RALEIGH, NC— Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has acquired left wing Jussi Jokinen from Tampa Bay in exchange for Wade Brookbank, Josef Melichar and Carolina’s fourth-round draft pick in 2009. Jokinen will be available for the Hurricanes’ game tonight against the Phoenix Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, AZ.

“Jussi is a skilled, two-positional player that can be used in all situations,” said Rutherford. “He will add depth to our team at an important time of the season.”

Jokinen, 25, has scored six goals and earned 10 assists (16 points) in 46 games this season with Tampa Bay. The Kalajoki, Finland, native is in his fourth NHL season after beginning his North American professional career with Dallas in 2005-06. Jokinen (5’11”, 190 lbs.) has scored 53 goals and earned 108 assists (161 points) in 281 NHL games with Dallas and Tampa Bay since being drafted by the Stars in the sixth round, 192nd overall, in the 2001 NHL Entry draft.