Major and unexpected turnaround for Jesperi Kotkaniemi with the Carolina Hurricanes

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MarcO
October 27, 2023 (10:25)

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The development of a hockey player is an imprecise science influenced by a significant number of factors. Some young players progress quickly and make an almost immediate impact upon entering the National League, while others may take several years before reaching a level of excellence.

At the Montreal Canadiens, we have glaring evidence of this principle, with the third overall selection of Jesperi Kotkaniemi.

I believe you are all familiar with his story; it ended poorly in Montreal. He joined the Hurricanes due to an offer sheet, and the club essentially lost a youngster in favor of Christian Dvorak.

In short, what stands out this season is his performance on the ice in his 5th professional NHL campaign. He has seriously reached a surprising level that may hurt the impatient Canadiens' fans.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi, 23 years old, has collected 9 points in 8 games since the start of the season. Top scorer for the Canes.

I hate living in the past, but I can't help but think about what he could have become under MSL's guidance. Oh well!"

What major progress from the 23-year-old Finn who now seems to be becoming the player the Canadiens anticipated when they drafted him. He is the Canes' top scorer, accumulating nine points, including four goals, in eight games, and he is the team's second-line center, behind Sebastian Aho.

With seven seasons remaining on his current contract at $4.82 million annually, all signs indicate that the Carolina organization got a great deal with his development.

This goes to show that patience is a significant virtue in the world of hockey. KK's progress, which took five years before reaching a significant milestone in his game, is ultimate proof that we need to be patient with Juraj Slakovsky.

If losing Kotkaniemi, who brought almost nothing to the Canadiens, can offer this lesson to the Canadiens and the team's fans, then something will have been gained from the unnecessary departure of this promising youngster when he was just 21 years old.