San Jose Sharks Prospect Files: Harri Sateri

Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

Harri Sateri grew up in a place called Toijala, Finland, just over an hour and a half drive from Antti Niemi’s hometown, and the aspiring young Finn hopes to someday supercede his fellow countryman and goaltender in the Sharks’ crease. Taken with the 106th overall pick (4th round) in the 2008 NHL Draft, Sateri has shown enough promise since his draft day to be considered the top goaltending prospect in the organization.

At 6’1″ and 205 lbs., the 23 year old wears #35 for the Worcester Sharks of the AHL this season, following a promising push to make the team in the preseason this past September. At the time, San Jose head coach Todd McLellan had some encouraging words about Sateri:

"Harri’s been doing everything we ask in training camp. He’ll now get a chance to play, and the battle goes on."

Though he failed to make the big club, Sateri has taken hold of the starting role in net for the team’s AHL affiliate in Massachusetts. Despite the team’s struggles this season (14th place in the conference), Sateri’s stats are not exactly idealistic but still decent for the situation his team is in. He is 4-7 in 11 GP on the season, but he has maintained a 0.875 SV% and 3.13 GAA. With a stronger team around him, perhaps with the NHL Sharks club in San Jose, Sateri may finally have a breakout season in net, whether it be as backup to the more seasoned Niemi or in a starting role should the opportunity present itself.