Erik Haula
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Erik Haula (born 23 March 1991) is a Finnish professional
ice hockey Ice hockey (or simply hockey in North America) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an Ice rink, ice skating rink with Ice hockey rink, lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. Tw ...
forward for the
Nashville Predators The Nashville Predators (colloquially referred to as the Preds) are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. The Predators compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Divisio ...
of the
National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...
(NHL). He has previously played for the
Minnesota Wild The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Wild compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Confer ...
,
Vegas Golden Knights The Vegas Golden Knights are a professional ice hockey team based in the Las Vegas Valley, Las Vegas metropolitan area. The Golden Knights compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division ...
,
Carolina Hurricanes The Carolina Hurricanes (colloquially known as the Canes) are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Hurricanes compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Con ...
,
Florida Panthers The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in the Miami metropolitan area. The Panthers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The team initially played it ...
,
Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The t ...
, and
New Jersey Devils The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The club w ...
. Haula was selected by the Wild in the seventh round, 182nd overall, of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.


Playing career


Junior

Erik Haula started playing ice hockey at his local club HC Ässät Pori. During the 2006–07 season, Haula scored 43 points in 29 games for Ässät U18. The following season he played with the Ässät U20 team in the U20 SM-sarja, scoring 22 points in 40 games. Ässät lost the finals of the U20 SM-sarja to
KalPa Kalevan Pallo (KalPa) is a professional ice hockey team which competes in the Finnish Liiga. They play in Kuopio, Finland at the Niiralan monttu, Olvi Areena. Team history Established in 1929 as ''Sortavalan Palloseura'' in Sortavala, the club r ...
. Haula did not get playing time in Ässät's
SM-liiga The Liiga, colloquially called the Finnish Elite League in English or FM-ligan in Swedish, is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. The league comprises 16 teams from all around Finland with relegation and promotion between the Mest ...
lineup.


Amateur

Haula played the 2008–09 hockey season with
Shattuck-Saint Mary's Shattuck-St. Mary's (also known as Shattuck-St. Mary's School, Shattuck, or simply SSM) is a coeducational Episcopal-affiliated boarding school in the city of Faribault, Minnesota. History Established in 1858 as an Episcopal mission scho ...
in Faribault,
Minnesota Minnesota ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Upper Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario to the north and east and by the U.S. states of Wisconsin to the east, Iowa to the so ...
. There he tallied 24 goals and 55 assists for 79 points in 49 games played. In March 2009, Haula committed to the
University of Minnesota The University of Minnesota Twin Cities (historically known as University of Minnesota) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint ...
. He would be only the second player born outside of
North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere, Northern and Western Hemisphere, Western hemispheres. North America is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South Ameri ...
to play for the Gophers, following future Wild teammate
Thomas Vanek Thomas Vanek (born 19 January 1984) is an Austrian former professional ice hockey winger who played fourteen seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Buffalo Sabres, Columbus Blue Jackets, Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers, Minnes ...
of
Austria Austria, formally the Republic of Austria, is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine Federal states of Austria, states, of which the capital Vienna is the List of largest cities in Aust ...
. Three months later, on 27 June 2009, Haula was drafted by the
Minnesota Wild The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Wild compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Confer ...
in the seventh round, 182nd overall, at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. Before attending the University of Minnesota, however, Haula first played at the junior level in the
United States Hockey League The United States Hockey League (USHL) is the top junior ice hockey league sanctioned by USA Hockey. The league consists of 16 active teams located in the Midwestern United States and Great Plains, for players between the ages of 16 and 21. Th ...
(USHL) with the
Omaha Lancers The Omaha Lancers are a Junior ice hockey#Tier I, Tier I junior ice hockey team and are members of the Western Conference of the United States Hockey League (USHL). Founded in 1986, the Lancers play at the Liberty First Credit Union Arena in Ra ...
for the 2009–10 season while he attended Daniel J. Gross Catholic High School. His 28 goals and 44 assists with a plus-minus rating of +36 helped lead the Lancers to the Western Division finals. In his sole USHL season, he was named to the All-Star and All-Rookie teams. After leaving the USHL, Haula totaled 42 goals, 82 assists and 124 points in 114 games during three seasons of
college ice hockey College ice hockey is played principally in the United States and Canada, though leagues exist outside North America. In the United States, competitive "college hockey" refers to ice hockey played between colleges and universities within the go ...
with the Gophers. He then decided to forgo his senior year and final season of eligibility to sign professionally with the Wild.


