Jokinen announced his retirement Tuesday, signing an honorary contract with the Panthers, TSN reports.

Jokinen needs to undergo surgery on his shoulder, Sami Hoffren of Sports Sanomat reports.

Jokinen is expected to play between Gabriel Bourque and Craig Smith on the second line to start the season, but the Predators are solid up the middle and there is no guarantee he'll be there all season particularly after Mike Fisher returns from an Achilles injury.

Veteran center Olli Jokinen says he decided to join the Nashville Predators as a free agent because of their new coach's offensive-minded approach. Peter Laviolette purshed for Nashville to pursue the 35-year-old. "Obviously with the excitement and the passion about the game and ideas of how he (Laviolette) was going to coach this team, that was one of the biggest reasons I decided to come here," Jokinen said. "Speaking with him, I got excited. I wanted to start playing tomorrow." Jokinen has never played for Laviolette, though his best years in Florida came when Laviolette was a divisional foe as the Carolina Hurricanes' coach. "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. "His teams have always been high-tempo with good skating and they create a lot of chances and a lot of offense. At the same time his teams were hard to play against. They were very organized and stuck with their game plans." Jokinen had 18 goals and 25 assists last season in 82 games with the Jets.

There is a good chance that Olli Jokinen could be the Predators number one center this upcoming season. If that should come to pass, he would almost certainly play alongside newly-acquired James Neal which would increase his fantasy value from what it was last season. Nashville GM David Poile alluded to the possiblity of Jokinen skating on the top line. "Arguably you could say we are putting him in a more important position than he has been in the past couple of years," Poile said. Keep an eye on how the Preds use Jokinen in training camp.

Nashville feels the addition of Olli Jokinen gives them roster flexibility. GM David Poile envisions using him at center, but he notes that Jokinen can play on the wing as well. He can contribute offensively and he provides leadership. "With all the young players we have here, I think adding that veteran forward presence was the right thing to do," Poile said. "I was in full concert with Peter Laviolette on this decision."

Olli Jokinen has agreed to a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Nashville Predators. Jokinen is far from an ideal choice to serve as a top-line center at this stage of his career, but the 35-year-old was serviceable with the Jets last season. He had 43 points and 62 penalty minutes in 82 games in 2013-14. If the Predators end up putting Jokinen on the same line as James Neal, which is entirely possible given their options, then Jokinen might surpass the 50-point mark.

Olli Jokinen's agent, Ian Pulver, hasn't heard from the Winnipeg Jets yet. "I understood we would talk. But it hasn't transpired," Pulver said. "We'll see where it goes. I don't know Winnipeg's plans." Jokinen notched 18 goals and 25 assists in 82 games in 2013-14. He can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

Olli Jokinen captured a silver medal at the 2014 IIHF World Hockey Championship on Sunday. He served as the team's captain and posted five points in 10 games. Jokinen also won the bronze medal with Finland at the Sochi Olympics. He can become an unrestricted free agent this summer after he recorded 18 goals and 43 points in 82 games with Winnipeg this past campaign.

Olli Jokinen will play for Team Finland in the 2014 World Championship. Jokinen had two goals and four points in six Olympic games in 2014 to help the team win a bronze medal. He has 19 goals and 41 points in 82 career World Championship games.