After three bumpy seasons in Montreal, a rough first year in Carolina due to the Hurricanes' roster depth, and a significant wrist injury that bothered him for much of the end of the year, the Finn was supposed to come back strong this year.
Vincent Trocheck's departure for New York opened the door for KK to fill the second center spot on the roster behind Sebastian Aho. Now being paired with the two best wingers he has ever had since the beginning of his career in Andrei Svechnikov and Martin Necas, everything indicated that he would finally explode this season.
Well, after six games, it's not what we expected. Despite having the fourth highest total minutes on the team, a regular presence on the power play and high level wingers, the 22 year old center still can't get into second gear in his development.
Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports had a lot to say about the Hurricanes' number 82.
Even though Lavoie is not unanimous in the journalistic world, you have to admit that he is right on this one. Kotkaniemi is in the first year of an eight-year contract at $4.82 million per season.
Right now, with two points so far this campaign, KK is 11th in scoring on his roster, which is far too low for a player who has so much opportunity to produce offensively.
Let's just say that if he doesn't come out of his shell in the next few months, this contract could become a real nightmare for his organization and his GM, Don Waddell.
POLL | ||
27 OCTOBRE | 109 ANSWERS Nothing is going right for Jesperi Kotkaniemi, even in his redemption year Was drafting Kotkaniemi and skipping on Brady Tkachuk a huge mistake by the Caandiens? | ||
Yes | 94 | 86.2 % |
No | 15 | 13.8 % |
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