Professional


Minnesota Wild

On 7 April 2013, the
Minnesota Wild The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Wild compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Confer ...
signed Haula to an entry-level contract. During the 2013–14 season on 29 November 2013, the Wild recalled Haula from the
Iowa Wild The Iowa Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in Des Moines, Iowa. They are the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Wild play their home games at Wells Fargo Arena. The ...
of the
American Hockey League The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league in North America that serves as the primary developmental league of the National Hockey League (NHL). The league comprises 32 teams, with 26 in the United States and 6 in Cana ...
(AHL) to make his NHL debut, where he scored first NHL point, an assist, and he was named the game's third star in a 3–1 loss to the
Colorado Avalanche The Colorado Avalanche (colloquially known as the Avs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver. The Avalanche compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Con ...
. On 9 December, Haula was reassigned to Iowa. In his return to Minnesota, on 18 January 2014, Haula scored his first career NHL goal against the
Dallas Stars The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas. The Stars compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The Stars ...
in the first period. During
2014 Stanley Cup playoffs The 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs was the playoff tournament of the National Hockey League (NHL) for the 2013–14 season. They began on April 16, 2014, and ended June 13, 2014, when the Los Angeles Kings defeated the New York Rangers four games t ...
, he scored four goals and three assists in 13 playoff games. Following the
2014–15 NHL season The 2014–15 NHL season was the 98th season of operation (97th season of play) of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Phoenix Coyotes changed their name to the Arizona Coyotes prior to the season. The Los Angeles Kings became the first team ...
Haula became a restricted free agent under the
NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement The NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is the basic contract between the National Hockey League (NHL) (32 team owners and NHL commissioner) and the NHL Players' Association (NHLPA), designed to be arrived at through the typical labour–ma ...
. The Minnesota Wild made him a
qualifying offer A restricted free agent (RFA) is a type of free agent in some sports leagues, such as the National Football League (NFL), National Hockey League (NHL), and National Basketball Association (NBA). Such players have special restrictions on the term ...
to retain his NHL rights and, on 27 July 2015, Haula filed for Salary Arbitration. The 2015–16 season saw a breakout year for Haula, as he set NHL personal bests in goals, assists, and points, more than doubling his previous highs in all three categories. He centered Minnesota's third line with
Nino Niederreiter Nino Niederreiter (born 8 September 1992) is a Swiss professional ice hockey winger for the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected fifth overall by the New York Islanders in the 2010 NHL entry draft, making him the h ...
and
Jason Pominville Jason John Pominville (born November 30, 1982) is a Canadian- American former professional ice hockey right winger. He played for the Buffalo Sabres and the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL). Playing career Amateur As a youth ...
, quickly becoming Minnesota's most effective line offensively as well as acting as a shutdown line against the league's best.


Vegas Golden Knights

At the completion of his fourth season with the Wild in 2016–17, as a restricted free agent Haula was left exposed for the
2017 NHL Expansion Draft The 2017 NHL expansion draft was an expansion draft conducted by the National Hockey League on June 18–20, 2017 to fill the roster of the league's expansion team for the 2017–18 season, the Vegas Golden Knights. The team's selections were an ...
. After agreeing to a three-year, $8.25 million deal with the
Vegas Golden Knights The Vegas Golden Knights are a professional ice hockey team based in the Las Vegas Valley, Las Vegas metropolitan area. The Golden Knights compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division ...
, Haula was Minnesota's required selection for the draft on 21 June 2017. In exchange for selecting Haula, the Knights received prospect
Alex Tuch Alex Daniel Tuch ( ; born May 10, 1996) is an American professional ice hockey forward and alternate captain for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the first round, 18th overall, by the Minnesota Wild in ...
and sent a conditional third-round pick in 2018 to the Wild. When speaking of his new team, Haula said: "Nothing has happened n Vegasbefore. Everything is new. It's a great opportunity for everybody, so you just start building from there...I'm really excited for this opportunity in my career." However, on 14 October, Haula suffered a lower-body injury and was expected to miss at least one week. After missing four games, he returned to the Golden Knights lineup on 27 October for a contest against the
Colorado Avalanche The Colorado Avalanche (colloquially known as the Avs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver. The Avalanche compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Con ...
. Upon returning to the Golden Knights, Haula was moved around the lineup and centered a line between
David Perron David Perron (born May 28, 1988) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL). Growing up in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Perron played his junior hockey for the Lewiston Maineiacs of the Queb ...
and James Neal, resulting in an increased output. During the month of December, Haula and teammate William Karlsson each recorded seven goals, which tied for the eighth-most in the league. On 1 February, Haula scored a goal to help the Golden Knights set a record for most wins by an NHL team in its inaugural season. He ended the regular season with a career-high 29 goals for 55 points through 76 games. Following his career-high regular season, Haula and the Golden Knights faced off against the
Los Angeles Kings The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles. The Kings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. ...
in the first round of the
2018 Stanley Cup playoffs The 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs was the playoff tournament of the National Hockey League (NHL) for the 2017–18 season. The playoffs began on April 11, 2018, after the regular season, and they concluded on June 7, 2018, with the Washington Capi ...
. During Game 1, Haula ended the longest game in the franchise's history by scoring the second overtime game winning goal to give the Golden Knights a 2–1 win over the Kings. The Golden Knights eventually swept the Kings in four games to qualify for the second round. During Game 1 against the
San Jose Sharks The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California. The Sharks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Con ...
, Haula, Cody Eakin, and Jonathan Marchessault all scored goals within 1:31 of each other in the first period. The Golden Knights eventually beat the Sharks in six games to advance to the Western Conference Final, where they beat the
Winnipeg Jets The Winnipeg Jets are a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg. The Jets compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The te ...
in five games. Haula returned to the Golden Knights for the 2018–19 season without his previous linemates, Perron and Neal. As a result, Haula was moved to the wing position on the teams' second line with Max Pacioretty and center
Paul Stastny Paul Stastny (; ) (born December 27, 1985) is a Canadian-American former professional ice hockey center who played 17 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Colorado Avalanche, St. Louis Blues, Winnipeg Jets, Vegas Golden Knights, ...
. While playing on this line, he sustained a right leg injury when he was hit by
Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. The Maple Leafs compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the A ...
forward
Patrick Marleau Patrick Denis Marleau (born September 15, 1979) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey Forward (ice hockey), forward. With 1,779 NHL games played, he is the List of NHL players with 1,000 games played#1,500 or more games played, all-time l ...
and was expected to miss three games. At the time of the injury, Haula had recorded two goals and five assists in 15 games. However, it was later revealed he would need a few months to recover and was placed on injured reserve. In December 2018, Haula underwent surgery on his right knee.


