Ari Ahonen

Photo taken from nhl.com press photo. Reprinted without permission.

BORN: Jyvaskyla, Finland, February 6, 1981.
HEIGHT: 6'2"
WEIGHT: 187. pounds.
CATCHES: Left.

WEAKNESSES: Tall enough to cover most of the net standing up. Not easy to rattle, and has the temperament and demeanor of a number-one goalie.

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WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING:

"A big goaltender with quick reactions and fast reflexes. Possesses a very good glove hand and makes good use of his stick. Reads the play very well and knows where the puck is at all times. A very good competitor and a confident goalie. (The Sports Forecaster 1999-2000, p. 100)

"The Devils were nervous when Ahonen, 18, chose to play this season in the Finnish League against much older players. But the success of the young goalie proved that he made the right choice. Too much too soon is not always a positive thing," said Devils' director of scouting David Conte. "For an 18-year-old to accrue that much experience is not normal. He has played better than we expected." Neither a total stand-up goalie nor a flopper, Ahonen had the Devils excited because his style and size are similar to that of Martin Brodeur." (The Hockey News Future Watch 2000)

"A classic, stand-up goalie who is cool under pressure, Ahonen has developed his game against top European competition. Struggled somewhat in the second half of the season. Some in the Devils organization feel Ahonen is closer to the NHL than Jean-Francois Damphousse. However, a stint in Albany is not unlikely as the club would like him to adjust to the North American game." (The Sports Forecaster 2000-01, p. 89)

"A first team all-star at the World Junior Championship, Ahonen has a reputation as a big-save goalie. Goalie coach Jacques Caron worked with him in training camp and the Devils have received nothing but glowing reports about his mechanics. He may spend a season with Albany of the American League before coming up as an NHL backup. I don't think Marty (Brodeur) has to put his house up for sale yet," [New Jersey director of scouting David] Conte said, "but Ahonen is on track for a pro career."" (Rich Chere, The Hockey News Future Watch 2001)

"After a couple of seasons with HIFK Helsinki of the Finnish elite league, will this finally be the year Ahonen crosses the pond to play in North America? A 2.77 goals-against average an a .920 save percentage last season should make it tough to keep him in Finland. Ahonen was a bit of a surprise being taken in the first round of 2000 but it has become obvious that the Devils knew what they were doing. Ahonen has great size and exceptional fundamentals. (The Sports Forecaster 2001-02, p. 91)

"While both Scott Clemmensen and J-F Damphousse were given shots at backing up Martin Brodeur, the Devils continue to nurture Ahonen at Albany. The Finn impressed his coaches with his adjustment to the smaller ice surface, changing his game just enough to handle the aggressiveness around the net. "He's a natural. He's quick," [New Jersey GM Lou] Lamoriello said. "The things he does, you just don't teach."" (Rich Chere, The Hockey News Future Watch 2002)

"Ahonen was peppered with over 30 shots per game in his first year in North America as he played for the struggling Albany River Rats. He was solid in posting a .914 save percentage despite his 3.02 goals-against average. Ahonen is tabbed as the netminder of the future for New Jersey. (The Sports Forecaster 2002-03, p. 89)

"Although he was a starting goalie in the top Finnish league, the Devils believe Ahonen may have had more to learn in the AHL than some junior prospects. He has had to get used to the smaller rinks in the way he moves," said goalie coach Chris Terreri. Ahonen's development has been slowed slightly because the River Rats have struggled as a team, but his confidence continues to rise and his biggest obstacle from reaching the NHL remains the man in front of him (Brodeur). A butterfly goalie who relies on quickness, Ahonen has improved his stick skills." (Rich Chere, The Hockey News Future Watch 2003, p. 29)

"The Devils have been patient with the No. 27 overall pick in 1999. The 24-year-old Finn is a big goalie with a sensational glove and quick reflexes. He reads the play well, but has struggled with consistency in the AHL. The Devils see him eventually taking over for Brodeur, but not for a while." (The Sports Forecaster 2005-06, p. 98)

TRANSACTIONS:

DID YOU KNOW?

