On Thursday, September 17th 2020, the New Jersey Devils loaned forward prospect Janne Kuokkanen to Oulun Karpat Oy of the Liiga, Finland's top hockey league. Karpat play in Kuokkanen's home city of Oulu.
Acquired from Carolina in the trade that sent Sami Vatanen to the Hurricanes, Kuokkanen played in one game for New Jersey this season and appeared in four with Binghamton in the American Hockey League. While with Binghamton, the 22-year-old scored three goals and three assists.
Prior to the trade to New Jersey, Kuokkanen had 42 points in 52 games with the Charlotte Checkers, then-Carolina's AHL affiliate. He ended his season with 48 points in a combined 56 games.
Kuokkanen will be immediately able to play for Karpat while waiting for the start of the 2020-21 NHL Training Camp, at which point he will be able to return to New Jersey.
BLOG: Janne Kuokkanen Loaned to Liiga's Karpat
Kuokkanen is immediately eligible to play for Karpat while waiting for the start of 2020-21 NHL Training Camp