New Jersey Devils Lock Up Young Forward

The New Jersey Devils took care of some business on Monday as Executive Vice President/General Manager Tom Fitzgerald announced the team has re-signed forward Janne Kuokkanen to a two-year contract worth a total of $3.65 million.

Kuokkanen was a restricted free-agent who is coming off a season where he scored eight times and collected 17 assists in 50 games. The Devils love his compete level and smooth skating, and see him as a nice secondary compliment to some of their high-profile youngsters.

Kuokkanen will make $1.6 million next season and $2.05 million in 2022-23. He was one of 11 Devils rookies who appeared in a game last season, and he ranked sixth in the NHL with 21 even strength points in 2020-21.

The Devils originally acquired Kuokkanen in a trade for defenseman Sami Vatanen with the Carolina Hurricanes. He's spent time in the OHL with the London Knights, professional and junior leagues in Finland, a couple of stops in the AHL, and now has a long-term home with the Devils in New Jersey.

Photo credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports