When the New Jersey Devils acquired Santeri Hatakka as part of the Timo Meier trade, many considered the Finnish defenseman as just a throw in to even out the NHL’s contract limit with multiple players going each way. That’s because it’s a rarity that a sixth-round pick pans out and develops into an NHL player. Yet, Hatakka — the 23-year-old defenseman who was drafted by the San Jose Sharks in 2019 — has continually worked his way up through the professional hockey ranks. Now, the defenseman has his sights set on a full-time NHL role in the 2024-25 season with the Devils.
The Devils inked Hatakka to a one-year, two-way deal in late July. He was at his home in Finland when the offer came through via email, explaining he was just excited to just put pen to paper.
Despite receiving a two-way deal, Hatakka explained he believes himself ready for a full-time NHL role.
Note: Conversation has been lightly edited for clarity.
“Last year was pretty good,” Hatakka said to New Jersey Hockey Now via phone interview. “To get those 12 games in, what I got to see again after the tough year in 2022-23, I think last year helped me a lot to figure out my game again and see where I am against these top NHL guys.”
Hatakka is referring to an injury he suffered in his time with the San Jose Sharks. It was an undisclosed, major upper-body injury in the 2022-23 season that limited the defenseman to just eight games in the AHL with the San Jose Barracuda.
He was then good to go by mid-July last summer when the Devils held their development camp. It was then that Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald knew he traded for more than just Timo Meier.
“I just texted my brother and asked, ‘Why did you give us this guy?’” Fitzgerald said to New Jersey Hockey Now last summer. “He looks good!”
Before his time with the Devils, the Sharks recalled Hatakka for a cup of coffee in the 2021-22 season, playing nine games and registering two assists. After missing most of 2022-23, his next time on NHL ice was when the Devils needed bodies in January 2024, almost two years later.
It’s a small sample, but Hatakka proved that his simple approach to the game is quite effective. As a two-way defenseman, Hatakka showed adequate NHL skating ability that helps keep the opposition in front of him to defend well and clear pucks from danger. He can skate the puck well in transition, too, and help limit chances from his opponents.
With the Utica Comets, Hatakka served as one of the AHL affiliates top-pairing defenseman, recording five goals and 20 points in 48 games.
When asked if there was an area of his game he was told to work on in the summer, Hatakka explained the Devils prefer to see him to sharpen his strengths.
“When we talked in exit meetings, and what we have discussed over the summer, they’ve been happy with what I have done,” Hatakka said. “They told me to just keep going with what I’m doing. And that’s what I have worked on all summer, on and off the ice.”
Hatakka is training with a group of NHLers this summer. However, he disclosed he’s spending most of his time training in the gym and on the ice with Dallas Stars superstar defenseman, Miro Heiskanen.
While at home in Finland, Hatakka watched the Devils sign multiple defenseman this summer such as Brett Pesce and Brenden Dillon. While he welcomes the team strengthening itself by the acquisitions, Hatakka also explained seeing so many defensemen signed motivated him to train even harder this summer.
“It gives me a little boost when you see those guys coming,” Hatakka said. “Guys are heading to Jersey, and I see that there’s a lot of very good defenseman right now. So, of course, it gives me a boost because now I have to work even harder and give 100% in every practice [or training session] in the summer. I think that was a good boost for me.”
The Devils’ season starts a bit earlier than most of the NHL in 2024-25. That’s because the Devils will head to the Czech Republic to play the Buffalo Sabres in the NHL’s Global Series in Prague to open the regular season.
Hatakka explained it’s a goal of his to take part in the Global Series.
“[I’m] trying to make the team,” explained Hatakka. “I want to be on the plane heading to Prague. That’s my goal. To be on that plane heading to Prague.
“The biggest interest for me this season is to get as many NHL games I possibly can get. I don’t put any points or anything like that as the goal. [NHL games] are coming if I play well.”
The Devils’ defense is far deeper — at least on paper — than it was in 2023-24. Not only does Hatakka have to compete with the newcomers acquired this summer, but he’ll also have to beat rookie Seamus Casey who is embracing the challenge ahead of him as well.
However, that hasn’t put a dent in Hatakka’s confidence to win a job on the Devils’ blue line in 2024-25.
Said Hatakka, “I think I have taken pretty good steps this summer. I’m pretty confident I’m going to be a full-time NHLer next year.”
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James is the New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on Sportsnaut and a member of … More about James Nichols