New Jersey Devils sign Finnish forward Ilkka Pikkarainen

2009-07-02 15:50:00

Jersey Devils.

Devils' President Lou Lamoriello announced the deal with the six-foot-two, 220-pound player from Finland on Thursday.

The 28-year-old was the Devils' seventh-round pick in the 2002 NHL draft and spent three seasons with their top farm team in Albany, N.Y.

He returned to Finland and played the last three seasons with HIFK Helsinki, leading the team this year with 24 goals in 54 games.

Featured THN.com Video

Will there be a lockout this fall?

"Pretty much before every game I have to remind him. But he doesn't shoot enough. He never has."

- Joe Thornton's father, Wayne, on how he always tells his son to shoot the puck more.