Jokiharju, Vaakanainen named to Finland's 4 Nations roster

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Henri Jokiharju and New York Rangers blue-liner Urho Vaakanainen were named to Finland's 4 Nations Face-Off roster Sunday.

The two rearguards are replacing the injured Miro Heiskanen and Jani Hakanpaa. Heiskanen suffered a lower-body ailment Tuesday and was labeled week-to-week, while Hakanpaa has only appeared in two games this season due to ongoing injury issues.

Finland's blue line also includes the Dallas Stars' Esa Lindell, the Florida Panthers' Niko Mikkola, the Philadelphia Flyers' Rasmus Ristolainen, and Utah's Olli Maatta and Juuso Valimaki.

Jokiharju has appeared in 36 games for the Sabres this season, recording one goal and four points while averaging a career-low 16:44 minutes of ice time per contest.

The 25-year-old enjoyed a career year last campaign, potting 20 points in 74 contests while being a team-leading plus-14. The Chicago Blackhawks selected Jokiharju with the 29th overall pick in 2017 and traded him to Buffalo two years later in exchange for forward Alex Nylander.

Vaakanainen, meanwhile, has logged six assists in 26 games this campaign while averaging 14:56 minutes, split between the Anaheim Ducks and Rangers. New York acquired him and a 2025 fourth-round pick from Anaheim in exchange for former captain Jacob Trouba back in December.

Vaakanainen has appeared in 162 career NHL games after the Boston Bruins selected him 18th overall at the 2017 NHL Draft - 11 picks before Jokiharju. The 26-year-old has racked up 123 hits and 186 blocks in his career.

Jokiharju and Vaakanainen won gold together at the 2019 World Junior Championship.