Devils re-sign Janne Kuokkanen on two-year, $3.65M contract

Sportsnet Staff @SportsnetAugust 09, 2021 - 4:09pm

New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes (86) celebrates his goal with forward Janne Kuokkanen (59) during the first period of the team's NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres, Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Buffalo, N.Y. (Jeffrey T. Barnes / AP)

NEWARK, N.J. — Finnish forward Janne Kuokkanen has signed a two-year contract to return to the New Jersey Devils.

General manager Tom Fitzgerald said the 23-year-old restricted free agent will earn $1.6 million this season and more than $2 million in 2022-23.

Locked up. #NEWS: We have re-signed Janne Kuokkanen to a two-year deal. Check the link for the details.

Welcome back, Janne! https://t.co/D7E5cPwd9x

— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) August 9, 2021

Kuokkanen had eight goals and 17 assists in 50 games last season. His goal/assist/point totals ranked second among Devils’ rookies. His 21 even-strength points ranked sixth among all NHL rookie skaters.

Kuokkanen started last season in Finland’s top pro league, totalling three goals and four assists in 16 games.

The left-handed shooting forward has played in 62 career NHL games. He was Carolina’s second-round selection in the 2016 draft. He was acquired by the Devils along with Fredrik Claesson and Carolina’s conditional fourth-round pick in the 2020 NHL draft for defenseman Sami Vatanen in February 2020.

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