Predators sign Jokinen: Hiring of new coach Laviolette swayed veteran

Nashville Predators general manager David Poile hoped the hiring of new head coach Peter Laviolette would make Nashville a more enticing prospect for free agents.

That strategy apparently worked on veteran forward Olli Jokinen.

"Obviously with the excitement and the passion about the game and ideas of how he was going to coach this team, that was one of the biggest reasons I decided to come here," Jokinen told reporters on Saturday, referring to Laviolette.

"Speaking with him, I got excited. I wanted to start playing tomorrow."

The 35-year-old played some of his best seasons with the Florida Panthers when Laviolette coached the division-rival Carolina Hurricanes. 

He recalled how Laviolette's teams were always high-tempo and difficult to play against.

"I think playing against his teams, as a player you were like 'I’d love to play for this guy. I’d love to play for his teams,'" Jokinen said.