Dennis Gilbert will be a healthy scratch on Monday against the Washington Capitals, allowing Jokiharju to re-enter the lineup. The 25-year-old Jokiharju has not played since December 21st. He is averaging 17:55 time-on-ice and has three points (1G / 2A) in 26 games this season.
After being a regular in the lineup to start the season, Jokiharju has not played since November 2nd, missing six straight. The 25-year-old Jokiharju was averaging 18:12 time-on-ice, tallying three points (1G / 2A) in 12 games.
Jokiharju was a surprise scratch on Tuesday along with Mattias Samuelsson, with neither absence being announced prior to warmups. Connor Clifton and Dennis Gilbert will draw into the lineup in their place.
The Sabres and Jokiharju avoid arbitration by agreeing on a one-year deal worth $3.1 million. Jokiharju will be a UFA when the contract is up next July. The 25-year-old blueliner is coming off of the best offensive season of his career, posting a career-best 20 points (3G / 17A) in 74 games. Expect him to be the Sabres' No.4 or No.5 defenseman this year, depending on the status of Matias Samuelsson.
Jokiharju played the last two games after missing the previous two but returns to the sidelines with a day-to-day prognosis due to soreness. In his last two games, Jokiharju has averaged over 19 minutes on ice while tallying seven shots and four hits.
Jokiharju will re-enter the lineup for the Sabres on Monday afternoon as Mattias Samuelsson cannot play due to an upper-body injury. Jokiharju last played on January 9th and has registered three or more hits in three of his last four games.
Jokiharju appears to be the odd-man out on Thursday as Ryan Johnson will draw back into the Sabres lineup. Jokiharju has two goals and seven assists in 35 games this season.
Jokiharju will sit on Thursday as the Sabres will opt to dress Ryan Johnson in his place. Jokiharju has two goals and seven assists in 30 games this season.
Jokiharju did not play on Saturday and has averaged only 12:34 time-on-ice over his last four games after averaging 17:11 in his first 14, which is also when he accumulated all seven points he has this season (2G / 5A). Jokiharju has predominantly skated alongside Owen Power this season on the Sabres' second defensive pairing.
Jokiharju has two goals, five assists, 18 SOG, two PIMs and a +2 plus/minus through 18 games this season but will be a healthy scratch Saturday vs. New Jersey. Isak Rosen will make his debut in Jokiharju's place.
Jokiharju was a late scratch from Tuesday's game, with Sabres head coach Don Granato only hinting that "someone" was feeling under the weather when talking to the media earlier in the day. Jokiharju is off to a relatively productive start to his 2023-24 season, registering two goals and five assists across the first 15 games. Ryan Johnson will draw into the lineup in place of Jokiharju.
Jokiharju has not played since Dec. 9th due to a lower-body injury but was activated off the injured reserve Tuesday. Prior to his injury, the 23-year-old has one goal, three assists, 20 SOG, 12 PIMs and a +2 plus/minus through 16 games.
