from Steve MacFarlane of the Calgary Sun, “I think it’s a mental mindset,” he said of his transformation from an offensive-minded but inconsistent scorer to a player who takes pride in shutting down the oppositions’ top lines and taking advantage of the scoring opportunities he does get.
He says he now understands and accepts his role with the Flames, knows how he has to play, and prepares as if every game is his last in the NHL.
“We’re very lucky to play in this league. This is the best league in the world,” Jokinen said. “When you get older, you start understanding that it’s not going to last forever and just try to make the most out of it every single day.”
With the help of a mental coach, Jokinen has become a creature of habit.
“I have a guy I call every game day. We do imagery, we go over who we play against and usually try to focus on that night,” Jokinen said.
“It helps me relax and helps me pr...
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