Janne Kuokkanen was a second-round pick (No. 43) by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2016 NHL Draft and traded to the New Jersey Devils on Feb. 24, 2020.

After the Hurricanes selected Kuokkanen, he played one season with London of the Ontario Hockey League, scoring 62 points (26 goals, 36 assists) in 60 games in 2016-17. He signed a three-year, entry-level contract with Carolina on March 23, 2017.

Kuokkanen made his NHL debut with the Hurricanes on Oct. 17, 2017 and appeared in 12 NHL games the next three seasons, playing most of that time for Charlotte of the American Hockey League.

The 2020-21 season was his first as a full-time NHL player. He scored his first NHL goal Jan. 30, 2021, a 4-3 Devils shootout loss to the Buffalo Sabres. He found chemistry on a line with forwards Jack Hughes and Yegor Sharangovich and finished with 25 points (eight goals, 17 assists) in 50 games.

Kuokkanen signed a two-year contract Aug. 9, 2021.

He also has played for his native Finland at several international tournaments. He helped his country win the 2016 IIHF Under-18 World Championship and played in the IIHF World Junior Championship in 2017 and 2018.

NOTES & TRANSACTIONS

• Traded to New Jersey by Carolina with Fredrik Claesson and a conditional pick in 2020 NHL Draft for Sami Vatanen, February 24, 2020.