Photo: NHL.com
The Montreal Canadiens did not match the Carolina Hurricanes’ one-year, $6.1 million offersheet to restricted free agent center Jesperi Kotkaniemi by Saturday’s 5:30 PM ET deadline to do so and acquired a first-round pick and third, both in the 2022 NHL Draft, as compensation. The Canadiens then dealt the better of the Hurricanes’ or their own first-round pick next summer and a 2024 second-round pick to the Arizona Coyotes for center Christian Dvorak.
Jesperi Kotkaniemi, signed 1x$6.1M by CAR, has not seen the same success in the regular season as he has in the playoffs (boosted by a 23% shooting percentage) since he was a rookie. #LetsGoCanes pic.twitter.com/uLR4jWvNNT
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) September 4, 2021
Kotkaniemi, 21, earned five goals and 20 points in 56 regular-season games last season before recording five goals and eight points in 19 Stanley Cup Playoff games on the Canadiens’ run to the 2021 Stanley Cup Final, where they fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games.
In 171 career NHL games, all with the Canadiens, Kotkaniemi (the third overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft) has earned 22 goals and 62 points, half of those goals and more than half of those points (34) coming in his rookie year in 2018-19.
By the way, Christian Dvorak just arrived in Arizona two days ago to close on a house. Tough business.
— Craig Morgan (@CraigSMorgan) September 4, 2021
The Hurricanes upgrade their third-line center, but at an expensive price, after finishing 11th in the NHL with an average of 3.13 goals-per-game and 14th with a 20% power-play efficiency. Kotkaniemi averaged 14:48 per game last season, including 1:54 on the power play.
The Hurricanes, whose top two forwards (Sebastian Aho, Teuvo Teravainen) are Finnish like Kotkaniemi, are currently $1,023,618 over the NHL salary cap.
This is the first successful offersheet since July 26, 2007, when the Edmonton Oilers signed Anaheim Ducks restricted free agent Dustin Penner.
Dvorak earned 17 goals and 31 points in 56 games last season and has 67 goals and 146 points in 302 career NHL games, all with the Coyotes. The best season of his career came in 2019-20, when he set career-highs in goals (18) and points (38) in 70 games.
Christian Dvorak, reportedly acquired by MTL, is a top six two-way centre with an okay shot. Played heavy match-up minutes for the Coyotes last season. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/j73PzRbffM
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) September 4, 2021
By Harrison Brown
