Jokinen

[Steve Dave]

I've had read on a Canes' board that Jokinen produces better as a winger than playing center.
Where do you envision him playing next season? Would he do well on Malkin's LW?

Kunitz Crosby Dupuis*
Jokinen Malkin Neal
Cooke* Sutter Bennett
Glass Vitale Adams*

[oliasphodel]

no more Adams please

[sil]

with Sutter.

[GenoMachino71]

Probably 2nd or 3rd line wing....

and Crosby/Malkin fill in at center on a top 2 line if/when one of them get hurt

[pfim]

He looked very slow in the playoffs, and I don't think he can realistically play center for an extended amount of games.

[GSdrums87]

A third line of Jokinen-Sutter-Bennett is scary talented. Perhaps it even helps Sutter open up his offensive game a bit more as well.

[darkstar57]

He looked very slow in the playoffs, and I don't think he can realistically play center for an extended amount of games.

He took a puck off his foot the last game of the year, wouldn't be surprised if he was hurt, broken foot or something

[Idoit40fans]

He looked very slow in the playoffs, and I don't think he can realistically play center for an extended amount of games.

Looked as slow as people seem to think Sutter is. Sutter meanwhile looked to be moving better and better as the playoffs went on.

[Dickie Dunn]

He looked very slow in the playoffs, and I don't think he can realistically play center for an extended amount of games.

Looked as slow as people seem to think Sutter is. Sutter meanwhile looked to be moving better and better as the playoffs went on.

One thing I have learned from this board is that apparently everyone is slow. Need more Fata and Koltsov.

[pfim]

He looked very slow in the playoffs, and I don't think he can realistically play center for an extended amount of games.

Looked as slow as people seem to think Sutter is. Sutter meanwhile looked to be moving better and better as the playoffs went on.

Sutter played well the entire playoffs, people be trippin'.

[MRandall25]

Probably echoing sentiments, but Jokinen is definitely better suited for top 6 play than he is for the bottom 6.

Perhaps he may have been slow, but how much of that is because he was playing with a bunch of 4th liners as opposed to Kunitz and Dupuis (who he looked fine with, IMO)

[pfim]

I'm just basing it off what I saw in the defensive zone re: Jokinen. He couldn't keep up, he belongs on the wing whether it's the 1st line or 4th.

[columbia]

I'm pretty ambivalent about Jokinen. It's nice to have a player who can be plugged into all 12 F positions and not really hurt you.

Is that worth $2.1M? Probably not. Besides, they can pay Jeffrey 1/3 the money, if that's the minimum standard for a utility F.
(Of course, Jeffrey doesn't appear to have the capacity to actually help very much.)

[pcm]

Jokinen makes a good "play anywhere" fill in. But he was mud in the playoffs. I think though that Jeffrey can fill that role decently as well, and save the team $1m+.

[MRandall25]

I'm just basing it off what I saw in the defensive zone re: Jokinen. He couldn't keep up, he belongs on the wing whether it's the 1st line or 4th.

I'd agree with that.

[shmenguin]

A third line of Jokinen-Sutter-Bennett is scary talented. Perhaps it even helps Sutter open up his offensive game a bit more as well.

as a skill player, bennett's development is going to be stunted if they put him with sutter.

whatever line sutter is on is a defense line. might as well re-sign adams and put him and vitale with sutter.

[murphydump55]

Bylsma already said that Bennett will be a top 6 player next year.

[Geezer]

Bylsma already said that Bennett will be a top 6 player next year.

Why believe anything he says?

[Steve Dave]

If true, which wing is Bennett better suited (LW/RW)? Also, which center would his talent be better suited for (Crosby/Malkin)?

[Crankshaft]

If true, which wing is Bennett better suited (LW/RW)? Also, which center would his talent be better suited for (Crosby/Malkin)?

Well, if they re-sign Dupuis, then Bennett will go to Malkin's line by default because Bylsma will NEVER break up his Kunitz-Crosby-Dupuis line.

But, I would give Bennett first crack on Crosby's line.

[canaan]

Jokinen produces in a top 6 role and primarily as a center in that top 6...if hes not in that role, his productivity has and will continue to suffer. its the same spiel that had him scratched and struggling in carolina. if you put him in the bottom 6, its a waste, outside of faceoff situations.

[no name]

Bennett in the top 6 with jokinen on the 3rd line. It is nice to knwo we got such a quality depth guy on reserve for a top 6 roll if needed.

[TheHammer24]

I expect Jokinen will be our compliance buyout.

[Pitt87]

I expect Jokinen will be our compliance buyout.

How does eliminating a one-year contract for $2.1 million --especially for a guy that could legitimately help fill open spots on the roster next year -- help?

[Henry Hank]

Because they're going to have a really tough time fitting under the cap for the coming season. Jokinen's probably a luxury they can't afford.