Birthdate: May 18, 1960
Birthplace: Helsinki, Finland
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 195 lbs
Gretzky's right-hand man was Jari Kurri. Born in Finland, this man was a welcome addition to the Dynasty. he may be considered the best right-winger of his time, and he managed to squeak into THN's Top 50 NHL players, right at #50.
The fact that he was Gretzky's sidekick is nothing to take lightly. Gretzky is an amazing playmaker, and Kurri was often on the receiving end of all those passes #99 made. Along with Semenko, the trio had 364 points in the 1985-86 season. Consider Semenko the bodyguard, and the other two the brains of the operation.
Kurri left the Oilers on a bad note. He was unhappy with the Oilers, and demanded to be traded. After a stop in Italy, Kurri ended up in Los Angeles with his old pal, Wayne Gretkzy. Kurri left for New York, and again hitched up with Gretzky.
Kurri then played for Anaheim, where the Original Finnish Flash met up with the New Finnish Flash, Teemu Selanne. However, Anaheim failed to re-sign Jari, and he is playing his final NHL year with the Colorado Avalanche.
With Colorado, Kurri received an honor. In a game against L.A. on December 23rd, he scored his 600th NHL goal. The next game, after the Christmas break, was against Edmonton. It was his old home, the Edmonton Coliseum (previously Northlands Coliseum), where the presentation took place. It's like a blast of fireworks to end a great hockey career.