Jari Kurri

Jari Pekka Kurri (born 18 May 1960) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey player who played right wing for five NHL teams starting in 1980: the Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, and Colorado Avalanche. Before joining the NHL, he played for Jokerit in Finland’s SM-liiga, and he moved from the Finnish junior national team to the senior national team in just two years. The Oilers selected him in the fourth round of the 1980 NHL draft, and he played for them that same season.

Over 17 NHL seasons—plus one season in Italy’s Serie A with Devils Milano—Kurri was known for his quick release. He scored at least 30 goals in each of his first ten NHL seasons, led the league in goals one year, and topped all skaters in playoff goals four times, including tying the all-time postseason record with 19 in 1985. Though he never won the Frank J. Selke Trophy for defense, he earned the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship in 1985.

Kurri won the Stanley Cup five times, all with the Oilers, making him one of only seven players to be part of every Edmonton championship team. In 1992, he became the 18th NHL player and first Finn to reach 500 goals, and in his final season, 1997, he became the eighth player to hit 600 goals. His No. 17 jersey has been retired by both the Oilers and Jokerit. Internationally, he played for Finland’s national team, winning a bronze medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics.

He was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2000 and the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001. After retiring, Kurri served as general manager of the Finnish national team from 2003 to 2014, then became GM of Jokerit in 2013, owner in 2019, and sold the team in 2022. In 2017, he was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players.