Hatakka suffered an injury in preseason that ultimately resulted in undergoing shoulder surgery. The 23-year-old had a legitimate shot of making the Devils out of training camp after Luke Hughes was announced out due to injury, but will now, unfortunately, be sidelined for the foreseeable future. In 12 games in 2023-24, he had two assists, 12 SOG and a +5 plus/minus while averaging just 14:39 TOI/GP.
New Jersey's defensive core continued to take injury hits on Thursday after it was announced Santeri Hatakka would be out "more than day-to-day" after leaving Thursday's preseason game. The 23-year-old had a legitimate shot of making the Devils out of training camp after Luke Hughes was announced out due to injury, but will now, unfortunately, be joining his fellow young defender. In 12 games in 2023-24, he had two assists, 12 SOG and a +5 plus/minus while averaging just 14:39 TOI/GP.
Hatakka played 12 games in his first season in New Jersey in 2023-24 and has signed a one-year, two-way contract extension on Tuesday. The 23-year-old was acquired in Febuary of 2023 in the blockbuster trade that brought Timo Meier to New Jersey and had two asssits, 12 SOG and a +5 plus/minus in 12 games played last season.
Hatakka was a healthy scratch for the Devils' last two games and was reassigned to Utica (AHL) on Monday. The 23-year-old picked up two assists during his 12-game showing with New Jersey and is expected to be replaced by the returning Jonas Sieganthaler (concussion).
John Marino (upper-body) will not play on Tuesday, allowing Hatakka to enter the Devils' lineup. Hatakka has played nine games with the Devils this season, tallying two points (0G / 2A) and a +6 plus/minus.
Hatakka played nine games with the Devils earlier this season, recording two assists, but has spent most of his season with the Utica Comets (AHL). The 23-year-old defenseman was a sixth-round pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft and has 17 points (4G / 13A) in 41 games with Utica this season.
With Brandon Smith being activated from the Injured Reserve on Tuesday, Santeri Hatakka was reassigned to Utica (AHL) as the odd man out. The 23-year-old made a strong impression in his first seven games with the Devils' this season, with two assists, eight SOG, two PIMs, and a +7 plus/minus. He will return to Utica, where he had 11 points (3G/8A) in 31 games before his call-up.
Hatakka was returned to Utica (AHL) for the All-Star break to get a few games under his belt but was returned to New Jersey on Monday and is expected to rejoin the team. The 23-year-old defenseman was a part of the Timo Meier deal on February 26th, 2023, and made his Devils' debut on January 22nd, 2024. He ahs an assist and a +5 plus/minus in three games thus far this season.
Hatakka has not played an NHL game since a nine-game stint with the San Jose Sharks in the 2021-22 season. The Sharks' sixth-round pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft has spent most of the last three seasons in the AHL, playing with the San Jose Baracuda and the Utica Comets, registering 23 points (5G / 18A) in 77 games.
With the Devils' placing Brendan Smith (sprained knee) on the Injured Reserve Thursday, Santeria Hatakka has been recalled to the Devils' for the first time this season. The 23-year-old defensemen has appeared in 28 games for Utica (AHL) this season, and had two goals, nine points, 22 PIMs and a -4 plus/minus. He previously last appeared in nine NHL games in 2021-22 with San Jose.
Hatakka appeared in nine games with the Sharks a season ago but missed most of this year due to injury. He's spent the entire season in the AHL, picking up two assists in eight games. He'll likely report to Binghamton (AHL).
Hatakka has been recalled to help replace Mario Ferraro, who is expected to miss 6-to-8 weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a fractured fibula. Hatakka appeared in seven games with the Sharks earlier in the season but has spent most of the year with the Barracuda, where he has three points (1G / 2A) in 20 games.
Hatakka was a healthy scratch in Colorado but will be back in the Sharks lineup in Minnesota. Hatakka will replace Radim Simek, who will be a healthy scratch.
