For Jussi Jokinen, the last few days probably have been the most hectic of his hockey career.

On Thursday, the forward was placed on waivers by the Tampa Bay Lightning. On Friday, he was told he probably would be traded that day — but at the end of the day, there was no trade. Then, suddenly Saturday morning, he was told he had been dealt to the Carolina Hurricanes.

Given 15 minutes to pack, Jokinen was soon on a flight to Phoenix to play against the Coyotes. He was met at the airport by Canes associate head coach Kevin McCarthy for a crash course on Hurricanes hockey as they hurried to Jobing.com Arena in suburban Glendale.

"I got to the rink 15 minutes before game time," Jokinen said today. "I really didn't have time for introductions. It was put my gear on and go play.

"Obviously, it was hard. But I was so excited to go play. I had been pretty frustrated the last few months in Tampa. I was just happy to be on the ice."

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."