Olli Jokinen

Lore & Background

Jokinen began his professional career in Finland with KalPa and HIFK, winning the Jarmo Wasama memorial trophy as SM-liiga rookie of the year in 1997. He was selected third overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the 1997 NHL entry draft and made his NHL debut on October 1, 1997, against the Pittsburgh Penguins. After a brief stint with the Kings, he was traded to the New York Islanders and then to the Florida Panthers, where he spent his most productive years.

With the Panthers, Jokinen served as captain from 2003 to 2008 and played in the 2003 All-Star Game. He led the team in scoring for five consecutive seasons and set franchise records for goals (188), assists (231), and points (419). He was traded to the Phoenix Coyotes in 2008 and later to the Calgary Flames in March 2009, with whom he made his first Stanley Cup playoff appearance after 799 regular-season games—an NHL record at the time.

Reader's Guide

Olli Jokinen's career is defined by his late-blooming success and his role as a franchise cornerstone for the Florida Panthers. After being criticized early in his NHL career as a potential bust, he broke out under coach Mike Keenan in 2002–03, scoring 36 goals and 65 points. He went on to post career highs of 39 goals and 91 points in 2006–07. His durability was notable: he played 397 consecutive games before a shoulder injury ended the streak in 2008.

Internationally, Jokinen was a four-time Olympian for Finland, winning a silver medal in 2006 and bronze medals in 2010 and 2014. He also won multiple silver and bronze medals at the World Championships and played for Finland in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey. His 1,000th NHL game came in 2012. Jokinen's legacy includes holding the Panthers' all-time scoring records and being part of a trade that sent him to Calgary, where he finally experienced playoff hockey after a record-long wait.

Did You Know?

• He was named best forward of the 1998 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, leading Finland to a gold medal.
• Jokinen's skate accidentally cut teammate Richard Zedník's throat during a game in 2008, nearly killing him.