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Celebrating LA Kings Birthdays – April 1

By Ryan Gagne

Dec 3, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; Los Angeles Kings left wing Jussi Jokinen (36) controls the puck against the Los Angeles Kings during a game at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 3, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; Los Angeles Kings left wing Jussi Jokinen (36) controls the puck against the Los Angeles Kings during a game at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Everyone loves a good celebration, so whether you are cutting your own cake or wishing friends and family a happy birthday today, here are a few LA Kings players, past and present, who were also born on this day.

Jussi Jokinen – 1983 (40)

LA Kings Center (2017 – 2018)

Jussi Jokinen was a sixth-round pick (192nd Overall) for the Dallas Stars during the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, suiting up for 951 games with nine different teams, including the Stars, Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Pittsburgh Penguins, Columbus Blue Jackets, Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks, and Los Angeles Kings. Although his best days came in Carolina (2009-2013), where he scored 185 points, he was pretty busy in 2017-18, playing with four franchises in his final NHL season.

Dec. 3, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; Los Angeles Kings left wing Jussi Jokinen (36) controls the puck against the Los Angeles Kings during a game at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports
Dec. 3, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; Los Angeles Kings left wing Jussi Jokinen (36) controls the puck against the Los Angeles Kings during a game at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports /

Jokinen signed as a free agent with the Oilers in July 2017 and came to LA through a trade for Mike Cammalleri in November 2017. After 18 games, his tenure with the Kings ended when the Blue Jackets claimed him off waivers in January 2018. Moreover, he played only 14 games in Columbus before a trade to the Canucks in February 2018. Eventually, Jokinen returned to his native Finland to play with Oulun Karpat.

Esa Pirnes – 1977 (46)

LA Kings Center (2003 – 2004)

Esa Pirnes came to the Kings organization as a sixth-round selection (174th overall) in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. Surprisingly, he made the opening night lineup and debuted on Oct. 9, 2003, against the Detroit Red Wings. Eventually, Pirnes netted his first career point (an assist) in his ninth game before finishing the year with 11 points in 57 games.

LOS ANGELES – NOVEMBER 25: Forward Esa Pirnes, #12 of the Los Angeles Kings, warms up before taking on the New Jersey Devils on November 25, 2003, at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Devils defeated the Kings 3-0. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES – NOVEMBER 25: Forward Esa Pirnes, #12 of the Los Angeles Kings, warms up before taking on the New Jersey Devils on November 25, 2003, at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Devils defeated the Kings 3-0. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images) /

After a brief stint (four games) with the Manchester Monarchs during the 2003-04 season, Pirnes returned home to Finland. Eventually, he retired from professional hockey in 2016 after scoring a respectable 442 points in 683 games with various teams across several European hockey leagues, including the SHL, KHL, and Liiga.

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