Throughout Ottawa Senators franchise history, the franchise has had many players from different countries play for the franchise.
While most of the better players in Senators history are born from Canada, Sweden, Slovakia and the United States, some players from other countries have made a strong impact for the franchise. From Switzerland's Martin Gerber or Germany's Tim Stutzle.
For a country like Finland, thinking of who the best player is to play for the Senators might be tricky. However, the Senators would still be able to make a starting lineup based on players who played for the franchise from Finland, even if it was for a short time.
Building an all-time Senators starting lineup from Finland
A starting lineup for this are players born in Finland and only based on their tenure with the Senators. While Finland doesn't have many players to choose from to make an all-time lineup like Canada, their country was still represented by players who played for the Senators.
All six players selected are players that played at their set position during their NHL career.
Goaltender- Jani Hurme
The Senators haven't had many goaltenders play for the franchise that are from Finland. However, the best goaltender to choose from is Jani Hurme.
Hurme played 48 games from 2000-2002 with the Senators. For two seasons as Patrick Lalime's backup, Hurme put up good numbers as a backup goaltender. Hurme's best season came in 2001-02 when he went 12-9-1 with a 2.48 goals against average, .907 save percentage and also adding three shutouts in 25 games played.
After 2002, Hurme only played one more season in his career with the Florida Panthers.
Defenseman- Sami Salo
Defenseman Sami Salo has the record for the most points in Senators history as a Finnish born player. In 195 career games as a Senator from 1998-2002, Salo recorded 69 points.
In the 1998-99 season, Salo earned All-Rookie Team honors after recording 19 points and a +20 rating.
After 2002, Salo had his career take off when he spent the next nine seasons of his career with the Vancouver Canucks.
Defenseman- Janne Laukkanen
Janne Laukkanen owns two big records in Senators history for Finnish born players. Laukkanen played the most games with 266 and recorded the most assists with 59. Laukkanen played for the Senators from 1996-2000.
Laukkanen recorded 68 points during his Senators tenure, which is one point behind Salo's 69 for the most points in Senators history among Finnish born players. In the 1996-97 season and 1997-98 season, Laukkanen recorded back-to-back 21-point seasons.
In the 1998-99 season, Laukkanen was tied for third with the highest +/- rating of +18 with Marian Hossa.
Left wing- Jarkko Ruutu
From 2008-2011, Jarkko Ruutu was a good role player who provided veteran leadership for the Senators. In Senators history, Ruutu has the record for most goals scored as a Finnish born player with 21.
In the 2009-10 season, Ruutu recorded career-highs with 12 goals and 26 points to help the Senators make the 2010 playoffs. Although the Senators were eliminated in the first round by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2010 playoffs, Ruutu scored the game-winning goal in Game 1 of the series.
In February 2011, the Senators traded Ruutu to the Anaheim Ducks. After his stint with the Ducks in 2011, Ruutu never played an NHL game again.
Center- Juha Ylonen
The Senators haven't had many centers play for the franchise that are Finnish born. One center that was born in Finland who played for the Senators is Juha Ylonen.
Ylonen only played for the Senators for 15 games in the 2001-02 season after he was traded to the Senators by the Tampa Bay Lightning in March 2002. In his brief stint with the Senators, Ylonen recorded one goal and one assist.
Ylonen played in all 12 games for the Senators in the 2002 playoffs where he recorded five points. Following the 2002 playoffs, Ylonen never played an NHL game again.
Right wing- Antti Tormanen
Antti Tormanen only played one season in the NHL. In the 1995-96 season with the Senators, Tormanen recorded 15 points in 50 games played.
Despite playing just one season, Tormanen's 15 points is the fourth most in Senators history for points by a Finnish born player.
Tormanen recorded at least one point in five of the first eight games of his career. In two of the five games, Tormanen recorded two points.