REGULAR SEASON STATISTICS:

YEAR	TEAM	LEAGUE	AGE	GP	MIN	W	L	T	OL	W%	GA	GAA	SA	SVPCT	ShO	G	A	PiM	S/60	UNI#	SOUT	GFA	S+/30	Z-SC	GD	GAR	SNW%	SNW	SNL	VAR	BAV	AVG	AAV
1997-98	JyP HT Jyvaskyla	FINLAND JR	16	31	1853						64	2.07
1998-99	JyP HT Jyvaskyla	FINLAND JR	17	24	1447						70	2.90			0
1999-00	HIFK Helsinki	FINLAND	18	24	1347	11	7	1	0	0.605	70	3.12			1
1999-00	HIFK Helsinki	FINLAND JR	18	11	658						22	2.01
2000-01	HIFK Helsinki	FINLAND	19	37	2101	18	13	4	0	0.571	97	2.77			2
2001-02	Albany River Rats	AHL	20	36	2106	6	22	6		0.265	106	3.02	1232	0.914	0	0	0	4	35.1	31			0.05	0.2	2.1	20.6	0.510	17	17
2002-03	Albany River Rats	AHL	21	38	2171	13	20	3		0.403	110	3.04	1076	0.898	1	0	0	8	29.7	31			-0.37	-1.4	-13.2	2.9	0.436	16	20
2002-03	New Jersey Devils	NHL	21	0	0	0	0	0			0		0		0	0	0	0		31
2003-04	New Jersey Devils	NHL	22	0	0	0	0	0			0		0		0	0	0	0		31
2003-04	Albany River Rats	AHL	22	50	3012	13	30	6		0.327	150	2.99	1524	0.902	2	0	0	8	30.4	31		2.10	-0.48	-2.3	-24.5	-1.7	0.412	20	29	1.07	48%	23%	29%
2004-05	Albany River Rats	AHL	23	38	2195	16	20		1	0.446	114	3.12	1270	0.910	4	0	2	44	34.7	31	1-1 (8/13)	2.49	-0.19	-0.8	-7.9	11.1	0.464	17	20	1.06	34%	30%	36%
2005-06	New Jersey Devils	NHL	24	0	0	0	0		0		0		0		0	0	0	0		31	0-0 (0/0)
2005-06	Albany River Rats	AHL	24	16	949	3	13		0	0.188	63	3.98	585	0.892	0	0	0	12	37.0	31	0-0 (0/0)	2.39	-0.36	-1.0	-7.0	1.8	0.441	7	9	0.97	28%	47%	25%
2006-07	Blues Espoo	FINLAND	25	5	308	1	2	2	0	0.400	13	2.53			0
2006-07	Jokerit Helsinki	FINLAND	25	20	1213	9	6	5	0	0.575	54	2.67			1
2007-08	Vastra Frolunda HC	SWEDEN	26	47	2740	25	19	3		0.564	115	2.52	1123	0.898	4	0	0	12	24.6	31			-0.32	-1.2	-12.0	4.8	0.445	21	26
2008-09	Vastra Frolunda HC	SWEDEN	27	14	503	4	4	0		0.500	24	2.86	211	0.886	1	0	0	0	25.1	31			-0.72	-1.2	-5.0	-1.9	0.384	3	5
2011-12	Magnitogorsk Metallurg	KHL	30	28	1581	19	8	1		0.696	57	2.16	803	0.929	3	0	2	2	30.5	30			0.38	1.3	10.2	22.2	0.582	16	12
2012-13	Magnitogorsk Metallurg	KHL	31	40	2386	20	13	6		0.590	81	2.04	1068	0.924	4	0	0	0	26.9	30			0.23	0.9	8.3	24.3	0.548	21	18
2013-14	Astana Barys	KHL	32	36	2085	19	12	5		0.597	88	2.53	1020	0.914	2	0	1	0	29.4	30			-0.21	-0.8	-7.3	8.0	0.457	16	20
2014-15	Admiral Vladivostok	KHL	33	5	254	1	4		0	0.200	21	4.97	130	0.838	0	0	0	0	30.8	60			-2.31	-3.2	-10.0	-8.1	0.215	1	4
		NHL TOTALS		0	0	0	0	0	0		0		0		0	0	0	0			0-0 (0/0)				0.0	0.0		0	0

POSTSEASON STATISTICS:

