The recently turned 23-year-old was previously drafted by the New York Rangers with the 89th overall selection in the third round of the 2015 NHL Entry Level Draft. Since being taken by the Rangers, Saarela has bounced around the NHL, having brief stints with the minor league squads of the Carolina Hurricanes and Chicago Blackhawks prior to landing in Florida.
Saarela has already proven himself as a potent offensive weapon at the American Hockey League level, experiencing dominant AHL campaigns in 2018 and 2019 for the Charlotte Checkers.