Jokinen strikes $3.4M deal with Hurricanes
Last Updated: Monday, June 29, 2009 | 8:52 PM ET
CBC Sports
Jussi Jokinen (36) reached terms Monday with the Hurricanes. (Gerry Broome/Associated Press)Carolina Hurricanes forward Jussi Jokinen reached terms Monday on a two-year, $3.4-million US contract extension.
Jokinen, 26, will make $1.5 million US next season and $1.9 million in 2010-11.
He would have been eligible for unrestricted free agency on Wednesday.
Jokinen split 71 games last season between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Hurricanes, who acquired him for Wade Brookbank, Josef Melichar and a fourth-round draft pick on Feb. 7.
Jokinen finished the season with seven goals and 20 assists for 27 points.
He later sparkled in the playoffs, scoring clutch goals with 0.2 seconds left in Game 4 and 80 seconds left in Game 7 of Carolina's opening-round series with the New Jersey Devils.
Against the Boston Bruins, Jokinen scored 2:48 into overtime as the Hurricanes prevailed 3-2 in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinal.
"Jussi was a good addition to our team last season and he really stepped into his role in the playoffs," Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford said. "His ability to contribute on the power play and penalty kill and his versatility at different forward positions makes him a valuable player."
Jokinen has totalled 54 goals and 172 points in 306 games since he was drafted in the sixth round (192nd overall) by the Dallas Stars in 2001.
He spent 2½ seasons with Dallas before being traded to Tampa Bay, along with Mike Smith, Jeff Halpern and a fourth-round pick, for Brad Richards and Johan Holmqvist on Feb. 26, 2008.
With files from The Associated Press
