Helsinki Jokerit announces that forward Henri Nikkanen is moving to Helsinki on a two-year contract.

The 25-year-old product of Mikkelin Jukurit has played the last two seasons with SaiPa and has risen to the elite of Liiga centers. In the recently concluded season, Nikkanen recorded 56 points with 27 goals and 29 assists in 60 regular-season games. In the playoffs, he accumulated 11 points with 7 goals and 4 assists in 14 games.

Before joining SaiPa, Nikkanen played in Liiga for Jukurit and Pelicans. He has a total of 230 regular-season games in Liiga.

Nikkanen is a fourth-round draft pick of the Winnipeg Jets from 2019. Before moving to SaiPa, he played four seasons in the AHL with the Manitoba Moose.

– Henri is exactly the kind of center that every team needs to win games: He scores points, wins face-offs, and defends well, says Jokerit’s sports director Olli-Pekka Yrjänheikki.

Nikkanen describes himself as a two-way center who can help both offensively and defensively.

– It will be a year of pressure, but under pressure, good players are at their best, so let’s go enjoy it. It will definitely be a great year for the players and fans, Nikkanen exclaims.

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