Buffalo Sabers 2024 Player Report Card: Henri Jokiharju

Henri Jokiharju averaged nearly 19 minutes of ice per night for the Buffalo Sabres.

Total season stats: 3-17-20 in 74 matches played

Age: 24

Contract status: Call for tenders pending

Henri Jokiharju has been entrusted with the role of playing alongside some of the Sabres’ top defensive talents this season. He most often played alongside Owen Power (499:28) or Rasmus Dahlin (496:09).

With Power, the duo had a CF% of 45.37 and an xGA of 24.97. With Dahlin, it’s a CF% of 54.99 and an xGA of 17.67. Opponents scored a total of 36 times when Jokiharju and Power or Jokiharju and Dahlin were on the ice together. (Data via Natural Stat Trick). That said, Jokiharju finished the season fourth overall among Sabers players, with minimal time on special teams. His 106 blocked shots ranked fourth on the team, while his 92 hits were ninth.

Offensively, perhaps helped by the fact that he played a lot alongside Dahlin and Power, this was Jokiharju’s best season. He reached a new career high in assists (17) and points (20) and finished with a positive plus/minus rating for the first time in his career. Still, he’s found himself healthy a few times this season, aside from missing a few games here and there due to illness, soreness or injury.

Overall, Jokiharju looked good this season, earning him the honor of playing alongside top defenders like Dahlin and Power. But with him pending an RFA – and with a new head coach in town – it’s possible Kevyn Adams could include him as part of a deal to acquire a bigger player. Jokiharju just signed a three-year contract that saw him earn an AAV of $2.5 million.

P.S. Not that it will play a role, because it won’t and shouldn’t play a role, but did you know that Henri Jokiharju and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen have known each other since they were 16?

Season level: B