Oilers trade Jokinen for Cammalleri

In what was a rather unexpected move, the Jussi Jokinen experiment has come to an end in Edmonton.

According to Nick Kypreos, the Oilers have traded Jokinen to the LA Kings in exchange for Mike Cammalleri. The deal is one-for-one.

The Oilers signed Jokinen to a one-year, $1.1 million contract this past off-season. Similarly, the Kings had just signed Cammalleri to a one-year, $1 million contract this past off-season.

In 14 games played, Jokinen has been unable to produce points as he has in years past scoring only one assist. On the other hand, Cammalleri has scored three goals and four assists in the Kings 15 games this season.

While you look at both players and likely say “wow, they are still in the league,” the Oilers appear early on to have won the deal looking at pure box score numbers. Jokinen wasn’t able to produce points like he was needed to meanwhile Cammalleri has been able to do that this year.

Given their limited usage on their respective teams to start the year, this seems like neither coaching staff were able to trust the player enough.

Last year, Cammalleri scored 31 points in 61 games for a lowly Devils squad. It was his fifth straight season where he put up over 30 points, so not bad for a guy who is near the end of his career.

Bob Stauffer tweeted that this isn’t the first time that the team has tried to acquire Cammalleri. He said that during the 2008 season, the Oilers took a run at acquiring him in June of that year while he was serving his first stint with the Kings.