cup playoff games. Selected by Vegas in the 2017 expansion draft, Haula proved worth the selection in the team's inaugural season with career highs for points (55), goals (29) and assists (26) before adding nine points in 20 games during the Golden Knights' impressive run to the Stanley Cup final. An injury limited Haula to just 15 games and seven points (two goals, five assists) in 2018-19 – the only season Haula did not skate in a playoff game although Vegas did earn a berth. He split the 2019-20 season between Carolina and Florida with 24 points (12 goals, 12 assists) in 48 games while helping Florida reach the Stanley Cup playoffs.
With the Gophers, Haula posted 124 points in 114 career games with 42 goals as the first Gopher since Ryan Potulny (2003-06) to finish his collegiate career with an average of more than a point a game. The forward led Minnesota in scoring each of the last two years as the Gophers earned two-straight MacNaughton cups as Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) regular-season champions and two NCAA tournament berths including the team's run to the Frozen Four in 2011-12.
The Pori, Finland native improved his offensive performance in each of his three seasons with Minnesota, starting with a 24-point freshman campaign in 2010-11. Haula's sophomore season saw the forward lead Minnesota in scoring with 49 points and a career-high 20 goals as the Gophers captured the team's first MacNaughton Cup since 2006-07 and returned to the NCAA Frozen Four for the 20th time in program history and the first time since 2005.
In his final season with the team, Haula served as an alternate captain and recorded Minnesota's first 50-point season since 2005-06, finishing the season with a career-best 51 points and 35 assists. An All-WCHA Second Team selection in 2012-13, Haula recorded 19 power-play points to spark the nation's best team on the advantage. Minnesota, which added a second-straight MacNaughton Cup in 2012-13, also led the nation in scoring offense during Haula's final two seasons with the program.
The Minnesota Wild selected Haula in the seventh round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft (182nd overall).
A native of Pori, Finland, Haula is entering his eighth NHL season after previously skating with the Minnesota Wild, the Vegas Golden Knights, the Carolina Hurricanes and the Florida Panthers. He has helped his teams earn playoff berths in each of his seven seasons including a Stanley Cup final appearance with Vegas in 2018.
In 405 regular-season NHL games, the forward has tallied 175 career points (85 goals, 90 assists) while added 23 career points (10 goals, 13 assists) in 48 Stanley Cup playoff games. Selected by Vegas in the 2017 expansion draft, Haula proved worth the selection in the team's inaugural season with career highs for points (55), goals (29) and assists (26) before adding nine points in 20 games during the Golden Knights' impressive run to the Stanley Cup final. An injury limited Haula to just 15 games and seven points (two goals, five assists) in 2018-19 – the only season Haula did not skate in a playoff game although Vegas did earn a berth. He split the 2019-20 season between Carolina and Florida with 24 points (12 goals, 12 assists) in 48 games while helping Florida reach the Stanley Cup playoffs.
With the Gophers, Haula posted 124 points in 114 career games with 42 goals as the first Gopher since Ryan Potulny (2003-06) to finish his collegiate career with an average of more than a point a game. The forward led Minnesota in scoring each of the last two years as the Gophers earned two-straight MacNaughton cups as Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) regular-season champions and two NCAA tournament berths including the team's run to the Frozen Four in 2011-12.
The Pori, Finland native improved his offensive performance in each of his three seasons with Minnesota, starting with a 24-point freshman campaign in 2010-11. Haula's sophomore season saw the forward lead Minnesota in scoring with 49 points and a career-high 20 goals as the Gophers captured the team's first MacNaughton Cup since 2006-07 and returned to the NCAA Frozen Four for the 20th time in program history and the first time since 2005.
In his final season with the team, Haula served as an alternate captain and recorded Minnesota's first 50-point season since 2005-06, finishing the season with a career-best 51 points and 35 assists. An All-WCHA Second Team selection in 2012-13, Haula recorded 19 power-play points to spark the nation's best team on the advantage. Minnesota, which added a second-straight MacNaughton Cup in 2012-13, also led the nation in scoring offense during Haula's final two seasons with the program.
The Minnesota Wild selected Haula in the seventh round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft (182nd overall).
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