Finnish Forward To Make NHL Debut For Carolina Hurricanes

Juha Jaaska will slot in for the injured Tyson Jost.

The Carolina Hurricanes will have a player making their NHL debut tonight as Juha Jaaska is set to play tonight against the Florida Panthers.

The Finnish forward signed a one-year ELC with Carolina over the summer for his first North American deal.

Jaaska, 26, had played the last nine years in Finland's top league, Liiga, where he had picked up 51 goals and 142 points in 310 games.

In 25 games with the Chicago Wolves this season, Jaaska has seven goals and 16 points.

"Right when he came over, he was just very competitive," said Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour. "I think all year, I've been watching him and his pace is good. He can play at this pace for sure and his competitiveness will be what you want. The rest is kind of who knows."

While not a natural center, Jaaska was slotted between Eric Robinson and Jackson Blake at practice this morning and it seems like that will be where he goes at least to start.

"He's not really a center and he'll probably be playing center, but he's played it a little bit down there," Brind'Amour said. "We've kind of used him all over and on the power play, the penalty kill. So we'll see, but I think overall I'm expecting the competitiveness part of it to be NHL-caliber.

"Right from day one when he showed up, you could see it Even in his training. It was everything. A very high compete guy and that's what you want. ... He's not tall, but he's thick and he's not afraid of the physical stuff which is good. At the NHL level, you have to have that."

Jaaska is being called up for Tyson Jost who was injured Tuesday night in Columbus. Jost was called up for the injured Jack Drury.