Erik Haula
Finnish forward who played for eight NHL teams.
Erik Haula, born 23 March 1991, is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward for the Los Angeles Kings in the NHL. Before joining the Kings, he suited up for the Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights, Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers, Nashville Predators, Boston Bruins, and New Jersey Devils. The Wild picked him in the seventh round, 182nd overall, during the 2009 NHL entry draft.
Haula began playing hockey with his local club, HC Ässät Pori. In the 2006–07 season, he notched 43 points in 29 games for Ässät’s U18 team. The next year, he moved up to the U20 squad in the U20 SM-sarja, scoring 22 points in 40 games; his team lost the league finals to KalPa. He didn’t see ice time in Ässät’s top-tier SM-liiga lineup.
For the 2008–09 season, Haula played at Shattuck-Saint Mary’s in Faribault, Minnesota, tallying 24 goals and 55 assists (79 points) in 49 games. In March 2009, he committed to the University of Minnesota, becoming only the second non-North American–born player to join the Gophers, after future Wild teammate Thomas Vanek of Austria. Three months later, on 27 June 2009, the Wild drafted him. Before enrolling at Minnesota, Haula spent the 2009–10 season in the USHL with the Omaha Lancers while attending Daniel J. Gross Catholic High School. His 28 goals, 44 assists, and +36 plus-minus helped the Lancers reach the Western Division finals, and he earned All-Star and All-Rookie honors.
After his USHL stint, Haula played three college seasons with the Gophers, totaling 42 goals, 82 assists, and 124 points in 114 games. He then skipped his senior year to sign professionally with the Wild.
On 7 April 2013, the Wild signed Haula to an entry-level contract. He made his NHL debut on 29 November 2013 after being called up from the AHL’s Iowa Wild, recording his first NHL point (an assist) and being named the game’s third star in a 3–1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche. He was reassigned to Iowa on 9 December but returned to Minnesota and scored his first NHL goal on 18 January 2014 against the Dallas Stars. In the 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs, he posted four goals and three assists in 13 games.
After the 2014–15 season, Haula became a restricted free agent. The Wild made a qualifying offer, and on 27 July 2015, he filed for salary arbitration.
Quick Facts
- Birth Date
- 1991-03-23
- Birth Place
- Pori, Finland
- Height Ft
- 6
- Height In
- 0
- Weight Lb
- 191
- Position
- Forward
- Shoots
- Left
- League
- NHL
- Team
- Los Angeles Kings
- Former Teams
- Minnesota Wild / Vegas Golden Knights / Carolina Hurricanes / Florida Panthers / Nashville Predators / Boston Bruins / New Jersey Devils
- Ntl Team
- FIN
- Draft
- 182nd overall
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Erik Haula began playing ice hockey at his local club HC Ässät Pori. He played for Ässät's U18 and U20 teams before moving to North America to play for Shattuck-Saint Mary's in Faribault, Minnesota. He then played one season in the USHL with the Omaha Lancers, where he was named to the All-Star and All-Rookie teams, before attending the University of Minnesota. Haula totaled 42 goals, 82 assists, and 124 points in 114 games over three college seasons, then forwent his senior year to sign professionally with the Minnesota Wild.
Haula made his NHL debut with the Wild in the 2013–14 season, scoring his first point and being named the game's third star. He scored his first NHL goal later that season. After a breakout 2015–16 season, he was selected by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2017 Expansion Draft. With Vegas, he set career highs in goals (29) and points (55) and scored a double-overtime game-winning goal in the 2018 playoffs. He was later traded to the Carolina Hurricanes in 2019, then dealt to the Florida Panthers at the 2020 trade deadline. He subsequently signed with the Nashville Predators, Boston Bruins, and New Jersey Devils, before returning to Nashville and eventually signing with the Los Angeles Kings in 2026.
Reader's Guide
Erik Haula's career is notable for his journey from a seventh-round draft pick to a reliable NHL forward who has played for eight different teams. His most productive season came with the expansion Vegas Golden Knights in 2017–18, where he scored a career-high 29 goals and 55 points, helping the team reach the Stanley Cup Finals. Haula's versatility allowed him to play both center and wing, and he was often used on shutdown lines or as a secondary scorer. His trade history reflects his value as a movable asset: he was part of the Golden Knights' expansion draft strategy, traded for prospect Nicolas Roy to Carolina, and later moved to Florida in a deadline deal for Vincent Trocheck. Haula also represented Finland at the 2026 Winter Olympics, winning a bronze medal. His career illustrates how late-round picks can develop into consistent NHL contributors through strong junior and college development.
Did You Know?
- Erik Haula was the second player born outside North America to play for the University of Minnesota, following Thomas Vanek.
- He scored the first goal in Vegas Golden Knights franchise history in a playoff double-overtime win against the Los Angeles Kings.
- Haula's father, Tomi, is an agent who represents ice hockey players.
- He won a bronze medal with Finland at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
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