8th year defenseman Jyrki Jokipakka(23) was not issued a qualifying by Ottawa Senators after a trade deadline deal sent him there from Calgary Flames, where he ended up after another deal with draft squad Dallas Stars.
He was basically on a one-way contract, so based on numbers may have been in for at least a modest pay bump on his two-year deal that was originally signed by Dallas.
The fairly good-sized blue liner was thus an unrestricted free agent and signed a pto to join Washington Capitals‘ training camp but that did last too long before he was released.
With 150 NHL games mostly over the last two season, he next takes his experience to the KHL signing for the remainder of the calendar with HK Sochi.
The 26-year old may just find a better sheet of ice to fit his needs in Russia but ultimately heading back home to finish out in Liiga wouldn’t suck either.
Jyrki Jokipappa(2) Dallas Stars
Dallas Stars‘ 7th round deep pick in the 2011 draft (#195 overall) 5th year Finnish-born defenseman Jyrki Jokipappa(2) won a Calder Cup in his rookie season on reassignment with affiliate Texas Stars.
In 21 playoff games he had 5 assists and was a +8.
The rangy 6’3″ 210 lbs. blue liner was a late training camp cut showing in preseason action he was ready to step up his efforts.
In 23 NHL games he already has 6 assists.
In 19 AHL games he struck for 3 goals and 2 assists.
With 3 years of pro hockey under his belt with Ilves of Liiga, the top league in Finland, he’s one of many new international players that are taking that route to North America.
He was even loaned back in the first season of his three-year entry level deal to continue his development overseas before arriving here and is set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the current campaign.
The 23-year old will easily be given a qualifying offer for another year, if not tied up for another two.