Henri Jokiharju

Last updated

Henri Jokiharju
Born (1999-06-17) 17 June 1999 (age 25)
Oulu, Finland
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 199 lb (90 kg; 14 st 3 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Right
NHL team
Former teams
Boston Bruins
Chicago Blackhawks
Buffalo Sabres
National teamFlag of Finland.svg  Finland
NHL draft 29th overall, 2017
Chicago Blackhawks
Playing career 2018present

Henri Jokiharju (born 17 June 1999) is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League (NHL). Jokiharju was selected 29th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round of the 2017 NHL entry draft. [1]

Contents

Playing career

Selected by the Blackhawks at the 2017 NHL entry draft 2017 NHL Entry Draft (34671828754).jpg
Selected by the Blackhawks at the 2017 NHL entry draft

Jokiharju was brought up first in the Jokerit youth program, playing for their under-16 and under-18 teams in 2013–14 and 2014–15, respectively, before joining the under-18 and under-20 teams of Tappara in 2015–16. In his draft eligible year, 2016–17, Jokiharju went to play for the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League (WHL). [2] He posted nine goals and 39 assists in 71 games for a total of 48 points. In the playoffs, the Winterhawks defeated the Prince George Cougars in six games before dropping out in five to the Kelowna Rockets, with Jokiharju adding three assists in 11 games during the playoff run. Jokiharju was named to the Western Conference Second-Team All-Star during the 2017–18 season. [3]

On 12 June 2018, Jokiharju signed a three-year contract with the Chicago Blackhawks. [4] After participating at the Blackhawks training camp, Jokiharju made his NHL debut on 4 October in the Blackhawks' season opener against the Ottawa Senators. [5] In his second game, Jokiharju recorded his first NHL point with an assist on captain Jonathan Toews' goal in a 5–4 overtime win over the St. Louis Blues. [6]

On 9 July 2019, Jokiharju was traded by the Blackhawks to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for fellow first-rounder, Alexander Nylander. [7] On 1 November 2019, Jokiharju scored his first career goal against the Washington Capitals. [8] On 2 September 2021, Jokiharju was re-signed a three-year, $7.5 million contract with the Sabres. [9]

During the 2024–25 season, with the Sabres familiarly out of playoff contention and as a pending free agent, Jokiharju was dealt at the NHL trade deadline to the Boston Bruins in exchange for a fourth-round pick in 2026 on 7 March 2025. [10]

Personal life

Both his father and brother also play ice hockey. His father Juha played professionally, mainly in the Finnish SM-liiga, while his older brother Juho played college ice hockey at Clarkson University from 2015 to 2019. [11]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
2015–16 Tappara Jr. A 47920292031234
2016–17 Portland Winterhawks WHL 719394838110334
2017–18 Portland WinterhawksWHL6312597114123582
2018–19 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 380121216
2018–19 Rockford IceHogs AHL 302151714
2019–20 Buffalo Sabres NHL694111532
2020–21 Buffalo SabresNHL463584
2021–22 Buffalo SabresNHL603161920
2022–23 Buffalo SabresNHL603101330
2023–24 Buffalo SabresNHL743172024
2024–25 Buffalo SabresNHL4233612
NHL totals389197493138
Medal record
Ice hockey
Representing Flag of Finland.svg  Finland
World Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2019 Slovakia
World Junior Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2019 Canada
IIHF World U18 Championship
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2016 United States

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2015 Finland IH18 4th50220
2015 Finland U17 5th51012
2016 Finland U18 Gold medal icon.svg703310
2018 Finland WJC 6th52242
2019 FinlandWJCGold medal icon.svg72352
2019 Finland WC Gold medal icon.svg100332
Junior totals295101516
Senior totals100332

Awards and honours

AwardYear
WHL
West Second All-Star Team 2018

References

  1. Hine, Chris (25 June 2017). "Blackhawks trade down, select D Henri Jokiharju with 29th pick in NHL draft". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  2. "Hawks Select Two Players in CHL Import Draft". winterhawks.com. 28 June 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  3. "Glass, Jokiharju Named to WHL's Western Conference All-Star Teams; Glass Named Most Sportsmanlike Player". winterhawks.com. 31 March 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  4. "Jokiharju agrees to three-year contract with Blackhawks". NHL.com. 12 June 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
  5. Fraser, Callum (4 October 2018). "Blackhawks at Senators preview". NHL.com. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  6. Wescott, Chris (7 October 2018). "RECAP: Blackhawks 5, Blues 4 OT". NHL.com. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  7. "Sabres acquire Henri Jokiharju". Buffalo Sabres. 9 July 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  8. Valentine, Harvey (1 November 2019). "Capitals score four in first period, ease past Sabres". NHL.com. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  9. LaBarber, Jourdon (2 September 2021). "Sabres re-sign Henri Jokiharju to 3-year contract". NHL.com. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  10. "Bruins acquire Henri Jokiharju from Sabres". Boston Bruins. 7 March 2025. Retrieved 7 March 2025.
  11. "2017 NHL Draft: Jokiharju soars to stardom with Winterhawks". whl.ca. 16 June 2017. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Chicago Blackhawks first round draft pick
2017
Succeeded by