News update:Sabres Jokiharju Overlooked in Breakout Season

Last month when I talked about a few of the things that have actually gone right for the Buffalo Sabres this season, I failed to include one player in particular and it’s time to correct that.

Much like some of the others on that list, Henri Jokiharju has been outstanding in 2023-24 but the team’s struggles have prevented him from receiving anywhere near the amount of credit he deserves. He’s emerged as a complete defenseman and has been the Sabres’ best blueliner in a season where that group has needed it badly.

It’s important to remember the disadvantages that come with being a defensive defenseman. The NHL loves flashy displays of skill and has always prized blueliners who light up the score sheet. The Norris Trophy for Defenseman of the Year is almost awarded for offensive merit and has little to do with actual positional play.

Defensive defensemen are the unsung heroes of hockey and are tasked with shutting down opposing forwards while also providing the balance that their offensive counterparts need to trek up ice. They bear the brunt of their position but rarely receive any fanfare because they don’t possess the same glowing statistics. It’s an unfair double standard, but it’s the reality of the NHL nevertheless.

Throughout his entire career to this point, Jokiharju has been the embodiment of such. Though known as a scorer in his junior days, he adopted a stay-at-home style when he debuted with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2018 and that continued after he was traded to Buffalo the following summer in one of the team’s best moves in recent memory. It works well in the scope of the Sabres and he’s a perfect counterpoint for the likes of Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power. However, he’s also had his ups and downs.

Defense has been the Sabres’ Achilles heel dating back several years. Their blue-line corps has long lacked cohesiveness and has played a major role in the team’s ongoing 12-season playoff drought. Jokijarhu has felt the sting of that more than most. He had to fight to keep his place in the lineup during the COVID-shortened 2021 season and found himself demoted to the team’s Taxi Squad on a few occasions. He’s also struggled with injuries and missed significant time each of the following two seasons

As a result, the Finn has become a popular target of fan ire, but it’s not entirely justified. He’s had his issues with consistency over the years but he’s far from the only one. No one member of the Sabres’ defense is entirely responsible for its struggles. Even Dahlin, who has emerged as a bona fide star, isn’t free of blame. It’s to be expected with a group as young as the Sabres have, which is why they finally decided to do something about it this past summer by signing veterans Connor Clifton and Erik Johnson to provide stability and guidance.