Olli Jokinen Reacts to Being Traded, Becoming a New York Ranger

Many fans, after watching Jokinen's reaction to be being traded to New York, claim that he does not seem happy. Let's just stop for a second and put things into perspective here.

You were moved to a Hockey-centered city in Calgary just eleven months ago. You were a part of a spectacular franchise in the National Hockey League in the Flames, and have just settled your family in, thinking you will be there long term. Then, in the matter of 48 hours, you are told you are being traded, have to play one last game with that team, and then after that game have to jump on a plane and head out to your next game's location, which will be with an entirely different club and and players. What are the chances of you being "happy?"

This was the case for Olli Jokinen, who said he was looking forward to playing in Calgary for the remainder of his career. Obviously he is going to be excited about playing for the New York Rangers at some point, but at the initial time of the trade, he was leaving an entire squad of friends, and what he may even consider family, to come to a new locker room with a bunch of guys he may or may not know very well. I would have to imagine there is a great level of anxiety that goes along with that.

To view Jokinen's, and Prust's, reaction literally minutes after getting word that he has been traded, you can watch his meeting with the media on TSN.

Olli did mention in that interview, however, that he is looking forward to the opportunity to play with one of the better players in the game right now (Gaborik) and for coach Tortorella. His agent, Todd Diamond, made this comment to Andrew Gross of Ranger Rants :

“Olli is happy to come back East, where he had success,” Diamond said. “I think it’s a good fit.”

Both players are supposed to be available for tonight's game against the Kings, but likely will not take part in the pregame skate.

Also, I will have the pregame preview up later today being that the start time for tonight's contest is 10:30 pm, as well as some quotes from Jokinen's/Prust's meeting with the Rangers media.