Can Olli Jokinen become a modern day Kris Draper?

[Mulletman]

Now that Peter Laviolette has ruined OJ's offensive game and made him a 4th line defensive grinder do you guys think he could become a modern day Kris Draper for Nashville Predators?

Olli has really improved defensively and is a +/- 0 despite only putting up 2 points. That's a huge improvement when you consider OJ is -138 for his career despite putting up over 700 Points. Could we see a Kris Draper kind of career for OJ with Nashville were he could win a couple of cups before retiring?

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[ucanthanzalthetruth]

Jokinen is on a 1 year contract. Guessing he won't be back with Nashville next year. While I have lots of respect for Nashville, they aren't winning a Cup this year. So no he will not win Cups with Nashville before retiring.

 

[Pulkcannon]

Well first a team must acquire him for a mere $1

 

[allan5oh]

Jokinen has been a mess defensively for years. He would blow assignments, get in the way of his d-men, and cause utter chaos in his zone. He backchecks hard but doesn't read the play.

At his age it is not likely he will improve much, never mind become one of the better defensive forwards in the NHL.

 

[triggrman]

He's terrible in all zones, he's just too slow. Laviolette has tried him on every line and he has made each line worse. Laviolette didn't ruin him, age did.

 

[jwhouk]

The game in Boston was the worst of the season so far. In fact, I'd argue it was one of the top 30 worst games he's had in the NHL.

 

[ThirdManIn]

Now that Peter Laviolette has ruined OJ's offensive game and made him a 4th line defensive grinder do you guys think he could become a modern day Kris Draper for Nashville Predators?

Olli has really improved defensively and is a +/- 0 despite only putting up 2 points. That's a huge improvement when you consider OJ is -138 for his career despite putting up over 700 Points. Could we see a Kris Draper kind of career for OJ with Nashville were he could win a couple of cups before retiring?

I have two questions.

1) How exactly is it Laviolette's fault?

2) 2011 isn't modern?

 

[JetsHomer]

I doubt Jokinen even gets another contract after this year.

 

[Bakayoko Ono]

He ruined his offensive game all by himself...

He'll be a Jokerit/KHL player next year.

 

[FinRuutu]

Olli Jokinen will follow no path but his own and set an example for younger generations.

HFBoard posters will ask in the future if a player X has become Olli Jokinen of today.

There is no precedent for Olli Jokinen, he is the precedent! All hail the pumpkin head!

 

[MrClutch86]

He sucks

 

[Sniped]

What did Lavy do to get the blame? Honest question because I don't watch the Preds and loved Lavy when he coached the Flyers.

 

[Hockeyfan2390]

Draper had 3 Cup rings by this point in his career.

 

[ThirdManIn]

What did Lavy do to get the blame? Honest question because I don't watch the Preds and loved Lavy when he coached the Flyers.

He got hired to take the place of a guy who couldn't get it done, and Jokinen happened to also fall off of the map at the same time.

So, basically he put on his pants and got the blame.

 

[Mulletman]

What did Lavy do to get the blame? Honest question because I don't watch the Preds and loved Lavy when he coached the Flyers.

He replaced OJ with Mike Ribeiro...

 

[Sarcastic]

A Mulletman Christmas Special.

 

[Combat Koala]

OJ... the original bad luck charm. Watch the Preds get to the Finals and lose in game 7 OT by a crappy shot that deflects off his skate or something.

On a more serious note though I feel it is quite weird that he has regressed this fast. I mean, he had 43 points last season with Winnipeg. Guess he fell of a cliff in the summer. The answer to OP's question in my opinion is no. He isn't that sound defensively from what I can remember (I have not watched Nashville games this season) and he just doesn't have "that" what Draper had. Aaaand he will probably bolt back to Europe after this season.

 

[ThirdManIn]

He replaced OJ with Mike Ribeiro...

Oh, so basically what you're saying is "I haven't actually watched the Predators this year"?

He "replaced" Jokinen with Ribeiro? Ribeiro has been on the top line since the first puck dropped, and Jokinen started on the third line. Ribeiro has kept his spot because he has earned it and deserves it. OJ has done nothing to even justify being on the fourth line

 

[Mulletman]

Oh, so basically what you're saying is "I haven't actually watched the Predators this year"?

He "replaced" Jokinen with Ribeiro? Ribeiro has been on the top line since the first puck dropped, and Jokinen started on the third line. Ribeiro has kept his spot because he has earned it and deserves it. OJ has done nothing to even justify being on the fourth line

Ribeiro should never have been signed. There's a reason Phoenix got rid of him...

OJ should've been the number 1 center. He plays best when he's the number 1 guy.

 

[IAmBobo]

..no

 

[ThirdManIn]

Ribeiro should never have been signed. There's a reason Phoenix got rid of him...

OJ should've been the number 1 center. He plays best when he's the number 1 guy.

Ribeiro is scoring at over .80 PPG, and Jokinen has how many points? Also, you're blaming Laviolette for a signing that Poile made. This series of argument is getting ridiculous, my friend.

I'll take the guy near a PPG over the guy who has 2 points in 33 games on my top line every day of the week.\

 

[Eisen]

First off, I don't think he can. He is just not as good defensively. Second, you realize that Jokinen and Draper are contemporaries? There is nothing "modern day" about that.

 

[silkyjohnson50]

Draper was fast, had high defensive IQ, and was dominant in the dot.

OJ is not fast, doesn't have great defensive instincts, and sucks in the dot.

 

[BusQuets]

OJ is one of the best defensive forwards now. It will be interesting to watch for sure.

 

[DudeWhereIsMakar]

I can see him ending up with the Oilers, Hurricanes, Panthers or Buffalo if he remains in the NHL next year.

But I think he'll end up with one of the Finnish KHL teams.