Pens acquire Jokinen at deadline

The Jussi details on Jokinen

By Brian Metzer 

Beaver County Times Sports Correspondent | Posted: Wednesday, April 3, 2013 9:41 pm

http://www.timesonline.com

Ray Shero rarely passes on an opportunity to improve his team, which is why the Penguins general manager was working the phones again on Wednesday afternoon.

Loking to add depth, even after acquiring Jarome Iginla, Brenden Morrow and Douglas Murray over a four-day span last week, Shero acquired Jussi Jokinen, a versatile left wing, from the Carolina Hurricanes for a conditional sixth or seventh-round draft pick in this year's draft.

“His versatility is really important to us,” Shero said via the team website. “Jokinen is a proven NHL player. He’s a very smart player, good stick. He can play with good players, but also can move around the lineup, left wing, right wing and center.”

If not for Sidney Crosby's jaw injury, the move might not have been made. Shero said he was uncomfortable shifting Tyler Kennedy to center, a position he hadn’t played often at the NHL level.

“With Sid being out we didn’t want to take any chances with our depth,” Shero said. “(Jokinen) gives us versatility and depth with Sid out.

“Tyler Kennedy has been playing good hockey for us lately. We’ve had (Kennedy) in the middle in the past for short-term, but he’s better suited back on the wing.”

Jokinen gives the Penguins another capable forward who can play in any situation, including the penalty kill. He will likely skate on the third or fourth line when the team has its full complement of players, but is expected to slide in between Chris Kunitz and Pascal Dupuis to start.

The 30-year-old has won 59.4 percent of his faceoffs this season; slotting him just behind center Joe Vitale’s team-leading 63 percent. He has posted 11 points (six goals) and is minus-8 on the season.

“He’s a very good faceoff guy, can kill penalties, play the power play,” Shero said. “It just adds that skill. He’s good on the half-wall with the puck. He’s got the hockey sense to play with good players.”