Background
He is the son of former Jokerit captain and youth international defenceman Jussi Lepistö.
He is the son of former Jokerit captain and youth international defenceman Jussi Lepistö.
Sami was drafted by the Washington Capitals as their third-round pick, #66 overall, in the 2004 National Hockey League Entry Draft. Jokerit
Lepistö played professional hockey for Jokerit in the Master of Science-liiga. In his first season in 2003-2004, 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 2004-2005, 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 2005-2006, and increased his offensive numbers once again, scoring eight goals and 29 points in 56 games. Lepistö had an injury plagued 2006-2007 season, as he had one goals and 10 points in 26 games.
On May 31, 2007, Lepistö was signed to a two-year entry-level contract by the Washington Capitals.
National Hockey League
Lepistö was sent to the Hershey Bears of the AHL in 2007-2008, where in 55 games, he scored four goals and 45 points, as well as having a solid +29 rating. Lepistö also made his National Hockey League debut on February 16, 2008 with the Capitals. In seven games with Washington in 2007-2008, Lepistö had an assistant
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 2008-2009 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 June 27, 2009, Washington traded Lepistö to the Phoenix Coyotes for the Coyotes fifth round draft pick in the 2010 National Hockey League Entry Draft.
Lepistö spent the entire 2009-2010 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 2010-2011 season, where Lepistö had four goals and 11 points in 51 games.
On February 28, 2011, the Coyotes sent Lepistö and Scottie Upshall to the Columbus Blue Jackets for Rostislav Klesla and Dane Byers.
On July 15, 2011, Lepistö signed a one-year deal with the Chicago Blackhawks. Kontinental Hockey League
On June 4, 2012, it was announced that Lepistö has signed a one-year contract to play for the rebuilding Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the KHL. On January 12, 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.