(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
The Carolina Hurricanes have agreed to a two-year, $3.4 million deal with forward Jussi Jokinen. According to Hurricanes' general manager Jim Rutherford, the agreement will pay Jokinen $1.5 million in 2009-10 and $1.9 million in 2010-11.
"Jussi was a good addition to our team last season, and he really stepped into his role in the playoffs. His ability to contribute on the powerplay and the penalty kill, and his versatility at different forward positions makes him a valuable player," said Rutherford.
After Carolina traded for him in early February, Jokinen tallied 11 regular season points and had 12 penalty minutes. But in the playoffs he emerged as an unsung hero, scoring multiple clutch goals late in games—three, to be precise.
He also scored the goal that tied Game Seven of the Canes' first-round series against the Devils at three. In addition, the 26-year-old Finland native matched his regular season point total in seven fewer games in the playoffs.
His most famous dramatic score was his game-winning goal in Game Four of Carolina's first-round playoff series against the Devils, which registered with .2 seconds left in regulation.
The goal became such a sensation that Fox Sports South used the video clip as their promo for the team throughout the remainder of the playoff games they broadcasted.
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