Major development for Jesperi Kotkaniemi and a contract buyout

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Elias Edmonson
May 22, 2024 (2:36 PM)

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For a while now, the contract buyout has been a possibility suggested by several analysts for Jesperi Kotkaniemi, and it seems to be confirmed.

Possibly the best insider in the NHL, Elliotte Friedman, just stated that he believes the Carolina Hurricanes will indeed buy out Kotkaniemi. Wow.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi's contract will be bought out by the Hurricanes, believes Elliotte Friedman

This is what he just mentioned on his podcast "32 Thoughts":

EF [Elliotte Friedman] thinks that Carolina will buy out Kotkaniemi.

The 3rd overall pick by the Montreal Canadiens in 2018 would thus become an unrestricted free agent and would be free to sign the contract of his choice, with the team of his choice.

However, as was the case with his compatriot Jesse Puljujarvi, journalists will certainly start to wonder if Kotkaniemi might decide to return to play in Finland.

If his contract is indeed bought out this summer, do you think there will be a lot of interest in him on the free-agent market?

For 1 million dollars for 1 season, would you sign KK?

In any case, this will be an interesting file to follow, but it has definitely become serious (as a possibility) with this statement from Friedman.

Kotkaniemi, who will be 24 this summer, has amassed 1 point in 11 games during the 2024 playoffs and is signed until 2030 at 4.82 million dollars per year.

Buying out Kotkaniemi's contract would cost the Hurricanes about $835,000 per year until 2036. What a bad signing and what a bad offer sheet.

Let's just say that today, they are bragging much less about their move.