RALEIGH, NC – Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has agreed to terms with forward Jussi Jokinen on a three-year contract. The deal will pay Jokinen $3 million per season.

“Jussi is a player who fit in with our team from day one in all situations, and has been a valuable offensive contributor,” said Rutherford. “He feels that he has found a home in Carolina, and we are glad that he has chosen to stay with the Hurricanes.”

Jokinen, 28, completed his sixth NHL season in 2010-11, and ranked tied for fourth among Hurricanes in scoring with 52 points in 70 games. The Kalajoki, Finland, native was third on the team in assists (33) and second on the team in power-play goals (8). Jokinen (5’11”, 198 lbs.) earned his 100th point with the Hurricanes with a goal against Washington on Dec. 26 at the RBC Center, and skated in his 400th career NHL game on November 5 in Florida. Jokinen netted his 100th NHL goal on Feb. 26 against Montreal at Bell Centre, and was selected by the Carolina chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association as the winner of the “Good Guy” Award for media cooperation following the season.

Originally drafted by the Dallas Stars in the sixth round, 192nd overall, of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, Jokinen has totaled 103 goals, 186 assists (289 points) and 154 penalty minutes in 457 regular-season games with Dallas, Tampa Bay and Carolina. He has earned 15 points (9g, 6a) in 27 career Stanley Cup playoff games, including three game-winning goals in Carolina’s run to the 2009 Eastern Conference Finals. Acquired by the Hurricanes from the Lightning in exchange for Wade Brookbank, Josef Melichar and a fourth-round pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft on Feb. 7, 2009, Jokinen has scored 50 goals and added 78 assists (128 points) in 176 regular-season games with Carolina. Jokinen is the NHL’s all-time leader in shootout goals, finding the net 28 times in 60 career attempts (46.7%).