TAMPA, Fla. — Entering the weekend, Henri Jokiharju had assisted on more goals — 10 — than any Blackhawks player not named Patrick Kane. That alone ranked the Finnish defenseman, who has yet to score a goal, sixth among NHL rookies in scoring.
It’s just one way to measure the impact Jokiharju, 19, has made. And it’s just one reason new coach Jeremy Colliton’s decision to scratch him from Friday’s lineup against the Lightning came as a surprise.
Jokiharju also ranked second among rookies with an average ice time of 21:10 and was second in shots on goal, with 50.
“It’s the best league in the world, and we’re not where we want to be,” Colliton said. “I think everyone can be better. So that’s our job, to push the right buttons.”
Jokiharju spent much of the early season alongside Duncan Keith in the team’s top defensive pairing. Since taking over for fired Joel Quenneville about a week into November, Colliton has joined Keith with fellow veteran Brent Seabrook instead. Jokiharju’s two low games in ice time — 17:04 and 17:22 — came in his last three outings.
Brandon Manning replaced Jokiharju in the lineup. Forwards Chris Kunitz and Luke Johnson also were reinserted, replacing Andreas Martinsen and John Hayden.
“A first-year pro, there’s going to be ebbs and flows in your game,” Colliton said. “We want to get him back to his highest level. I think he’s got more to give us, but certainly we really believe in him and think he can be a big part of what we’re doing here. Tonight can be a part of that.”
Colliton didn’t disagree that Jokiharju may have run into a sort of rookie wall.
“I’m sure he’s not loving coming out of the lineup, and that’s fine,” he said. “That goes along with getting feedback from us as far as what he’s got to do to get playing his best again. It’s no problem. He’s a young player, and almost everyone goes through it. He’ll be good for us, I’m sure, going forward.”
It’s indefensible
Colliton’s defensive moves didn’t stop with Jokiharju and Manning. He also put Seabrook with Erik Gustafsson in the first pairing against the Lightning, and Keith with Gustav Forsling in the second.
And how did that work out? Well, it’s probably best not to ask Seabrook and Gustafsson, who were on the ice for three of the Lightning’s four goals in the first period. The other goal came off a Keith turnover.
A happy ending
Let Jonathan Toews, who celebrated Canada’s Thanksgiving holiday in October and America’s version here with his team, have the last word:
“I have two Thanksgivings every year. It’s the best. I’m actually grateful. We just had a team meal in the hotel. It’s family, right? It’s our new family. It’s nice.”
See? Everything’s not so, you know, terrible.