Sami Lepistö

Jokerit

Lepistö played professional hockey for Jokerit in the SM-liiga. In his first season in 2003-04, Lepistö had three goals and seven points in 53 games, followed by an assist in eight playoff games for Jokerit. He also played for Finland in the 2004 World Junior Hockey Championship, scoring four goals and eight points in seven games. Lepistö saw his offensive numbers rise in 2004-05, as he had seven goals and 25 points in 55 games. Lepistö also had a solid playoff performance for Jokerit, as he had a goal and eight points in 12 games. Lepistö returned to Jokerit in 2005-06, and increased his offensive numbers once again, scoring eight goals and 29 points in 56 games. Lepistö had an injury plagued 2006-07 season, as he had one goals and 10 points in 26 games. On 31 May 2007, Lepistö was signed to a two-year entry-level contract by the Washington Capitals.^[1]

National Hockey League

Lepistö was sent to the Hershey Bears of the AHL in 2007-08, where in 55 games, he scored four goals and 45 points, as well as having a solid +29 rating. Lepistö also made his NHL debut on 16 February 2008 with the Capitals. In seven games with Washington in 2007-08, Lepistö had an assist. He was returned to Hershey, where he had an assist in five playoff games. After the season, Lepistö played for Finland at the 2008 World Hockey Championship, where he had a goal and an assist in seven games.

Lepistö spent most of the 2008-09 season with Hershey once again, as in 70 games, he had four goals and 42 points, as well as a +24 rating. He once again appeared in seven games with the Capitals, where Lepistö earned four assists. On 27 June 2009, Washington traded Lepistö to the Phoenix Coyotes for the Coyotes fifth round draft pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.^[2]

Lepistö spent the entire 2009-10 season with the Phoenix Coyotes, where he scored a goal and 11 points in 66 games, helping the club to the playoffs. In seven playoff games with the Coyotes, Lepistö had a goal. Lepistö also played for Finland at the 2010 Winter Olympics, as he had an assist in six games. He returned to the Coyotes for the 2010-11 season, where Lepistö had four goals and 11 points in 51 games.

On 28 February 2011, the Coyotes sent Lepistö and Scottie Upshall to the Columbus Blue Jackets for Rostislav Klesla and Dane Byers.^[3] On 15 July 2011, Lepistö signed a one-year deal with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Kontinental Hockey League

On 4 June 2012, it was announced that Lepistö has signed a one-year contract to play for the rebuilding Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the KHL.^[4]

On 12 January 2013, Lepistö was traded to Lev Prague of the KHL. In summer 2013 he signed a two-year contract with Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg. After that he signed for one year with Salavat Yulaev Ufa. During the 2016 playoffs, he tied Nikita Zaitsev and Chris Lee to lead all defenceman in playoff scoring with 13 points. In the summer 2017 was announced that Lepistö will go to play at Jokerit.

Regular season and playoffs

Medal record
Representing  Finland
Ice hockey
Olympic Games
	2010 Vancouver
	2014 Sochi
World Championships
	2011 Slovakia
	2008 Canada
World Junior Championships
	2004 Finland

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2004	Finland	WJC			7	4	4	8	10
2008	Finland	WC			7	1	1	2	10
2010	Finland	OG			6	0	1	1	6
2011	Finland	WC			9	0	3	3	6
2013	Finland	WC	4th		10	0	4	4	2
2014	Finland	OG			6	1	1	2	0
2015	Finland	WC	6th		8	0	2	2	4
2016	Finland	WCH	8th		3	0	0	0	2
Junior totals					7	4	4	8	10
Senior totals					49	2	12	14	30