This summer, Spencer Lazary and I will continue our series with more potential free agent targets that could be on the market on July 1st.
Today, we look at 7-year vet Henri Jokiharju.
Target: Henri Jokiharju - RD - Age: 25 - 7 Years Experience
Henri Jokiharju was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2017 as the 29th overall pick. On July 9, 2019, after playing just a single season with Chicago, he was traded to the Buffalo Sabres for old CBJ friend Alex Nylander. He spent the next 6 seasons with the Sabres before being traded again. This time, he was sent to the Boston Bruins on March 7, 2025.
Stats
Jokiharju played in 60 games between the Sabres and Bruins. On two bad teams, he managed to score 3 goals and total 10 points, while having a plus-13 rating. Not bad for a defenseman on two struggling teams.
Previous Salary
He signed a 1 year, $3,100,000 deal with Buffalo in 2024. Contract experts put his next at 3-years and $3.6 million per season.
Realistic Chances Of A Signing: Warm
Currently, the CBJ are light on right-shot D-Men, with only Damon Severson and Erik Gudbranson signed for next season. In Cleveland, they only have Corson Ceulemans, Charlie Elick, and Luca Marrelli signed. Of those three, Ceulemans would probably be the one to get a shot first. This is why I think that Don Waddell should take a hard look at Henri Jokiharju.
He's not expensive and would fill a dire need at RD. He's not terribly physical, but with a frame of 6-feet, 200lbs, he could very easily slot in on the third pairing.
This is a call that Don Waddell should make.
Let us know what you think below.
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