No other defenseman on the Buffalo Sabres is facing more pressure next season than Henri Jokiharju. Where does he rank in the Sabres rotation?
If there is one defenseman on the Buffalo Sabres that may qualify as a potential misfit, it is Henri Jokiharju. Last season, the Finnish native found himself on the first defensive pairing with All-Star Rasmus Dahlin.
By the end of the season, Mattias Samuelsson proved to be the better complement to Dahlin and Jokiharju teamed with Owen Power on the second pairing. Now, general manager Kevyn Adams has made it clear he wants to at least explore the idea of signing a veteran defenseman to mentor Power.
If that occurs, where will Jokiharju line up? Logistically, he will end up on the third pairing with either Casey Fitzgerald or Jacob Bryson if the latter returns. Or, what’s not to say the Sabres use him in a rotational role?
Where does Buffalo Sabres defenseman Henri Jokiharju stand?
The stay-at-home defenseman showed definite growth in 2021-22. Initially, Jokiharju and Dahlin did not look like a decent pairing, with opponents taking advantage of and scoring on the pair seemingly multiple times per game.
But, the duo grew as time passed, and Jokiharju proved to be a decent complement to the offensive-minded Dahlin. And while Jokiharju did not impress from a statistical standpoint in any category, his 21:53 minutes of ice time showed that his productivity simply didn’t reflect the stat sheet.
Head coach Don Granato also trusted Jokiharju on the power play this past season. And while his 19 points (three goals, 16 assists) were not jaw-dropping, they were also nothing to scoff at. Most of the Sabres faithful will agree Jokiharju’s biggest test came in the final eight games when Granato asked him to pair with Owen Power.
Jokiharju passed the test easily, letting Power play his own, two-way game. And it ended with the rookie scoring three points in the final eight contests. So, now for the burning question: Does Jokiharju continue to pair with Owen Power next season?
Obviously, there is talk of Adams bringing in an accomplished veteran. But, Sabres brass may wind up keeping Jokiharju with Power. He made a strong case in 2022, that’s for sure. We will find out what will happen in October.
Article Source: Buffalo Sabres 2021-22 Report Card: Henri Jokiharju by Matthew Morris