THREE THINGS: Solid Start for Kuokkanen

Although he's only been with the Devils organization for a short time, Janne Kuokkanen is a key part of the youth movement within the franchise. Kuokkanen joined New Jersey in a trade that sent Sami Vatanen to the Carolina Hurricanes in late February. He only played a handful of games for the Binghamton Devils, and one game for the main squad but there is plenty to like about the forward. Here's Three Things you need to know about Janne Kuokkanen's 2019-20 season presented by Wawa.

1. SOLID FIRST LOOK

When Kuokkanen joined the Devils, he reported to Binghamton to help the team qualify for the playoffs. Right away, Kuokkanen had an impact. In just four games with the club he contributed six points, three goals and three assists. Binghamton's Head Coach Mark Dennehy was complementary of the forward's ability to jump quickly.
"He came in and jumped into the lineup seamlessly," said Dennehy. "He's very attentive to detail and has a really good skill set. He's a very smooth skater with a good change of pace, sees the ice well and is ready to shoot. He has a good release. I think he is an excellent player and that is what he has shown so far."
Kuokkanen impressed New Jersey as the team called him up to Newark at the start of March. After several practices, Kuokkanen made his Devils debut on March 10th against the Pittsburgh Penguins. With the season cut short, Kuokkanen didn't have a chance to continue his strong first impression, but he did show the Devils organization that he is able to fit their systems and contribute.

2. FULL SEASON REVIEW

Since Kuokkanen was traded to the Devils just weeks before the NHL and AHL seasons were postponed, he could only play a handful of games with his new franchise. To appreciate how successful and dynamic he was this year, it's best to look at Kuokkanen's entire 2019-20 season.
Kuokkanen played 52 games with the Charlotte Checkers where he contributed 42 points (12-30). Even more impressive, his 42 points led the Checkers in scoring while he was with the club. He had five power play goals and two game winning goals for Charlotte. Kuokkanen had eleven multi-point games including a stretch of three straight games where he had three points in mid-January. Kuokkanen showed that he can bring offensive power and consistency throughout the 2019-20 season.

3. THE WORK CONTINUES

Last week, the Devils loaned Kuokkanen to Oulun Karpat Oy, a team in Finland's top professional league. Kuokkanen is immediately eligible to play for Karpat which is based in his hometown of Oulu. Karpat has seen some injuries to their roster as of late which will give Kuokkanen an opportunity to play meaningful games for the first time since March.
This transaction will allow the Devils prospect the opportunity to continue his development and shake off any rust from the six months off following the 2019-20 season. Expect Kuokkanen to report to training camp sharp, energized and ready to fight for spot on the Devils roster for the 2020-21 season.

AND ONE MORE THING

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