Jesse Ylonen Bio
Jesse Ylönen (born 3 October 1999) is a Finnish professional ice hockey player who plays as a winger for Djurgårdens IF of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). He was selected in the second round, 35th overall, by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. Ylönen holds dual citizenship of Finland and the United States and brings a second-generation hockey pedigree to the professional ranks.
Early Life and Background
Jesse Ylönen was born on 3 October 1999 in Scottsdale, Arizona, in the United States. His birth in the American Southwest was connected to his father’s career at the time, as Juha Ylönen was a member of the Phoenix Coyotes when Jesse arrived. Ylönen grew up in Finland and developed his game within a hockey culture that runs deep in his family.
Ylönen is a second-generation NHL player. His father, Juha, was a former professional ice hockey centre who won a bronze medal with the Finnish national team at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano. Juha played a total of six NHL seasons split between the Phoenix Coyotes, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Ottawa Senators. That background gave Jesse an early and constant connection to the highest levels of the sport.
Path to Hockey
Ylönen played as a youth with his hometown club, the Espoo Blues, progressing through to the under-18 level. After a stint in the Jokerit junior program, he returned to the Blues organization and made his professional debut with Espoo United of the Mestis during the 2016–17 season. In his first full professional season with Espoo United in 2017–18, Ylönen posted 27 points in 48 games as a rookie, a performance that quickly established him as a top prospect.
Opting to remain in Finland to continue his development, Ylönen joined the top-tier Liiga club, the Lahti Pelicans, on a two-year contract in April 2018. Months later, the Montreal Canadiens selected him in the second round, 35th overall, of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. That spring marked the formal transition from promising Finnish junior to a prospect on an NHL roster.
Jesse Ylonen Career
Early Career (2016–2020)
Ylönen’s earliest professional years were split between Espoo United in the Mestis and the Lahti Pelicans in Liiga. His 27-point rookie season with Espoo United in 2017–18 drew the attention of NHL scouts and set the stage for his draft year. After being selected 35th overall, he continued his development with the Pelicans, where he worked to refine his offensive game against men in Finland’s top league.
In his final year under contract with the Pelicans in 2019–20, Ylönen registered 12 goals and 22 points through 53 games. With the Pelicans out of playoff contention, he signed his first professional contract abroad on 1 March 2020, agreeing to play the remainder of the season with the Canadiens’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Laval Rocket. On 26 March 2020, Ylönen signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Canadiens.
Montreal Canadiens Era (2020–2024)
The COVID-19 pandemic delayed Ylönen’s North American debut. He was loaned back to the Pelicans to start the 2020–21 campaign before returning to Montreal for training camp. He eventually made his North American debut during the 2020–21 AHL season with the Laval Rocket, scoring nine goals and 17 points. On 12 May 2021, he was recalled by Montreal and made his NHL debut that same day in a 4–3 overtime loss to the Edmonton Oilers, the final game of the Canadiens’ season.
During the 2021–22 season, Ylönen was recalled on 8 December 2021 after Christian Dvorak suffered an injury. He made his season debut the following day in a 2–0 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks and was quickly promoted to the first line alongside Nick Suzuki and Mike Hoffman. Ylönen scored his first NHL goal on 15 December 2021, set up by linemate Jonathan Drouin, in a 5–2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. He was reassigned to Laval on 11 April 2022.
Ylönen returned to the Canadiens during the 2022–23 season after posting eight goals and 27 points in 34 games with Laval. On 24 February 2023, he recorded his first multi-point NHL game in a 5–2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. On 31 July 2023, he signed a one-year two-way contract extension with Montreal. In 2023–24, Ylönen played 59 games with the Canadiens, scoring four goals and eight points.
