Aki Berg

Lore & Background

Berg began his professional career in the 1993–1994 season as a 16-year-old, playing 6 games for TPS in the Finnish SM-liiga with 3 assists and a +4 rating; he was at the time the youngest player ever to play in an SM-liiga game. He also spent time in Kiekko-67 of the Finnish first division. Berg gained the attention of NHL scouts due to his large frame, heavy shot, physical play and good mobility. He was drafted 3rd overall by the Los Angeles Kings, behind fellow defencemen Bryan Berard and Wade Redden. Kings' then GM Sam McMaster described him as 'Hitting like Scott Stevens and skating like Paul Coffey.' Berg moved to the NHL the next season as an 18-year-old.

Berg struggled offensively early in his NHL career, adopting the role of a defensive defenceman despite high expectations. After parts of six seasons with the Kings, he was traded to Toronto on March 13, 2001 for Adam Mair and a 2nd round draft pick. In his first full season with Toronto, Berg played 81 games, scoring 1 goal and 10 assists with a career-high +14 rating. He played in Toronto for three more seasons before retiring from the NHL due to family reasons. During the 2004-2005 NHL lockout, Berg played for Timrå of the Swedish Elite League, where he was the team's top all-around defenceman. After retiring from the NHL, he signed with his hometown club TPS, serving as team captain and top defenceman for three seasons, though heavily ridden with injuries in his last two seasons. He announced his retirement on his birthday, July 28, 2011.

Reader's Guide

Aki Berg's NHL career spanned 606 regular season games, producing 15 goals and 70 assists for 85 points with a -7 plus-minus rating. He played 54 career post-season games, recording 1 goal and 7 assists for 8 points with a +2 rating. Berg was a highly touted prospect drafted third overall in 1995, but his offensive potential never fully materialized in the NHL; he instead became a reliable defensive defenceman. His most notable NHL season came in 2001-02 with Toronto, where he posted a career-high +14 rating and helped the Maple Leafs reach the conference finals. Berg's international career included a bronze medal at the 1998 Nagano Olympics and a silver medal at the 2006 Torino Olympics, as well as a silver medal at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey. After retiring, he returned to Finland and worked as the equipment manager for both TPS and Team Finland as of 2015. His career illustrates the path of a high draft pick who adapted his game to a defensive role and contributed to both NHL and international success.

Did You Know?

• Berg was the youngest player ever to play in an SM-liiga game at age 16, a record later surpassed by Jesse Joensuu.
• He was drafted 3rd overall in 1995, behind defencemen Bryan Berard and Wade Redden.