Boston Bruins Sign Joonas Kemppainen to a one-year, two-way contract
It didn’t take that long for newly appointed general manager Don Sweeney to make his first organizational move. In-fact all but twenty-four hours since taking on as GM of the Bruins, Sweeney sparks headlines by signing Finnish forward Joonas Kemppainen to a one-year, two-way contract.
The Bruins announced Thursday that the deal includes a $700,000 NHL salary cap hit. The 27-year old forward tallied a respectable 32 points (11 goals, 21 assists) in 59 games for Oulun Kärpät of SM-liiga (Finnish Elite League) this season, including 24 points (10 goals, 14 assists) in 19 playoff games.
This could mean that the likes of Carl Soderberg may be on his way out after struggling for much of the second half to last season. Kemppainen also posted nine points (three goals, six assists) in eight games for Finland at the 2015 IIHF World Championships.