CANUCKS ACQUIRE FORWARDS TYLER MOTTE AND JUSSI JOKINEN

Feb 26, 2018

Utica, NY - Vancouver Canucks General Manager Jim Benning announced today that the club has acquired forwards Tyler Motte and Jussi Jokinen from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for forward Thomas Vanek.

Motte, 22, has split the 2017-18 between the Columbus Blue Jackets (3-2-5 in 31 games) and the Cleveland Monsters (9-2-11 in 17 games). He split his rookie professional season in 2016-17 between Chicago Blackhawks (4-3-7 in 33 games) and the Rockford IceHogs (10-6-16 in 43 games).

A native of St. Clair, Michigan, Motte played three seasons at the University of Michigan, registering 105 points (50-55-105) in 107 games from 2013-16. He tallied a career-high 56 points (32-24-56) in 2015-16, earning First Team All-Big Ten honors and being named a finalist for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award that season. He also represented Team USA at the 2016 IIHF World Championships and won a bronze medal at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championships.

Motte was originally selected by Chicago in the fourth round, 121st overall, at the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.

Jokinen, 34, has registered seven points (1-6-7) in 46 games this season split between Edmonton (0-1-1 in 14 games), Los Angeles (1-4-5 in 18 games) and Columbus (0-1-1 in 14 games). In 2016-17, Jokinen played with Florida, serving as an alternate captain and posting 28 points (11-17-28) minutes in 69 games. The 6-0, 198-pound forward has appeared in 937 career NHL games with Dallas, Tampa Bay, Carolina, Pittsburgh, Florida, Edmonton, Los Angeles and Columbus accumulating 553 points (187-366-553). In addition, Jokinen has played in 54 playoff games, posting 32 points (17-15-32). 

Internationally, Jokinen has appeared in over 170 games with Finland national teams, winning silver medals at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Turin, Italy and the 2016 World Hockey Championship in Russia. Overall, he has played in two Olympics Games (2006, 2014), eight World Hockey Championships (2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016), two World Junior Hockey Championships (2002, 2003) and one World U18 Hockey Championship (2001).

A native of Kalajoki, Finland, Jokinen was originally selected by the Dallas Stars in the sixth round, 192nd overall at the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.