Comments / New

Dallas Stars Recall Defenseman Jyrki Jokipakka, Place Valeri Nichushkin on IR

With defenseman Patrik Nemeth out for an extended period of time after suffering a severe wrist laceration in Saturday’s overtime loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, the Dallas Stars have recalled prospect Jyrki Jokipakka to fill the roster hole left by his absence.

Jokipakka has a goal and a plus-one rating in three games with the reigning AHL champion Texas Stars this season after posting 21 points in 68 regular season games last year. He was one of the later cuts from this season’s training camp in Dallas as well. At 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, he’s not quite the bulky defensive presence Nemeth provided, but he’s not a small player either.

The Stars made room on the roster for the addition by placing winger Valeri Nichushkin on injured reserve with a groin injury. It wasn’t mentioned in the release, but I assume the move was retroactive to early last week, when he left practice early with a reaggravation of the injury that had been bothering him all training camp. A player needs to miss at least one week of time to be eligible for IR, and a retroactive placement would mean he’s eligible to come off as soon as he’s healthy.

Nichushkin joins Sergei Gonchar on the Stars regular IR with Rich Peverley on LTIR.

The full release from the team is below:

Dallas Stars General Manager Jim Nill announced today that the club has recalled defenseman Jyrki Jokipakka from the Texas Stars, Dallas’ top development affiliate in the American Hockey League

Jokipakka, 23, has appeared in three games for Texas this season recording one point (1-0=1), which was a power play goal, and a +1 plus/minus rating. During the 2013-14 season, he appeared in 68 regular season games posting 21 points (5-16=21). In helping Texas to their first Calder Cup championship in 2014, he posted five assists (0-5=5) and a +8 plus/minus rating in 21 postseason games played.

The 6-foot-3, 205-pound native of Tampere, Finland was selected by Dallas in the seventh round (195th overall) of the 2011 NHL Draft.

The Dallas Stars also placed right wing Valeri Nichushkin on Injured Reserve.

Talking Points