A day after signing Alexei Ponikarovsky to a one-year, $1.8 million contract, the Winnipeg Jets have added another veteran forward.
Olli Jokinen has agreed to a two-year, $9 million deal with the Jets, according to TSN’s Darren Dreger.
Jokinen hasn’t been a point-per-game player since his days with the Florida Panthers, but he did have 23 goals and 61 points in 82 games with the Calgary Flames in 2011-12.
Between those two signings, Winnipeg has meaningfully bolstered their top three lines and put themselves in a situation where they should get some secondary scoring.
Jokinen might end playing alongside restricted free agent Evander Kane. Bryan Little and Nik Antropov will then probably center the second and third lines respectively, assuming the Jets make no other changes.
This signing might also result in prospect Mark Scheifele getting some more development time before he earns a permanent spot with the Jets.
It’s a two-year deal, so the Jets have limited the risk involved. Overall, this doesn’t look like a bad deal for them.
