Haula tallied 24 points (12g-12a) in 48 games with the Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers in 2019-20, hitting the 20-point mark for the fourth time in his career. He picked up 22 points with the Hurricanes to begin the season before being dealt to the Panthers at the trade deadline, where he recorded two assists in seven games and tacked on a goal in four contests during the 2020 Stanley Cup Qualifiers.
"I am super excited," Haula said of signing with the Preds. "It's a fantastic place to play and live. The team is really good, and they've got some really good core pieces. I'm just hoping to come in and add to that, and ultimately win."
Haula skated on a line with Matt Duchene and Luke Kunin during Sunday's scrimmage at Bridgestone Arena, and while the Opening Night lineup won't be set until Thursday, the Finn figures to play a key role as one of Nashville's most skilled forwards.
By the Numbers:
- Haula is two seasons removed from a career-best 2017-18 campaign with the Vegas Golden Knights, where he helped lead the expansion franchise to the Stanley Cup Final, establishing highs in several categories, including goals (29), assists (26) and points (55).
- He has scored at least 12 goals in four of the last five seasons - he missed much of 2018-19 for Vegas due to an injury, but tallied seven points (2g-5a) in 15 games in his final season with the Golden Knights. In seven career NHL seasons, the 6-foot, 193-pound forward has skated in 405 NHL games with the Minnesota Wild, Vegas, Carolina and Florida, recording 175 points (85g-90a); he's also appeared in 48 career postseason contests, adding 10 goals and 23 points.
- Originally drafted by the Wild in the seventh round (182nd overall) of the 2009 NHL Draft, Haula spent three seasons at the University of Minnesota from 2010-13 and led his team in scoring twice.
Fun Fact:
- One of Haula's best friends is fellow Preds forward Mikael Granlund. The two met while they were teenagers playing for the Finnish national program, and they both established themselves as NHLers together with the Wild between 2012 and 2014. The forwards played together in Minnesota for a total of four seasons - the first two spent living in the same building - and in July of 2019, Granlund served as a groomsman when Haula tied the knot.
