Olli Jokinen – Panthers Den of Honor

In June 2000, the New York Islanders traded Olli Kokinen along with goaltender Roberto Luongo to the Florida Panthers for Mark Parrish and Oleg Kvasha. Jokinen would define his career as a Panther and set a new standard for the future. After seven seasons, he left his mark in South Florida as one of the greatest to ever don the Panther jersey.

Career Outlook

Drafted third overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the 1997 NHL Draft, Jokinen played there for only two seasons before he was traded to the Islanders. Like in LA, his time on Long Island was short-lived, and he was traded to the Panthers after just one season.

He struggled in his first two seasons in South Florida, only notching 37 points (15 goals, 30 assists) in 158 games. However, he blossomed in his third season. In 2002-03, he scored 65 points (36 goals, 29 assists) through 81 games and was named Florida’s representative at the 2003 All-Star Game. He was named captain the following season, the fifth in Panthers history.

In the 2006-07 season, he reached his highest point total to date with 91 (39 goals, 52 assists) through a full 82-game schedule, which ranked fourth in goals and points in a single season in franchise history. He was not as successful the following season with 71 points (34 goals, 37 points) through another full campaign. Unfortunately, that was his last in a Panther uniform as he was traded to the Phoenix Coyotes during the 2008 NHL Draft for Keith Ballard, Nick Boynton, and a second-round selection in that same draft.

He left Florida with the most goals in franchise history at 188, the most game-winning goals with 36, fifth in games played with 567, fourth in assists with 231, second in power-play goals with 65, and tied for fourth in shorthanded goals with eight.