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.
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
