Jussi Jokinen joined his third team of the season this week. The Columbus Blue Jackets.
Put on waivers by the Los Angeles Kings, and after starting the season with the Edmonton Oilers, Jokinen may be in the twilight of his career. But for a team ravaged by injuries, in spite of currently holding down a top-three spot in the Metropolitan, what does Jokinen provide?
Besides a little familiar harmony.
Nutivaara is also happy to welcome the fourth Finn to #CBJ … especially another from northern Finland:
“I can’t wait. It’s better for me. The two [other] Finns, Korpi and Hanni, they’re from the south. Jussi’s from the north, so now it’s even. We can actually fight back.”
— Brian Hedger (@JacketsInsider) January 18, 2018
He brings experience from all three forward positions.
#CBJ have claimed veteran forward Jussi Jokinen from #LAKings off waivers.
Jokinen, 34, has 6 points (1 goal, 5 assists) in 32 games split between #Oilers (14 games) & Kings (18 games).
Jokinen can play all three forward positions. He started in the d-zone about 53% in LA.
— Brian Hedger (@BrianHedger) January 17, 2018
Jokinen is two seasons removed from a 60-point year with the Florida Panthers, but with today’s NHL emphasizing speed and youth, the 34-year-old, 12-year veteran is seen as more of a reliable depth option.
For Columbus, in the thick of a playoff race, and hemorrhaging from injuries, they’ll look to utilize him on the power play, and serve, most noticeably, as strength down the middle.
Jokinen’s line was responsible for the Jackets’ first goal against Dallas Thursday.
Here is more from him prior to Thursday’s game against the Stars.
Hear from the newest #CBJ, Jussi Jokinen, after today’s morning skate: pic.twitter.com/2USGaIkEyV
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) January 18, 2018
Aaron Portzline and Brian Hedger have more as well.
Jarmo, who knows Jokinen from their days in Finland at the international level, both Olympics, and World Cup, added a little more about Jokinen’s presence.
John Tortorella also knows Jokinen from their days with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
From The Beginning
Drafted in the 6th round (192nd pick) by the Dallas Stars in 2001, Jokinen played with the Stars (2005-2007), Lightning (2007-09), Hurricanes (2009-13), Penguins (2013-14), Panthers, (2014-17), and then splitting time in Edmonton and L.A. Prior to his first game in Columbus, he played 32 games, scoring one goal, and putting up four assists to go with a minus 3. He won 65 faceoffs in 112 chances (58%) and is 53.8% in his career from the circle.
On faceoffs this season as a team, Columbus ranks tied for 28th in the NHL at 47.3%.
For his career, Jokinen has 924 games played, 187 goals, 365 assists, and 552 points. He has reached the 30-goal plateau just once in his career, in 2009-10 with the Hurricanes, which was also the season he put up a career-best 65 points. Last season for the Panthers, he skated in 69 games, putting up 11 goals, 17 assists, for 28 points.
Since the shootout entered the NHL’s spectrum beginning with the 2005-06 season, Jokinen has become among the all-time leaders. He is 36-for-94, (38.3%) and has 13 game-deciding goals. He was 0-for-1 for the Jackets after shooting first Thursday against the Stars in the 2-1 shootout win.
Juice
The Finnish forward, also known as ‘Juice,’ has been to the playoffs on six separate occasions, most notably, as Jackets’ fans will remember, the 2013-14 playoffs against Columbus. He played in 13 games that postseason, putting up 10 points (seven goals, three assists). Jokinen had five points (three goals, two assists) in the six games against the Jackets.
Jokinen is on a one-year contract for $1.1 million.
Thursday’s Debut
24 shifts, 15:14 time on ice, 0:54 on the power play, four faceoff wins (44.4%).
Here’s also a fight against Patrick Kane.