The Carolina Hurricanes traded away forward Wade Brookbank, defenseman Josef Melichar and a fourth round pick in the 2009 draft to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for forward Jussi Jokinen on Saturday.
Jokinen, who will continue to wear No. 36, may be available for tonight's game against the Phoenix Coyotes in Glendale, Ariz.
“Jussi is a skilled, two-positional player that will give us depth, whether at wing or center,” Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford said today. “He can play in all situations. He can help kill penalties, he can play the power play, he has had success in shootouts.
"He's an experienced NHL player, a young player coming into his prime."
Jokinen is in the final year of a contract that pays him $1.875 million and will be a restricted free agent after the season. Rutherford said trading Brookbank and Melichar offset picking up the remainder of Jokinen's salary.
Jokinen, a native of Kalajoki, Finland, has six goals and 10 assists in 46 games this season with Tampa Bay. Jokinen, 25, is in his fourth season in the NHL. He began his North American professional career with the Dallas Stars in the 2005-06 season.
"He does a lot of different things," Hurricanes coach Paul Maurice said after the morning skate. "Of course, everybody knows he’s a shooter in the shootout. ... Depth is a word you use sometimes when you talk about guys that play on your bottom. He’s forward depth. He can span the first to fourth line."
The 5-foot-11 Jokinen has 53 goals and 108 assists in his 281-game HHL career in Dallas and Tampa Bay. The Stars drafted him in the sixth round (192nd pick) in 2001.
Brookbank played in 27 games this season, and has played in only two games (5:21) since Maurice took the reins in early December. He had a single goal for the Canes this year, but will be most remembered for the many fights he got into against the Philadelphia Flyers early this season.
Melichar had disappointed in 15 games this season (4 assists, -1) and had been sent down to the Albany River Rats (AHL) after playing only one game for Maurice. The Hurricanes had signed him as a free agent in July.
Rutherford said Jokinen would be at tonight's game against the Phoenix Coyotes, but he may be cutting it close.
"He may not be here right when the puck is dropped, but he will be here," Rutherford said.
If he does play tonight, Maurice said he isn't sure who would not dress, but that it would be a forward.
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at 
Comments
Waivers
Sat, 02/07/2009 - 20:56 — RipskinnyI got an email from my bro-in-law saying the Canes traded for a new player. All I could think was, "Oh God.. not Sean Avery, please NOT Sean Avery...." I was in Detroit when Avery was there and he was a jerk even at fan events, a jerk to kids even - and he'd just entered the NHL!
Clearing waivers isn't necessarily a sign of a bad player. Many/most teams already have salary cap problems and are setting up for the coming trade deadline. Only certain teams would want Jokinen and would also have the trade players whose movement would cover Jokinen's contract. They weren't playing Brookbank or Melichar, but they counted against the cap. If Jokinen works out, great. If not, he's a free agent this summer and you trad ehim or just let him go.
Also, it's very common for a player to play poorly for one team but excel for another. Look how coming to the Canes rejuvenated Sergei Samsonov after Chicago gave up on him. Different coaches, different styles, different line-mates... sometimes an astute GM can pick out a nice match for his team. Jokinen's value is his versatility - he's responsible to defense, can play both the PK and PP units, and can play both wings - very important depth guy as we head towards the play-offs and if injuries mount as they tend to do at the end of the regular season. Brookbank is a one-trick pony and Melichar just did not perform well at all at the NHL level for Carolina. Fourth round pick in the NHL is tough to judge.
While Eric Stahl was a 1st rounder and a cant-miss pick, Detroit stars Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, and Tomas Holmstrom were all 6-7 rounders or lower as I recall, plus they picked up Selke Trophy winner, top penalty killer, and speedster Kris Draper for $1. Draft round means less in the NHL.
Welcome to Carolina, Jussi Jokinen!
well said, for anybody not
Sun, 02/08/2009 - 10:22 — jgrant641well said, for anybody not understanding this trade the above post should clear everything up.
of course with any trade the player has to show up and play well to make it a good trade.
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trade bait
Sat, 02/07/2009 - 18:52 — toddchrissi like the idea but two players and a pick is a lot for a guy who cleared waivers twice.what happens if someone good comes along.two players and a pick could get you someone real good come the trade deadline. now you might have to give up someone you really are not interested in parting with. at least they are trying. we really need someone for shootouts and wake up this dreadful power play.
I thought JJ would be a good
Sun, 02/08/2009 - 08:39 — JRs_FaultI thought JJ would be a good pickup staight from the waiver wire (and said so a couple of days ago, in a different thread).... to also be able to dump the salaries of a guy who's been in the press box for 2 months and one who is getting $1M despite basically not making the team makes the deal all that much sweeter.... a fourth round pick is not a lot to pay and how good of a player do you really expect to get for Melichar & Brookbank??? Jokinen is young, a SO stud, and he plays in all situations (was on the PK in his first game last night).
sympathy
Sat, 02/07/2009 - 18:51 — yonse2Now boys, the Coyotes have lost five straight. Let's not feel sorry for them, eh!
Suprize,Suprize,Suprize
Sat, 02/07/2009 - 17:59 — esteban1949But from what i have read in the TB paper & blogs...most felt that when jokinen was traded from dallas to tb, jokinen seemded to flounder and wasn't playing up to his potential.
i am not sure how JR pulled this off, but if this does work out ...well then maybe, just maybe, giving up a 4th round draft pick, might payoff. Only time will tell. I fel that TB will get some good use out of both brookbank,and malichar as malichar has been doing well for the Albany River Rats...who are now tied 1-1 with portland with 18:12 left in the 2nd period...Go Rats Go Canes !!
Jokinen trade?
Sat, 02/07/2009 - 17:32 — sarasota_canes_fanHasn't Jokinen been placed on waivers twice in the last few weeks? Why would JR give away a draft pick for a player who has cleared waivers twice??
yes he cleared
Sat, 02/07/2009 - 18:01 — esteban19492 times...once in december...and again just this week..
hope this helps...Go Canes !!
He did clear waivers
Sat, 02/07/2009 - 17:55 — Javier_SernaHe did clear waivers recently, but this way, the Canes were able to unload Melichar's and Brookbank's salary.
Thank You JR
Sat, 02/07/2009 - 17:08 — abramsdougAgreed. Jokinen is exactly the kind of player the Hurricanes need. I'd still like to see the Hurricanes add one more center/forward with size; but from what I've read, Jokinen might well be a player who brings firepower to the powerplay. I get the impression Jokinen simply was not happy in Tampa; and the Hurricanes tend to be a team capable of bringing out the best in players like Jokinen.
Thank You JR!!!!
Sat, 02/07/2009 - 17:02 — lmit61Thank you JR. I think this is a great move on your part! Check out some of Jokinen's sweet moves on u tube. This is just what the Canes needed. Now if you can order up one more player just like Rutuu & I will be able to sleep like a happy caniac tonite!!!!!
GO CANES!!!
any idea...
Sat, 02/07/2009 - 15:07 — jgrant641what line he could be seeing time on tonight?
nice move by the way.
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