The SCL Tigers have confirmed the report by Klaus Zaugg ("Watson"): Vili Saarijärvi will leave his current team, Lukko Rauma, at the end of the season and join them with a two-year deal. Saarijärvi becomes thus the fourth import under contract with the SCL Tigers for the 2022-23 season, the other three being Aleksi Saarela, Harri Pesonen and Alexandre Grenier.
This season, Saarijärvi scored 14 goals and collected 19 assists in 43 games, making him the most-prolific defenseman in the Liiga. Before joining Lukko Rauma in 2020, Saarijärvi spent six years in North America at various levels while also being drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in 2015.