Buffalo Sabres Re-Sign RFA Henri Jokiharju to Extension

Another solid year for Henri Jokiharju has earned the Finnish blueliner a new contract for the 2024-25 season, avoiding arbitration for the restricted free agent with the Buffalo Sabres.

JOKI’S BACK! ⚔️

We have signed Henri Jokiharju to a one-year deal worth $3.1 million.

Details: https://t.co/ZXWPf8jCpq pic.twitter.com/4OxM3BoMJv
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) July 5, 2024

It's a one-year deal worth $3.1 million for the 25-year-old, a raise from the $2.5 million AAV he'd been earning on a three-year deal that just expired. He'll become an unrestricted free agent after next season.

The right-shot d-man put up some solid numbers once again, leading the Sabres in plus/minus with a plus-14 rating, and was also fourth on the team in blocked shots, with 106. The 6-foot, 200-pounder handed out 92 hits, and played 19 minutes per night while registering a career-high 20 points (on three goals and 17 assists).

Jokiharju was a first-round pick of the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2017 NHL Draft (29th overall), and was traded to the Sabres in 2019.

He recorded the fourth most minutes per game on the Sabres blueline, and over the last two months of the season, was actually third among Buffalo defenders in ice time. He slots right back into an impressive group that also includes Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power, Bowen Byram, Mattias Samuelsson, and Connor Clifton.

And while a deal was done with one Sabres RFA, another has elected for arbitration.