Urho Vaakanainen — Stats & Advanced Analytics
Urho Vaakanainen is an NHL defenseman for the New York Rangers. In the 2025-26 season Urho Vaakanainen has 0 goals, 6 assists and 6 points in 34 games, worth -1.1 Goals Above Replacement.
Player Overview
A former first-round pick, Urho Vaakanainen has played eight seasons and 221 career games as a defenseman, accumulating 3 goals and 43 assists. This season, he has registered 0 goals and 6 assists in 34 games, carrying a -0.7 GAR.
While his even-strength defensive play has provided some positive impact, contributing +0.6 GAR, it has not been enough to elevate his overall performance. Vaakanainen appears to be a defensive-minded blueliner who is currently struggling to maintain a net-positive contribution.
Player Profile
| Position | Defenseman |
|---|---|
| Team | New York Rangers |
| Shoots / Catches | L |
| Height | 6'2" |
| Weight | 202 lb |
| Draft | 2017 — Round 1, Pick 18 — BOS |
2025-26 Season Stats
| GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | Shots | S% | TOI/GP | CF% | xG | Game Score | GAR | WAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | 0 | 6 | 6 | +0 | 14 | 23 | 0.0% | 13:51 | 47.9% | 0.9 | 0.0 | -1.1 | -0.20 |
GAR Component Breakdown
| Even-Strength Offense | Even-Strength Defense | Power-Play Offense | Shorthanded Defense |
|---|---|---|---|
| -0.2 | -0.3 | -0.0 | +0.0 |
League percentile rank: points 8th, GAR 26th, WAR 26th (100th = league leader).
Career by Season (Regular Season)
| Season | GP | G | A | P | GAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 34 | 0 | 6 | 6 | -1.1 |
| 2024-25 | 51 | 2 | 14 | 16 | 0.3 |
| 2023-24 | 68 | 1 | 13 | 14 | -1.6 |
| 2022-23 | 23 | 0 | 2 | 2 | -1.6 |
| 2021-22 | 29 | 0 | 6 | 6 | -0.3 |
| 2020-21 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 2 | -0.3 |
| 2019-20 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -0.2 |
| 2018-19 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
Analysis
In the 2025-26 season Urho Vaakanainen has been worth -1.1 Goals Above Replacement, which ranks in the 26th percentile leaguewide.
His value is driven primarily by power-play offense (-0 GAR), while his even-strength defense grades below replacement (-0.3).
Across 8 tracked seasons his GAR peaked at 0.3 in 2024-25.
All figures are model outputs from Hockey Alchemy. Learn how the value metrics are built on the methodology page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Urho Vaakanainen's GAR this season?
Urho Vaakanainen has been worth -1.1 Goals Above Replacement (GAR) in the 2025-26 season, in the 26th percentile of NHL players.
What is Urho Vaakanainen's WAR this season?
Urho Vaakanainen has been worth about -0.2 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) in the 2025-26 season, in the 26th percentile of NHL players. WAR converts GAR to wins at roughly 5.57 goals per win.
How many points does Urho Vaakanainen have this season?
Urho Vaakanainen has 0 goals and 6 assists for 6 points in 34 games this season.
Is Urho Vaakanainen a good defenseman?
Urho Vaakanainen ranks in the 26th percentile among NHL skaters by GAR (-1.1) in the 2025-26 season.
What is Urho Vaakanainen's career GAR?
Across 8 NHL seasons tracked by Hockey Alchemy, Urho Vaakanainen has accumulated -4.7 career GAR and 46 points.
When was Urho Vaakanainen drafted?
Urho Vaakanainen was drafted in 2017 — Round 1, Pick 18 — BOS.