Wooooooow. What a move.
The Montreal Canadiens have decided not to match the Kotkaniemi offer sheet from the Carolina Hurricanes therefore Jesperi Kotkaniemi is headed to Carolina. The Habs will get a 1st and 3rd round pick for their troubles.
I’ve always liked Kotkaniemi, he had some struggles when he was younger but he’s really grown into a great two-way center who comes up big when needed. I mean last season in the playoffs he had crucial goals and was a big part of the Habs’ march to the Final. I think he’ll slot in well with Carolina, he also adds to the collection of talented Finns that the Hurricanes have. If they keep that up they’ll become the Dallas Stars. Plus good for him, he’s about to make baaaank.
As for where the Habs are now, they’re loaded with draft picks for next year. They have 12 picks in the 2022 draft so I imagine they’ll start making trades to try and make up what they’ve lost. The Habs lost two important centers this off-season. First, the Habs lost their #1 Phillip Danault to the LA Kings earlier this summer and now they’re losing a talented young center in Kotkaniemi. I mean there’s plenty of good centers on the market (shifty eyes at Eichel) so they’ll probably pull someone soon.
The offseason is heating up a bit with training camp around the corner and I will be confused a hell with all the trades that have already happened. I’m excited to see what the Habs do with these draft picks they have, it going to be fun to watch. Wanna know what else it going to be fun to watch? this video:
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