Reijo Ruotsalainen (born April 1, 1960) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey defenceman.

He was twice named Finland's top defenceman, and won two Stanley Cups with the Edmonton Oilers, in 1987 and 1990.

Nicknamed "Reksa" or "Rexi", he was recognized as a talented defenseman while playing for Kärpät junior teams.

[citation needed] Ruotsalainen's fluid skating helped him compensate for his lack of size.

Unhappy with Rangers' head coach Ted Sator's less fluid North American style of play, Ruotsalainen was one of three players who left the team.

[1] Ruotsalainen's contract expired after the conclusion of the 1985–86 NHL season, and he accepted an offer from SC Bern of the Swiss Nationalliga A. Ruotsalainen played in 35 games and scored 53 points for SC Bern before returning to the NHL.

Ruotsalainen was signed by the Edmonton Oilers for the remainder of the 1986–87 NHL season and was given a spot on defense.

Ruotsalainen returned to his "home team" when he was contracted by Kärpät in 1993, by which time had been relegated back to 1.

[3] He played for the Finnish national team at the IIHF World Championships in 1978, 1979, 1981, 1985, and 1989, the 1988 Winter Olympics (winning silver) and the 1981 and the 1987 Canada Cups.