Jesperi Kotkaniemi: A Disappointing Career Path and Potential Move Back to Finland

Jesperi Kotkaniemi: A Disappointing Career Path and Potential Move Back to Finland

2024-04-25 21:15:30

Jesperi Kotkaniemi never became the player we thought he would be.

The Canadiens selected him with the third pick in the 2018 draft, seeing him as a future number one center…

But KK went to Carolina in 2021 and he’s still being talked regarding for the wrong reasons because of his performance.

Looking at his offensive performance since playing for the Hurricanes, we realize that he is not moving on.

In fact, he has regressed this season:

  • 29 points in 66 games (21-22)
  • 43 points in 82 games (22-23)
  • 27 points in 79 games (23-24)

The Hurricanes “are in trouble” because they have a player on their hands who is not moving on and making $4.82 million through the end of the 2029-2030 season.

He still has six years left on his contract following the current season, in other words…

At some point, management will have a choice to make if KK does not improve. And if this is the case, Simon Boisvert believes that the next option for him is to return to play in Finland.

At least that’s what he said the latest episode of the “Process” podcast with Mathias Brunet:

Boisvert explains that the Hurricanes might buy out his contract because before the age of 26, NHL teams have the right to buy out a player for a third of his value.

My colleague Félix Forget rightly wrote a text in January, where we discovered how easy KK’s contract would be to buy out in Carolina.

More and Snake also said that KK risks spending a stint in the American League before thinking regarding Finland… Because he doesn’t see another club giving him $2M/season to play on a 4th line if the Hurricanes buy out his contract.

No matter what happens, the result remains the same in the end.

The Canadian made a mistake by selecting him in the draft, to the detriment of a guy like Brady Tkachuk.

And the Hurricanes made a mistake giving him such a long contract.

It’s crazy how quickly things change in the NHL when you consider three years ago, the Hurricanes were drooling following acquiring him with a hostile offer…

A lot of

– We don’t talk regarding it enough anyway.

– He will be good.

– Bon…

– A great brand within the reach of the great defender.

– It is up to him to pull himself together.


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#stop #Kotkaniemi #Finland

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