Played seven games in Washington in his first season in North America.

2007-08
Appeared in seven games for Washington in five recalls, netting one assist and posting 12 PIM … Recorded 10 minutes or more of ice time in all seven games played … Skated career-best 16:22 vs. NJ (2/23) … Appeared in 55 games with Hershey (AHL), posting 45 points (4g-41a; fifth on roster) … Tied for ninth among AHL defensemen in points … Led the Bears with 41 assists … Led Hershey and ranked third in AHL with +29 rating … Had 11 multiple-point games, including three games with three points … Had a nine-game point-scoring streak from 1/20-2/14 (2g-14a) … Posted 13 points in a six-game span in February (2g-11a) … Had one assist in five playoff games for the Bears.

Career
2006-07: Limited to 26 games due to injury in his fourth season with Jokerit in the top professional league in Finland … Recorded 10 points (1g-9a) and 32 PIM … Tied for fourth among team defensemen in points … Registered four points (2g-2a) in 10 playoff games … Led Jokerit defensemen in playoff goals.
2005-06: Posted career highs in goals (8), assists (21) and points (29) in 56 games with Jokerit … Ranked second on the team in assists and third in points … Led all Jokerit defensemen in goals, assists and points … Ranked fourth in the league in scoring by a defenseman.
2004-05: Recorded 25 points (7g-18a) in 55 games for Jokerit … Shared the lead among team defensemen in scoring with Brian Campbell (CHI) … His 18 assists ranked fifth on the team and first among defensemen … Had eight points (1g-7a) in 12 playoff games.
2003-04: Played 53 games for Jokerit in his rookie season in the Finnish professional league … Posted seven points (3g-4a) and 20 PIM … Helped lead Finland to a bronze medal on home ice at the 2004 World Junior Championship.
2002-03: Played his first full season with Jokerit’s junior team.

International Career
Has made two international appearances for Finland.
2008: Skated in seven games at the World Championship, recording two points (1g-a).
2004: Won a bronze medal with Finland at the 2004 World Junior Championship, played in his home country … Posted eight points (4g-4a) in seven games … Shared the team lead in goals, ranked second in points (first among defensemen) and led the team with a +10 rating … Was named the tournament’s Best Defenseman and named to the All-Tournament Team.

NHL Transactions
Selected by Washington in the third round, 66th overall, in the 2004 Entry Draft.

Personal
Enjoys golfing, boating and playing soccer … First job was working at a radio station in Helsinki … Favorite hockey memory is scoring the overtime goal against the U.S. in the 2008 World Championship … The godson of Hockey Hall of Famer Jari Kurri.