Sabres re-sign Henri Jokiharju to 3-year contract

The Buffalo Sabres have re-signed defenseman Henri Jokiharju to a three-year conract with an average annual value of $2.5 million, the team announced Thursday. The 22-year-old tallied eight points (3+5) in 46 games last season.
Jokiharju averaged 19:01 during the final 27 contests of last season under coach Don Granato, up more than a minute from his career average. He ranked second on the Sabres in even-strength ice time per game (18:09) and relative shot attempts percentage at 5-on-5 (7.7) during that span despite seeing regular top-pair matchups alongside defense partner Rasmus Dahlin.

The Sabres acquired Jokiharju, a first-round draft choice by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2017, in a trade with Chicago during the 2019 offseason. He has 35 points (7+28) in 153 career NHL games.
Dahlin is Buffalo's lone remaining restricted free agent. The team re-signed forward Casey Mittelstadt earlier Thursday.