Penguins Acquire Jussi Jokinen From The Hurricanes
According to The Hockey News, the Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired center Jussi Jokinen from the Carolina Hurricanes for a conditional draft pick just before the trade deadline on Wednesday. The Penguins have now made four moves in the past two weeks, including the addition of Jarome Iginla a week ago.
According to TSN’s Bob McKenzie, the Hurricanes will receive either a sixth- or seventh-round pick from the Penguins based on the amount of games Jokinen skates in during the playoffs and if the Penguins can win the Stanley Cup.
Jokinen has six goals and five assists in 33 games this season with the Hurricanes, who acquired Jokinen in the 2008-09 season from the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 30-year-old had his breakout season is 2009-10 when he finished with 30 goals and 65 points.
The Hurricanes acquired defensemen Marc-Andre Bergeron from the Lightning on Tuesday for Adam Hall and have now parted with another forward just a day later. Jokinen is signed through 2013 and the Hurricanes will retain some of his salary.
The deal comes just after Jokinen cleared waivers last week as nobody claimed him from the Hurricanes. The Penguins have had a change of heart, which can easily happen when you lose your star center and are unsure of his return.
The Penguins lost Sidney Crosby after he took a puck to the face this past Saturday and is out indefinitely with a broken jaw. The Penguins responded by losing 4-1 to the Buffalo Sabres in their next appearance, snapping a 15-game winning streak that lasted the entire month of March.
Pittsburgh holds a five-point lead over the Montreal Canadiens for first in the Eastern Conference and have added another piece to the puzzle with playoff experience. Jokinen has 15 points in 27 Stanley Cup playoff games in his career, including 11 points in 18 games in 2009 as the Hurricanes reached the Eastern Conference finals.
Though Jokinen has struggled with Carolina this year, the Finnish center has been great in the faceoff circle, winning 59.4 percent of his draws. Jokinen will fill-in the middle for the Penguins until Crosby returns, which might not happen this season.
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[Image via Creative Commons]
