D-man Jokiharju agrees to 3-year deal with Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks signed defenseman Henri Jokiharju to a three-year entry-level deal Tuesday.
Jokiharju, whom the Hawks took 29th overall in last year's draft, had 12 goals and 59 assists for the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League.
The 6-foot, 180-pound Jokiharju will be 19 when training camp rolls around in September. Unless someone is traded, he will compete for a roster spot with a host of other young defenders, including Gustav Forsling, Carl Dahlstrom, Blake Hillman and possibly restricted free agent Adam Clendening.
Said general manager Stan Bowman of Jokiharju after the Hawks drafted him last June: "He can defend, but he can also get up the ice and join the rush and make things happen with the puck on the blue line. He can move around, play on the power play. I like that part of his game."