The good news just keeps on coming for Tim Gleason. Not only did he sign a mega-bucks contract with the Canes on Thursday, on Friday the Florida Panthers traded Olli Jokinen to the Phoenix Coyotes for defensemen Keith Ballard and Nick Boynton and a draft pick.
Jokinen knocked Gleason out of the World Championship for a game and a half with a suspension-worthy hit from behind and broke Gleason's foot with a shot during the 2006-07 season.
And what's good news for Gleason is good news for the Canes. Jokinen openly rooted for the Canes to make miss the playoffs in 2007 and killed them during the regular season: he's fifth among active scorers against the Hartford/Carolina franchise with 52 points in 50 career games. (Jaromir Jagr, Joe Sakic, Mats Sundin and Mark Recchi are ahead of him.)
Luke has worked for The N&O since 2000. He covered the Carolina Hurricanes and the NHL before becoming a sports columnist in August 2008. A native of Evanston, Ill., he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. He can be reached at (919) 829-8947, @LukeDeCock on Twitter or
Comments
I think he openly rooted for
Sat, 06/21/2008 - 10:55 — SunI think he openly rooted for us to miss the playoffs.
Good riddance!
Fri, 06/20/2008 - 23:47 — d-lee (not verified)I nearly leapt off the couch when they announced that trade. Now that guy can be a nuicance to someone else.
Good riddance, Olli!