Eeli Tolvanen Fast Facts
Number: 20 Position: Forward
DOB: 4/22/99 Hometown: Vihti, Finland Height: 5-10 Weight: 182
How Acquired By Kraken: 2022 Off Waivers From Nashville
NHL Seasons as of 2025: 7
Previous NHL Teams: Nashville (2017-19 – 7 games), (2020-23)
Career Bests: Goals-23 (2024-25), Assists-25 (2023-24), Points-41 (2023-24)
Notable: Tolvanen had a four-goal game for Finland vs. Slovenia at May’s World Championships.
You’ve heard of buyer’s remorse. When the Nashville Predators put former 1st round draft choice Eeli Tolvanen on waivers in Dec., 2022, then-general manager David Poile soon had seller’s remorse. “This could be a mistake on our part. That’s on me if he turns out to be really successful. We thought we tried him in a lot of different areas, different places.”
One place they didn’t try Tolvanen was Seattle, but then-Kraken general manager Ron Francis took a low risk, high reward chance on the Finnish winger. Tolvanen rewarded that vote of confidence with five goals in his first eight Kraken games, and hasn’t looked back.
“I think confidence is a big thing,” Tolvanen said – perhaps alluding to the seven Predators games in which he was a healthy scratch before being waived. “You learn to trust yourself. And show that teams can trust you. I think the main thing is getting the opportunity to play. You’re put in a situation where you can succeed, and then, of course, there needs to be a little bit of luck, too.”
DailyFaceoff.com credits his scoring touch to “his quick shot and dynamic hands, making him an exquisite offensive weapon.” He’s not afraid of the “dirty” areas, either. Ask anyone who watched the Kraken in the 2024 Winter Classic at T-Mobile Park against Vegas. Tolvanen positioned himself just outside the crease, tipping home a Vince Dunn left point shot at 4:50 of the 1st period for what proved to be the game-winning goal.
He reached – and surpassed – the 20-goal mark for the first time with a two-score effort last March 13 against Utah. “I made it to 18 goals two years ago and then 16. It’s been inside of my head to try to get to 20. So, it’s nice to get it done. It’s one of those things where you always want to score goals and getting to 20 is a big accomplishment.”
Tolvanen also led the Kraken last season with 237 hits, good for 14th best in the league. That’s on top of the 210 hits he dished out the season before.
During his time in Nashville, Tolvanen made a bet with countryman and Preds goalie Juuse Saros – who could grow the better mustache. Somehow, they both lost. “I don’t think everybody saw (Juuse’s) mustache but it was kind of a joke on the road,” Tolvanen said. “We both had a terrible mustache and we kind of made a bet (about) whoever could rock it longer.”