Canes make a Jussi deal
Feb 8, 2009
The Carolina Hurricanes acquisition of Jussi Jokinen is similar to the team's pick up of Sergei Samsonov last season.
Jokinen was involved in the deal between Dallas and Tampa Bay that sent Brad Richards to the Stars. Jokinen didn't fit into Tampa's style and was placed on waivers earlier this season, and according to Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford was a player that the team wanted to add earlier but according to Rutherford, "wasn't a player we could take off waivers even though we wanted to because we have to look at the economics of it. We had to figure out a way to offset the money once we were able to do that we were able to add him to our team."
Jokinen's numbers have declined every year since his rookie year in Dallas, where he scored 17 goals along with 38 assists, but he is a player that fits the Canes' system of speed and skill.
He also adds a dimension that will help this team turn one point into two, Jokinen is statistically one of the best shootout players since the NHL has turned to the skill competition to decide games. His career numbers are 20-38 (.526) and this season he is 3-9 (.333). With how tight the race for the eighth spot in the East has become, every point will matter just look back to last season when the Canes missed the playoffs by one game.
The move also comes at a good time. Instead of waiting for the March deadline, the Canes make a move now and give the new players a chance to make an impact instead of hoping they can make a difference in a little over a month. Of course when a deal is made, there is the what did the team give up question ... and in this case Carolina gave up nothing that impacts the current NHL line-up.
Forward and physical presence Wade Brookbank, defenseman Josef Melichar who has been in the minors, and a 2009 fourth-round pick. Losing Brookbank's presence is something that fans might be upset about, as he is the teams only true "fighter," but the NHL wants that element out of the game and that is one reason why Brookbank has been a healthy scratch for over a month.
He was a great presence in the locker room and good to know that a player like Brookbank is on your side, but if the Canes haven't felt the need for that presence in a while and they can always call up Tim Conboy if need be. The fact that another team takes on Melichar's salary for this year is enough reason to say the Canes already have the better end of the deal. Melichar was not coming back to the NHL this year, see Bryan Rodney getting the nod with the recent injuries to the blue line, so the early return is the Canes have the better end of the deal.
This move does answer if Carolina would be a buyer or seller at the deadline, but there are still a few items left on the list. After Thursday night's win in San Jose in a shootout, a little more of that skill can lead to more games for the Canes.
