Reijo Ruotsalainen

Reijo Ruotsalainen
Born	(1960-04-01) April 1, 1960 Oulu, Finland
Occupation	Professional ice hockey defenceman (retired)
Years active	1975–1998
Known for	Two-time Stanley Cup champion, Finland's best defenceman twice

Reijo Ruotsalainen (born April 1, 1960) is a retired Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman. He earned the title of Finland's best defenceman twice and secured two Stanley Cup championships with the Edmonton Oilers in 1987 and 1990.

Playing career

Ruotsalainen launched his ice hockey journey with Kärpät, where he gained prominence as a skilled defenseman within their junior ranks. When Kärpät advanced to the SM-liiga for the 1977–78 season, he recorded 23 points across 30 games. During the 1979–80 season, Kärpät advanced to the SM-liiga Playoffs Finals but fell short against HIFK, ultimately claiming bronze after defeating TPS. The subsequent 1980–81 season marked a pivotal moment as Kärpät captured the championship by overcoming Tappara, prompting Ruotsalainen to transition to the National Hockey League (NHL).

In 1981, Ruotsalainen signed with the New York Rangers and tallied 56 points in 78 games during his rookie campaign. Initially paired alongside Barry Beck on defense, he was eventually shifted to a forward position. Coach Herb Brooks lauded him as the NHL’s finest skater, highlighting his speed and agility as compensations for his smaller build. During the 1984–85 NHL season, he led the Rangers in scoring with 73 points over 80 games and earned a spot in the 1986 NHL All-Star game. Following dissatisfaction with head coach Ted Sator’s approach, Ruotsalainen departed the Rangers after the 1985–86 season.

He then joined SC Bern in Switzerland’s Nationalliga A, where he amassed 53 points in just 35 contests before returning stateside. Late in the 1986–87 NHL season, Ruotsalainen signed with the Edmonton Oilers and played a role in their Stanley Cup triumph, securing his first championship ring.

Ruotsalainen spent a season competing for Sweden’s HV71, accumulating 32 points over 40 games, before returning to SC Bern for another productive year with 46 points in 36 outings.

He resumed his NHL career during the 1989–90 season by starting with the New Jersey Devils but was traded back to Edmonton after participating in 31 games. With the Oilers, he contributed to winning his second Stanley Cup during their fifth championship run.

Following this period, Ruotsalainen returned to SC Bern for three more seasons, notching 38 points in his initial campaign back. In 1993, he rejoined Kärpät—then competing in Finland's second-tier 1. Divisioona—adding six points over four games before transferring to Tappara of SM-liiga for the remainder of the 1993–94 season. There, he recorded six points in six regular-season matches and added three points across nine playoff games.

For the 1994–95 season, Ruotsalainen once again signed with SC Bern, contributing ten points in nineteen appearances. The following year saw him dividing time between Finland’s KalPa (eight points in sixteen games) and Switzerland’s ZSC Lions (fifteen points in eighteen games).

He wrapped up his playing career back at Kärpät from 1996 until retiring in 1998, compiling thirty-one points over two seasons in Finland’s second division. In honor of his impact, Kärpät retired his #10 jersey.

International play

Ruotsalainen represented Finland’s junior national team from 1975 through 1980, earning a bronze medal at the 1976 European Junior Championships and silver at the 1980 World Junior Championships—where he and Tomas Jonsson were recognized as top defencemen. His senior international appearances included participation at the IIHF World Championships in 1978, 1979, 1981, 1985, and 1989; a silver medal at the 1988 Winter Olympics; and competition in both the 1981 and 1987 Canada Cups.

Upon concluding his playing days, Ruotsalainen transitioned into coaching by serving as an assistant coach for the Miami Matadors of the ECHL during their sole season in 1998–99. He has been inducted into the Finnish Ice Hockey Hall of Fame.

Regular season and playoffs

[... NHL and other leagues stats continue similarly with no changes ...]

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1975–76	Kärpät	FIN.2		34	9	15	24	12		—	—	—	—	—
1976–77	Kärpät	FIN.2		42	25	41	66	14		—	—	—	—	—
1977–78	Kärpät	SM-l		30	9	14	23	4		—	—	—	—	—
1978–79	Kärpät	SM-l		36	14	8	22	47		—	—	—	—	—
1979–80	Kärpät	SM-l		30	15	13	28	31		6	5	2	7	0
1980–81	Kärpät	SM-l		34	28	23	51	28		12	7	4	11	6
SM-l totals				152	71	67	138	116		27	13	8	21	12
NHL totals				446	107	237	344	180		86	15	32	47	44
NDA totals				210	77	130	207	183		43	14	29	43	69

International

Year	Team	Event		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1976	"Finland"	"IIHF European Junior Championships (EJC)"		"3"	"1"	"0"	"1"	"0"
"1977 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships (1977)"	"Finland"	"World Junior Ice Hockey Championships (WJC)"		"7"	"2"	"4"	"6"	"6"
"1977 IIHF European U18 Championship (1977)"	"Finland"	"EJC"		"2"	"0"	"2"	"2"	"0"
"1978 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships (1978)"	"Finland"	"WJC"		"6"	"3"	"3"	"6"	"2"
"1978 World Ice Hockey Championships (1978)"	"Finland men's national ice hockey team"	"Ice Hockey World Championships (WC)"		"10"	"2"	"0"	"2"	"2"
"1979 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships (1979)"	"Finland"	"WJC"		"6"	"0"	"3"	"3"	"0"
"1979 World Ice Hockey Championships (1979)"	"Finland"	"WC"		"6"	"2"	"0"	"2"	"2"
"1980 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships (1980)"	"Finland"	"WJC "		"5 "	"4 "	"3 "	"7 "	"2 "
"1981 World Ice Hockey Championships (1981)"	"Finland"	"WC "		"8 "	"3 "	"2 "	"5 "	"4 "
1981 Canada Cup	Finland	Canada Cup		5	0	1	1	2
1985 World Ice Hockey Championships	Finland	WC		10	0	4	4	6
1987 Canada Cup	Finland	CC		4	0	0	0	2
Ice hockey at the 1988 Winter Olympics	Finland	OLY		8	4	2	6	0
1989 World Ice Hockey Championships	Finland	WC		10	2	4	6	6
Junior totals				29	10	15	25	10
Senior totals				61	13	13	26	24

Awards and distinctions

• Best defenceman award from the Directorate – 1980 World Junior Championships
• Kanada-malja titleholder – 1980–81 SM-liiga season
• Stanley Cup winner – during the 1986–87 and 1989–90 NHL seasons
• National League A champion – in the 1988–89, 1990–91, and 1991–92 Nationalliga A seasons
• Placed 82nd in the publication 100 Ranger Greats, ranking all-time New York Rangers players across the initial 82 seasons