Blue Jackets claim veteran forward Jussi Jokinen off waivers

COLUMBUS, OHIO --- The Columbus Blue Jackets have claimed veteran forward Jussi Jokinen (pronounced YEW-see YOH-kih-nihn) off waivers from the Los Angeles Kings, club General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen announced today.
Jokinen, 34, has registered 187 goals and 365 assists for 552 points, including 63 power play goals, with 371 penalty minutes and a cumulative +2 plus/minus rating in 923 career NHL games with the Kings, Edmonton Oilers, Florida Panthers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Carolina Hurricanes, Tampa Bay Lightning and Dallas Stars. This season, he has tallied 1-5-6 and six penalty minutes, while winning 58 percent of his faceoffs taken (65-of-112) in 32 games with Los Angeles and Edmonton. He has also notched 17-15-32 and 20 penalty minutes in 54 career Stanley Cup Playoff games.

"Jussi Jokinen is a player we know very well. He can line up at center or either wing, is good in the faceoff circle and can play on the power play and kill penalties," said Kekalainen. "He has been a very good player in the National Hockey League for many years and we believe he will add great experience and versatility to our lineup."
Jokinen was selected by Dallas in the sixth round, 192nd overall, at the 2001 NHL Draft. He made his NHL debut with the Stars in 2005-06 and tallied 17-38-55 in 81 games as a rookie. He spent parts of three seasons in Dallas before joining Tampa Bay during the 2007-08 season. He joined the Hurricanes in 2009 and went on to rack up a career-high 30-35-65 in 81 games with the club in 2009-10. He was traded to Pittsburgh in April 2013 and the following season recorded the fourth of his five 50-plus point campaigns with 21-36-57 in 81 contests. Prior to signing with Edmonton as a free agent last summer, he spent the previous three years with the Panthers. In 2015-16, he led the club in assists and was second in points with 18-42-60 in 81 games to help Florida capture the Atlantic Division title.
A 6-1, 191-pound native of Kalajoki, Finland, Jokinen has represented his country in several international competitions. He has appeared in two Olympic Games, winning a silver medal at the 2006 Games in Turin, Italy and a bronze medal at the 2014 Games in Sochi, Russia. He was an alternate captain for Finland at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey and has played in seven World Championships (2005, 2006-bronze, 2008-bronze, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016-silver), two World Junior Championships (2002-bronze, 2003-bronze) and the 2001 U18 World Hockey Championships (bronze).