The Carolina Hurricanes have activated forward Juha Jaaska from non-roster injured reserve, and as expected, promptly reassigned him to the AHL’s Chicago Wolves. It’s a move that signals the next step in Jaaska’s recovery and development after missing significant time due to injury.
Jaaska, 27, is in his second season playing professionally in North America after making the jump from Finland’s top league, the Liiga. Before signing with the Hurricanes, he carved out a solid career with HIFK, tallying 51 goals and 142 points across 310 games - and doing it with a +44 rating, which speaks to his two-way reliability on the ice.
His transition to the North American game has been a tale of two levels. In the AHL, Jaaska found his footing quickly.
Last season with the Wolves, he was a consistent contributor, finishing fifth on the team in scoring with 12 goals and 33 points over 53 games. That’s no small feat for a player adjusting to a smaller rink, faster pace, and more physical style of play.
He showed the kind of offensive instincts and positional awareness that made him a standout in Finland.
But like many European players making the leap, the NHL presented a steeper climb. Jaaska saw action in 18 games with the Hurricanes, registering four assists while averaging just under nine minutes of ice time per night.
The production wasn’t quite there, but the underlying numbers told a more encouraging story. His possession metrics - including a 61.7% Corsi For percentage - suggest that when he was on the ice, the puck was moving in the right direction.
That’s a sign of a player who isn’t out of place, even if the points haven’t followed just yet.
Then came the setback. In October, Jaaska underwent groin surgery, a tough blow for a player trying to establish himself in a new league.
The recovery process has kept him sidelined for months, but now he’s healthy and ready to get back to game speed. Returning to Chicago makes sense - it’s a familiar setting where he can log big minutes, shake off the rust, and work his way back into rhythm.
With the Hurricanes in the thick of the playoff race, Jaaska’s path to more NHL time this season likely depends on how things shake out down the stretch. If Carolina locks up the Metropolitan Division or clinches early in the Eastern Conference, there may be room to give him another look before the postseason begins. Until then, he’ll have the chance to re-establish his game in the AHL and remind the organization why they brought him over in the first place.
For now, it’s a return to the grind - but for Jaaska, this is a step in the right direction.