THE CANADIAN PRESS
OTTAWA — The Florida Panthers traded captain Olli Jokinen to the Phoenix Coyotes for defencemen Nick Boynton and Keith Ballard and a second-round draft pick on Friday.
In Jokinen, the Coyotes get a top forward who has scored 70 points or more in the least of the last three seasons. Thie Finnish star had his best season in 2006-07, where he scored 39 goals and added 52 assists in 82 games.
Jokinen had been with the Panthers since the 2000-01 season after brief stints with Los Angeles and the New York Islanders, but according to reports he had recently asked for a trade. The 29-year-old has two years and US$10.75 million left on his contract.
“I knew it was going to happen because the team was shopping me around,” Jokinen told Rogers Sportsnet. “I had heard all sorts of rumours but Phoenix surprised me. I’m just happy I’m going to team that really wants me.
“I’m really excited to play under Wayne Gretzky and to get the opportunity to meet him. I don’t know the Coyotes well because I haven’t played against them in years but they have character guys like Shane Doan and Ed Jovanovski. They haven’t made the playoffs in a long time and I will do everything I can to help change that.”
Ballard, 25, had six goals and 15 assists in 82 games for the Coyotes last season. He’s in the final year of a deal that will pay him $2.5 million.
Boynton, 29, scored three goals and added nine assists and 125 penalty minutes in 79 games. He’ll make $2.95 million in 2008-09, the final year of his deal.
In a separate move, the Columbus Blue Jackets acquired winger R.J. Umberger and a fourth-round pick from the Philadelphia Flyers for the 19th overall pick and a third-round pick. The Flyers likely needed to create salary cap room to re-sign forward Jeff Carter. Umberger is a restricted free agent July 1.
“I talked to (Columbus coach Ken Hitchcock) and he sounded excited to have me,” Umberger told Rogers Sportsnet. “He told me I can look forward to big minutes so I look at it as a great opportunity.”
