Sabres re-sign Jokiharju to 1-year, $3.1M deal

The Buffalo Sabres re-signed restricted free-agent rearguard Henri Jokiharju to a one-year deal worth $3.1 million, the team announced Friday.

The 25-year-old can become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

Jokiharju posted a career-high 20 points (three goals, 17 assists) in 74 outings this past season while registering 18:22 minutes of ice time per contest. Eleven of his points came in the 33 games following the All-Star break.

A right-handed shot, Jokiharju spent the bulk of the 2023-24 campaign paired with youngster Owen Power or star Rasmus Dahlin.

The Chicago Blackhawks selected Jokiharju with the 29th overall pick in the 2017 draft. He spent his first NHL campaign in the Windy City but was traded to Buffalo in July 2019 in exchange for forward Alex Nylander.

Jokiharju has amassed 87 points in 347 career NHL games.

The Sabres also traded prospect Matt Savoie to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for center Ryan McLeod and winger Tyler Tullio on Friday.

Buffalo has three remaining restricted free agents on its roster: forwards Peyton Krebs and Beck Malenstyn (acquired from the Washington Capitals in late June) and goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.

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