Who’s This Guy? – Petteri Nokelainen

Kathy K

October 24, 2011

Petteri Nokelainen – Centre

Number: 15 Height: 6’1” Weight: 191 Shoots: Right Born: January 16, 1986 Birthplace: Imatra, Finland Drafted: New York Islanders, 2004 Round: 1st (16th overall)

The Specs

A bit of journeyman for only being 25 years of age, Nokelainen began his career with the New York Islanders before moving on to Boston, Anaheim, and Phoenix before a stint with Jokerit of the SM-liiga in 2010-11. He returned to the Coyotes this season as a free agent, and he recorded 1 assist in 5 games before being moved to the Canadiens.

The Skinny

If you were looking for Pierre Gauthier’s next big solution to the Canadiens’ offense, this isn’t news to you by now, but this is not it. But Nokelainen is an energy guy with faceoff-winning capabilities who isn’t afraid of contact, corners or every other dirty area on the ice.

What you’ve probably heard by now

Nokelainen is probably best remembered (in some circles, anyway, namely mine) for this classic moment of Carey Price angst as he spent much of his time in Boston (among his many stops) pestering the opposition.

What you may not know

In Montreal Nokelainen is reunited with former New York Islanders teammate Chris Campoli. Both were chosen in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft by the Isles. Nokelainen was selected 16th overall while Campoli was picked 227th.
His name is pronounced PEH-tuh-ree, noh-kuh-LAY-nehn

The Stats

Regular Season						Playoffs
Year	Team	League	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	+/-	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2002-03	SaiPa Lappeenranta	SM-liiga	2	1	0	1	2	1
2003-04	SaiPa Lappeenranta	SM-liiga	40	4	4	8	16	-4
2004-05	SaiPa Lappeenranta	SM-liiga	52	15	5	20	34	-12
2005-06	New York Islanders	NHL	15	1	1	2	4	-1
2006-07	Bridgeport Sound Tigers	AHL	60	6	10	16	51	-11
2007-08	Providence Bruins	AHL	8	3	5	8	4	-1	6	4	1	5	0
2007-08	Boston Bruins	NHL	57	7	3	10	19	0	7	0	2	2	4
2008-09	Boston Bruins	NHL	33	0	3	3	10	-1
2008-09	Anaheim Ducks	NHL	17	4	2	6	6	3	9	0	0	0	2
2009-10	Anaheim Ducks	NHL	50	4	7	11	21	-7
2009-10	Phoenix Coyotes	NHL	17	1	1	2	6	-2	5	0	0	0	2
2010-11	Jokerit Helsinki	SM-liiga	46	11	16	27	116	1
2011-12	Phoenix Coyotes	NHL	5	0	1	1	0	-1