YEAR	TEAM	LEAGUE	AGE	GP	MIN	W	L	W%	GA	GAA	SA	SVPCT	ShO	G	A	PiM	S/60	UNI#	S+/30	Z-SC	GD	GAR	SNW%	SNW	SNL
1999-00	HIFK Helsinki	FINLAND	18	2	119	0	2	0.000	7	3.53			0
2000-01	HIFK Helsinki	FINLAND	19	5	395	2	3	0.400	9	1.37			1
2007-08	Vastra Frolunda HC	SWEDEN	26	7	412				17	2.48	185	0.908	1	0	0	0	27.0	31	-0.02	0.0	-0.1	2.6	0.496
2008-09	Vastra Frolunda HC	SWEDEN	27	2	23				0	0.00	5	1.000	0				13.0	31	2.26	0.6	0.4	0.5	1.000
2011-12	Magnitogorsk Metallurg	KHL	30	12	677	5	7	0.417	32	2.84	375	0.915	1	0	0	0	33.2	30	-0.39	-1.0	-4.9	0.7	0.418	5	7
2012-13	Magnitogorsk Metallurg	KHL	31	5	259	2	3	0.400	11	2.55	128	0.914	0	0	0	0	29.6	30	-0.33	-0.5	-1.4	0.5	0.433	2	3
2013-14	Astana Barys	KHL	32	1	67	0	0		2	1.79	35	0.943	0	0	0	0	31.3	30	0.62	0.5	0.7	1.3	0.650	0	0

NHL GAME LOGS:

DATE	DEC	SCORE	OT	SOUT	OPP	LOC	GOALTENDERS
	Selected by New Jersey Devils in National Hockey League entry draft, June 26, 1999.
01/15/2003		5-0		/	NY Islanders	Home	Osgood
02/25/2003		3-3	OT	/	NY Rangers	Home	Dunham
04/06/2003		2-2	OT	/	Buffalo	Road	Noronen
12/10/2003		1-0	OT	/	NY Islanders	Home	Snow
12/12/2003		3-3	OT	/	Philadelphia	Home	Hackett
12/13/2003		2-0		/	Philadelphia	Road	Hackett
12/29/2003		1-3		/	NY Islanders	Road	Snow
01/01/2004		2-2	OT	/	Washington	Road	Kolzig
01/03/2004		2-3		/	Nashville	Road	Vokoun
01/05/2004		3-2	OT	/	Edmonton	Home	Salo
01/07/2004		2-4		/	Pittsburgh	Home	Aubin
01/09/2004		1-4		/	Tampa Bay	Home	Grahame
01/10/2004		1-0		/	Toronto	Road	Belfour
10/28/2005		3-2		/	Buffalo	Home	Miller
10/29/2005		5-4	SO	/	Boston	Road	Toivonen
11/01/2005		3-4	OT	/	Pittsburgh	Home	Caron
11/03/2005		2-4		/	NY Rangers	Home	Weekes
11/05/2005		2-3	SO	/	NY Rangers	Road	Weekes
11/08/2005		1-4		/	NY Islanders	Home	DiPietro

Game logs have been compiled using the best information that I can find; for a detailed list of known concerns, please click here. I am always looking for assistance in making these more accurate, and welcome your help. For the 1983-84 season and prior, one of my key sources was the Hockey Summary Project, a tremendous resource and one of the best data collections on the Internet. In return, I have attempted to make these data better where possible.

AHL GAME LOGS:

DATE	DEC	MIN	SEC	SAVES	SHOTS	SCORE	OT	SOUT	OPP	LOC	GOALTENDERS	SUBSTITUTION
	Started 2003-04 AHL season with Albany River Rats.
11/08/2003	L	58	24	32	36	3-4		/	Lowell	Road	Desrochers
11/15/2003	W	60		25	28	4-3		/	Binghamton	Road	Emery
11/19/2003	L	59	57	34	37	1-4		/	Hershey	Home	Budaj
11/21/2003	W	60		25	27	4-2		/	Springfield	Road	Pelletier
11/22/2003	L	58	55	22	25	1-3		/	Binghamton	Home	Thompson
11/26/2003	W	60		40	41	2-1		/	Hershey	Road	Budaj
11/29/2003	L	60		24	28	0-4		/	Philadelphia	Home	Niittymaki
11/30/2003	W	60		17	19	3-2		/	Providence	Road	Toivonen
12/03/2003	L	64	54	25	28	2-3	OT	/	Providence	Home	Thomas
12/05/2003	T	65		39	40	1-1	OT	/	Bridgeport	Home	Dubielewicz
12/19/2003	W	60		18	20	3-2		/	Lowell	Home	Sabourin
12/20/2003	L	60		26	32	2-6		/	Wilkes-Barre	Road	Brochu, Chiodo
12/27/2003	W	60		30	32	3-2		/	Binghamton	Home	Thompson
12/28/2003	L	61	35	29	32	2-3	OT	/	Portland	Road	Stana
01/16/2004	L	62	16	23	27	3-4	OT	/	Binghamton	Road	Thompson
01/17/2004	L	60		17	22	0-5		/	Hamilton	Home	Michaud
01/22/2004	W	60		22	23	2-1		/	Bridgeport	Home	Dubielewicz
01/23/2004	W	60		29	29	3-0		/	Binghamton	Home	Thompson
01/24/2004	L	59	8	28	29	0-1		/	Bridgeport	Road	Dubielewicz
01/28/2004	T	65		35	37	2-2	OT	/	Bridgeport	Road	Dubielewicz
01/30/2004	L	60		18	24	0-6		/	Binghamton	Home	Emery, Thompson
01/31/2004	L	62	15	15	18	2-3	OT	/	Rochester	Home	Miller
02/04/2004	L	58	3	23	27	2-5		/	Hershey	Road	Lawson
02/06/2004	L	60		21	26	2-5		/	Philadelphia	Road	Hackett
02/07/2004	T	65		21	22	1-1	OT	/	Bridgeport	Road	Kochan
02/11/2004	T	65		35	37	2-2	OT	/	Portland	Home	Yeats
02/13/2004	W	63	20	34	39	6-5	OT	/	Hershey	Home	Lawson, Budaj
02/15/2004	L	58	42	41	45	3-5		/	Springfield	Road	LeNeveu
02/18/2004	L	59	35	30	33	2-4		/	Norfolk	Home	Leighton
02/21/2004	W	60		28	28	2-0		/	Rochester	Road	Miller
02/22/2004	T	65		39	41	2-2	OT	/	Hamilton	Road	Fichaud
02/24/2004	T	65		27	29	2-2	OT	/	Manitoba	Road	Auld
02/25/2004	L	62	40	39	42	2-3	OT	/	Manitoba	Road	Auld
02/27/2004	L	60		25	28	1-3		/	Bridgeport	Home	Kochan
03/03/2004	W	60		47	48	7-1		/	Springfield	Home	Bierk, Dickie
03/05/2004	L	59	53	17	20	1-4		/	Norfolk	Road	Anderson
03/07/2004	L	60		26	31	3-5		/	Philadelphia	Road	Niittymaki
03/08/2004	L	60		29	35	1-6		/	Philadelphia	Road	Niittymaki
03/10/2004	L	64	53	28	32	3-4	OT	/	Syracuse	Home	Leclaire
03/12/2004	L	60		33	38	2-5		/	Syracuse	Road	Leclaire
03/16/2004	L	60		19	22	0-3		/	Manitoba	Home	Auld
03/19/2004	L	59	55	32	37	4-5		/	Binghamton	Road	Emery
03/21/2004	W	60		22	23	3-1		/	Bridgeport	Home	Dubielewicz
03/27/2004	L	59	8	32	34	1-2		/	Wilkes-Barre	Road	Chiodo
03/28/2004	W	60		39	41	4-2		/	Hershey	Home	Budaj
03/31/2004	L	59	35	28	32	3-5		/	Hartford	Road	LaBarbera
04/02/2004	L	60		23	26	0-3		/	Wilkes-Barre	Road	Brochu
04/04/2004	L	60		26	32	0-6		/	Bridgeport	Road	Stirling
04/07/2004	L	59	18	28	32	2-4		/	Hershey	Home	Budaj
04/10/2004	-	29	24	9	10	6-3		/	Syracuse	Home	Goehring	Replaced by Kostur
10/15/2004	W	60		21	23	6-2		/	Binghamton	Home	Emery, Thompson
10/22/2004	W	60		29	30	5-1		/	Bridgeport	Home	Kochan