Carolina Hurricanes

On 26 June 2019, Haula was traded by the Golden Knights to the
Carolina Hurricanes The Carolina Hurricanes (colloquially known as the Canes) are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Hurricanes compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Con ...
in exchange for prospect Nicolas Roy and a conditional fifth-round draft pick. Haula then started the 2019–20 season with eight points through nine games and was praised by teammate Jordan Martinook as being a "perfect fit". By November, Haula had tallied 11 points in 16 games to place fourth on the Hurricanes in goals before missing four games with a lower body injury. Upon returning to the lineup, he centered Brock McGinn and Brian Gibbons on the team's fourth line. He returned for two games before being named out indefinitely on 18 November due to a knee injury. Haula subsequently missed 15 games before returning on 21 December for a 4–2 loss to the
Florida Panthers The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in the Miami metropolitan area. The Panthers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The team initially played it ...
.


Florida Panthers

As an impending free agent, Haula was dealt at the NHL trade deadline by the Hurricanes along with Lucas Wallmark, Eetu Luostarinen and Chase Priskie to the
Florida Panthers The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in the Miami metropolitan area. The Panthers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The team initially played it ...
in exchange for Vincent Trocheck on 24 February 2020.


Nashville Predators

On 23 December 2020, approaching the delayed 2020–21 season, Haula signed as a free agent with the
Nashville Predators The Nashville Predators (colloquially referred to as the Preds) are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. The Predators compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Divisio ...
, agreeing to a one-year, $1.75 million contract. He recorded 9 goals and 21 points in 51 games of the shortened season.


Boston Bruins

As a free agent at the conclusion of his contract with the Predators, Haula was signed to a two-year, $4.75 million contract with the
Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The t ...
on 28 July 2021. During training and camp and the pre-season, Haula centered a line with Jake DeBrusk and
Nick Foligno Nicholas Foligno (; born October 31, 1987) is an American professional ice hockey left winger and captain for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the first round, 28th overall by the Ottawa Senators dur ...
. On 13 November 2021, Haula scored his first Bruins goal, as part of a road game 5–2 Bruins win against the
New Jersey Devils The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The club w ...
. Despite a slow start, Haula would finish the season with 18 goals and 44 points in 78 games, his best totals since 2017-18.


New Jersey Devils

On 13 July 2022, Haula was traded to the
New Jersey Devils The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The club w ...
in exchange for Pavel Zacha. On 23 June 2023, he signed a three-year, $9.45 million extension with the Devils.


Return to Nashville

On 18 June 2025, Haula was traded to the
Nashville Predators The Nashville Predators (colloquially referred to as the Preds) are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. The Predators compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Divisio ...
in exchange for Jeremy Hanzel and a 4th-round pick in
2025 So far, the year has seen the continuation of major armed conflicts, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Sudanese civil war (2023–present), Sudanese civil war, and the Gaza war. Internal crises in Bangladesh post-resignation v ...
.


Personal life

In his youth Haula attended the Swedish-speaking ''Björneborgs svenska samskola'', which is known for having multiple talented ice hockey players as students. Haula's father, Tomi, is an agent who represents ice hockey players.


Career statistics


Regular season and playoffs


International


Awards and honors


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Haula, Erik 1991 births Living people Boston Bruins players Carolina Hurricanes players Finnish expatriate ice hockey players in the United States Finnish ice hockey centres Florida Panthers players Houston Aeros (1994–2013) players Ice hockey people from Pori Iowa Wild players Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey players Minnesota Wild draft picks Minnesota Wild players Nashville Predators players New Jersey Devils players Omaha Lancers players Porin Ässät (men's ice hockey) players Vegas Golden Knights players 21st-century Finnish sportsmen 4 Nations Face-Off players