Jesperi Kotkaniemi just got a real slap in the face
Despite the Carolina Hurricanes' excellent start to the season, the same cannot be said about Jesperi Kotkaniemi.
The former third overall pick by the Habs in 2018 is having a very difficult season with a low six points in 28 games. Let's just say that the Hurricanes' management must be starting to regret the infamous $6.1 million hostile offer made in the summer of 2021.
As we know, the Canadiens did not match the offer and KK headed to Carolina after only three seasons in Montreal. After a, let's just say, respectable season last year with a 29-point haul in 66 games, things aren't going well this year for the Finnish forward. As reported by Jean-Christophe Matte of Fanadiens.com, a tipster looked into Kotkaniemi's development with the Hurricanes this season.
According to TSN analyst Eric Macramalla, the problem is not his development, but Kotkaniemei himself.
OUCH! A slap in the face for KK.
The tipster recalled that in a Hurricanes game a few days ago, Kotkaniemi started the game on the second line, but then Rod Brind'Amour got tired of him and relegated him to the fourth line.
One can imagine that the Hurricanes' coach tried everything to get him to produce, but since it doesn't seem to be working this season, the next step might be to simply scratch him from the lineup.
Let's just say that Don Waddell must be starting to regret the long eight-year contract he gave Kotkaniemi, and despite his setbacks in Carolina, we hope he bounces back as soon as possible.
| POLL | ||
If you had to do it again, which of these players would you have drafted third overall in the 2018 draft instead of KK? | ||
| Quinn Hughes | 177 | 23.5 % |
| Noah Dobson | 38 | 5 % |
| Joel Farabee | 8 | 1.1 % |
| Brady Tkachuk | 531 | 70.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