11/05/2004	W	65		40	42	3-2	SO	6/9	Binghamton	Road	Emery
11/07/2004	L	59	25	38	41	1-3		/	Lowell	Road	Ward
11/12/2004	L	59	38	20	24	2-4		/	Norfolk	Home	Anderson
11/19/2004	L	31	18	12	16	2-4		/	Hershey	Home	Budaj	Replaced by Clemmensen
11/21/2004	L	60	48	38	42	3-4	OT	/	Hershey	Road	Lawson
11/27/2004	L	61	12	26	29	2-3	OT	/	Syracuse	Home	Goehring
12/03/2004	L	58	54	21	22	0-1		/	Syracuse	Home	Goehring
12/08/2004	L	64	47	21	25	4-5	SO	2/4	Providence	Home	Rudkowsky
12/17/2004	L	59	26	34	37	2-4		/	Hershey	Road	Budaj
12/22/2004	L	60		40	48	2-8		/	Binghamton	Road	Thompson
12/26/2004	L	60		29	35	2-6		/	Binghamton	Road	Thompson
12/31/2004	L	58	19	27	30	1-3		/	Rochester	Road	Askey
01/05/2005	L	58	42	33	38	3-5		/	Hershey	Home	Budaj
01/14/2005	W	59	45	36	37	5-1		/	Hartford	Home	LaBarbera, Valiquette
01/19/2005	L	60		35	39	0-4		/	Rochester	Home	Askey
01/22/2005	L	60		24	30	2-6		/	Manchester	Home	Garon
01/26/2005	W	61	11	37	40	4-3	OT	/	Worcester	Home	Sanford
01/29/2005	W	60		34	34	4-0		/	Binghamton	Road	Thompson
02/05/2005	W	60		53	55	3-2		/	Worcester	Road	Sanford, Beckford-Tseu
02/09/2005	W	60		24	25	3-1		/	Springfield	Home	Eklund
02/12/2005	L	49	42	30	35	0-7		/	Binghamton	Home	Emery, Thompson	Replaced by Clemmensen
02/19/2005	W	60		46	49	6-3		/	Hamilton	Home	Ellis, Danis
02/25/2005	L	59	3	26	30	3-5		/	Binghamton	Home	Emery
02/27/2005	L	59	58	30	33	0-3		/	Hershey	Road	Budaj
03/05/2005	L	60		42	47	2-5		/	Binghamton	Road	Thompson
03/11/2005	L	59	0	34	40	5-6		/	Worcester	Home	Bacashihua
03/13/2005	L	38	54	25	28	2-3		/	Providence	Road	Madden, Underhill	Replaced by Clemmensen
03/19/2005	W	60		27	27	1-0		/	Springfield	Road	Pelletier
03/26/2005	W	60		25	25	1-0		/	Springfield	Home	Eklund
04/01/2005	W	60		29	30	2-1		/	Wilkes-Barre	Home	Sabourin
04/03/2005	W	60		40	42	6-2		/	Worcester	Road	Bacashihua, Sanford
04/06/2005	W	60		18	20	3-2		/	Bridgeport	Road	Dubielewicz
04/09/2005	W	59	54	37	37	2-0		/	Norfolk	Road	Anderson
04/13/2005	W	60		29	32	5-3		/	Bridgeport	Home	Dubielewicz
04/16/2005	L	59	57	26	30	0-4		/	Philadelphia	Home	Niittymaki
04/17/2005	-	30	20	20	23	1-6		/	Lowell	Road	Ward	Replaced Clemmensen
10/08/2005	L	58	16	47	52	3-5		/	Syracuse	Road	Prusek
10/15/2005	W	60		26	28	3-2		/	Philadelphia	Home	Storr
10/16/2005	L	58	36	26	29	2-4		/	Portland	Road	Marsters
10/22/2005	W	60		41	45	6-4		/	Lowell	Home	Kolesnik
11/11/2005	L	60		24	30	4-6		/	Hershey	Home	Daubenspeck
11/16/2005	L	59	26	32	35	1-4		/	Lowell	Road	Kolesnik
11/18/2005	L	60		27	32	3-5		/	Springfield	Road	Coleman
11/23/2005	L	60		26	33	2-7		/	Hartford	Road	Gherson
12/03/2005	L	59	11	42	44	1-2		/	Binghamton	Home	Guard
12/10/2005	L	59	9	31	33	1-2		/	Providence	Home	Thomas
03/18/2006	L	57	23	36	38	1-2		/	Hershey	Road	Cassivi
03/22/2006	L	59	13	43	48	3-5		/	Binghamton	Road	Guard
04/01/2006	L	60		38	46	1-8		/	Portland	Home	Hurme
04/08/2006	L	59	33	29	31	0-2		/	Manchester	Road	Hauser
04/12/2006	L	59	50	34	37	2-3		/	Hartford	Home	Montoya
04/16/2006	W	60		20	24	5-4		/	Binghamton	Road	Guard

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