Newly Acquired Defenseman Makes A Surprising Change After Joining The Boston Bruins At The NHL Trade Deadline

Jokiharju is the latest acquisition that will have to make himself at home with the original-six club.

This will be the first time he'll be wearing a spoked-B and playing in the famed TD Garden. As part of the new blood and Don Sweeney's re-tool, the defenseman has decided to make a significant change.

As part of the Bruins organization, he'll be changing his number from #44 to #20 with the B's.

A number that was last worn by defenseman Dan Renouf during the 2022-2023 NHL season.

Joki now #⃣2⃣0⃣ in your programs. pic.twitter.com/vpn9PSTHaY- Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) March 11, 2025

Jokiharju will be the 26th Bruins player to wear #20 for the organization, following Jayson Megna who wore it during the 2023-2024 season.

Jokiharju has seen his stock rise in the NHL recently with consistent play with the Sabres playing 42 games for the Sabres and scoring 6 points ( 3 goals, 3 assists), 12 PIMs, and +6 on a consistently terrible team.

Now he'll get a shot to prove his worth on an original-six squad that needs a player who will give it their all on TD Garden ice nightly.

He also got a nod to play in the Four Nations Face-Off with his homeland Finland, and wouldn't come out ahead unfortunately.

Despite it all, he's put together a great showing with the Sabres last season scoring 20 points (7 G, 13 A) in 74 games.

Now, he can capitalize on a Bruins squad that needs all the help it can get, with defenseman Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm out of the lineup.

Jokiharju was a Blackhawks draft pick, 29th overall in the 2017 NHL Draft, and had found a home in Buffalo after the 2018-2019 season.

Now, he'll help bolster the blue line in Boston.