Eeli Tolvanen is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward born on April 22, 1999, in Vihti, Finland.
He currently plays as a right winger (and sometimes left) for the Seattle Kraken in the National Hockey League (NHL).
Tolvanen shoots left and is recognized for his quick hands, accurate wrist shot, offensive instincts, and ability to score goals in key moments.
Drafted 30th overall by the Nashville Predators in the first round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, he has developed into a reliable NHL contributor known for his work ethic and two-way play.
Siblings
Eeli is the youngest of three brothers, all of whom play or have played hockey.
His eldest brother, Joona Tolvanen, plays in the Finnish Mestis league.
His middle brother, Atte Tolvanen, is a goaltender who has played in college hockey in the United States and currently competes for EC Red Bull Salzburg in the Austrian ICE Hockey League, where he has obtained Austrian citizenship.
Eeli and Atte notably faced each other during the 2025 IIHF World Championship, with Eeli representing Finland and Atte playing for Austria.
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Career
Tolvanen’s hockey journey began in Finland before he moved to North America as a teenager, playing for the Sioux City Musketeers in the United States Hockey League (USHL), where he excelled and earned All-Rookie and All-Star honors.
After being drafted by Nashville, he spent time in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) with Jokerit and made his NHL debut with the Predators.
He played parts of five seasons in Nashville before being claimed off waivers by the Seattle Kraken in December 2022.
With the Kraken, Tolvanen found a better fit and has become a consistent contributor, playing in over 400 NHL games through the 2025-26 season with solid goal-scoring output.
He has represented Finland internationally at various levels, including World Junior Championships (where he won gold in 2019) and senior tournaments, and contributed to Finland’s bronze medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Accolades
Tolvanen’s honors include USHL All-Rookie Team (2015-16) and USHL First All-Star Team (2016-17) recognition during his junior career.
Internationally, he earned gold at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship and bronze at the 2026 Winter Olympics with Finland.
While he has yet to win major NHL individual awards, he has established himself as a dependable NHL scorer and has been a key part of the Kraken’s forward group.
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