Counting the Stars - #36 Jussi Jokinen

Every day this summer (well almost every day anyway...) Defending Big D will count down the greatest players in franchise history (both Dallas and Minnesota), based on the sweater number they wore. Keep coming back for a look at who's the best in Stars history. For a recap on the list so far, click here.

Finally we have an easy pick at a number who also happened to put up very good numbers in his time with the Stars.  While we all loved "The Missing" Link Gaetz when he was with the North Stars, his fists are no match for...

#36 Jussi Jokinen

Jussi was a 6th round pick (192nd overall) of the Stars in the 2001 entry draft, and while he was regarded as one of the Stars upper level prospects while he posted good numbers playing with Karpat in the Finnish SM-liiga, no one ever expected him to make such an impact with the Stars in his rookie season of 05-06 where he had 17 goals, 55 points in 81 games played.  He was the third Dallas Star in as many seasons to be named as a participant of the NHL Young-Stars game that took place that season in Atlanta.

Of course what really made Jussi stand out from all others in his rookie year was his amazing record in the shootout and his ability in the clutch, something all fans learned about half way into the season with a jaw dropping goal that no hockey fan won't soon forget...

Following the jump we finish up his time with Dallas and relive one other very memorable Jussi moment.

The following season he again put up some decent numbers in a support role with 14 goals and 34 assists in a full 82 game season, but at times was a streaky player which many just chalked up to a bit of a sophomore slump.  Unfortunately his third season wasn't starting off much better either, but in mid-November Jussi did have one more memorable night for Stars fans... his four goal game against the Colorado Avalanche.

After that night though impact moments for Jussi were few and three months after that night he was part of the trade that brought Brad Richards to Dallas.  He finished his two and a half seasons in Dallas with 215 games played, 45 goals scored (five of those were game winners), 86 assists and 131 points.  He also played in nine playoff games where he scored two goals and had four points.