Tampa Bay Lightning and Nashville Predators (2024–2025)
On 30 June 2024, Ylönen was not tendered a qualifying offer by the Canadiens, making him an unrestricted free agent. He signed a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning the following day. To begin the 2024–25 season, he was assigned to the Lightning’s AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch. He appeared in 47 games with Syracuse, scoring eight goals and 25 points, and was recalled by Tampa Bay on 21 February 2025, though he did not appear for the club and was returned to Syracuse the next day.
On 26 February 2025, Ylönen was traded to the Nashville Predators, with Anthony Angello moving to Tampa Bay. He was assigned to the Predators’ AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, where he appeared in 19 games and recorded four goals and ten points. The Admirals qualified for the 2025 Calder Cup playoffs, and Ylönen tallied three goals and four points in nine postseason games.
Djurgårdens IF Era (2025–Present)
On 28 May 2025, Ylönen signed a two-year deal with Djurgårdens IF of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), returning to top-tier European hockey. The move gave him a leading role in Sweden’s premier professional league and a fresh opportunity to expand his offensive game. His contract runs through the 2026–27 SHL season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Ylönen is recognized as a skilled, offensively driven winger with strong skating and creativity in the offensive zone. He has been deployed in both scoring and checking roles during his professional career, demonstrating versatility across the lineup. His ability to play up and down the forward group has made him a reliable depth option at the NHL level and a featured scorer at the AHL and European levels.
Notable Events and Milestones
Ylönen’s signature moments include his first NHL goal on 15 December 2021 against the Pittsburgh Penguins, his first multi-point NHL game on 24 February 2023 against the Philadelphia Flyers, and his 2025 Calder Cup playoff run with the Milwaukee Admirals. His selection 35th overall in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft remains a defining milestone in his career.
Jesse Ylonen Career Wins
Jesse Ylönen has built a steady professional résumé across the Mestis, Liiga, AHL, NHL, and SHL, accumulating consistent offensive production at every level. While he has yet to capture a major professional championship, his playoff experience with the Milwaukee Admirals in 2025 and his rapid progression through Finnish and North American development leagues highlight a career in ascent.
Other Wins and Performances
Ylönen earned a 27-point rookie season with Espoo United in 2017–18 and recorded a 27-point campaign with the Laval Rocket in 2022–23. His 25-point season with the Syracuse Crunch in 2024–25 and his 10-point run with the Milwaukee Admirals underline his scoring consistency in the AHL. Across his career, he has delivered multi-point NHL performances and contributed meaningfully in the AHL playoffs.
Jesse Ylonen Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Jesse Ylönen comes from one of Finland’s well-known hockey families. His father, Juha Ylönen, is a former professional ice hockey centre who played six NHL seasons with the Phoenix Coyotes, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Ottawa Senators. Juha was a member of the Finnish national team that won a bronze medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano. The elder Ylönen was playing for the Coyotes when Jesse was born in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Personal Life
Born in the United States but raised in Finland, Jesse Ylönen holds dual citizenship of Finland and the United States. He has built his professional life around the demands of elite hockey, moving between Finland, North America, and Sweden. Public details about his personal relationships have not been widely reported.
2025 Season Performance
Ylönen’s 2024–25 campaign was a transitional season split between the AHL and a new organization. He began the year with the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL, posting eight goals and 25 points across 47 games as a reliable scoring winger. A late-season trade sent him to the Nashville Predators organization and the Milwaukee Admirals, where he added four goals and ten points in 19 regular-season games.
The Admirals qualified for the 2025 Calder Cup playoffs, and Ylönen emerged as a contributor with three goals and four points in nine postseason contests. His combined regular-season and playoff production reinforced his reputation as a dependable two-way winger capable of producing offense in competitive environments.
On 28 May 2025, Ylönen signed a two-year contract with Djurgårdens IF of the SHL, signaling a new chapter in his career. As he transitions to one of Europe’s top leagues, his outlook centers on securing a top-six role and building toward another NHL opportunity. The 2025–26 SHL season represents a critical platform for Ylönen to showcase his game on a larger stage.