PERSONAL
Nickname is Oz…Lists Dave Mustaine from Megadeth as the most famous person in his cell phone…If he could be any other athlete for a day, it would be Formula One Race Car Driver Kimi Räikkönen…Favorite video game is FIFA Soccer 08 for PlayStation 3…On non-game days, he likes to cook and watch movies…Favorite type of food is Thai…Enjoys watching The Discovery Channel…Three words that he uses to describe himself are open, social and humoristic…If he could change one thing about himself, it would be to not think so much and he would like to be able to meditate deeply…Would like to have been on stage at a Jimi Hendrix concert…Favorites include: Forrest Gump (movie), Matt Damon (actor), Entourage (TV show).

2007-08
Recorded seven goals and eight assists for 15 points and 102 penalty minutes in 45 games for
Djurgarden (Sweden).

CAREER
Entering the 2008-09 season, Vaananen has recorded 12 goals and 45 assists for 57 points and 460 penalty minutes in 430 career NHL regular season games over parts of six seasons with the Phoenix Coyotes (2000-01 to 2003-04) and the Colorado Avalanche (2003-04 through 2006-07)…2005-06: Missed the final 29 games of the regular season and the first eight games of the playoffs after sustaining a broken leg at Nashville on Feb. 2…2003-04:  Split the season between Phoenix and Colorado…Posted six points (2G,4A) and 87 penalty minutes in 67 games for the Coyotes…Was scoreless in 12 games with the Avalanche…2002-03: Participated in the NHL’s YoungStars Game as part of NHL All-Star Weekend…Missed 14 games (from Feb. 5 through March 4) due to a knee sprain…2001-02: Was a member of the Finnish Olympic Team at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games…2000-01: Recorded his first NHL point (a goal) in his first NHL game vs. Minnesota on Oct. 7…International Experience: Has represented Finland in eight international
tournaments, including two Olympic Games (2002 and 2004), two World Junior Championship tournaments (1999 and 2000), four World Championships (2001, 2003, 2005 and 2008) and the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.