Montreal Canadiens: Jesperi Kotkaniemi Scores in First Preseason Game With Hurricanes

The Montreal Canadiens had a fairly busy offseason. After all the of the signings and re-signing and not-signings and draft picks things finally calmed down a bit in August.

Then, out of nowhere came an offer sheet on Jesperi Kotkaniemi.

The Carolina Hurricanes had signed the Canadiens centre to a one-year contract with a cap hit of $6.1 million. Ultimately, the team decided not to match the offer and took first and third round draft picks in 2022 as compensation instead.

Kotkaniemi had an up and down three season career with the Canadiens. He showed a lot of promise as an 18 year old rookie after being drafted third overall in 2018. However, he seemed to take steps back in year two and three of his career, scoring just five goals in 56 games last season after scoring just six goals and eight points in 36 games the year prior.

While his career with the Canadiens ended unceremoniously as a healthy scratch in the Stanley Cup Final, his tenure with the Carolina Hurricanes just got off to a great start.

Kotkaniemi was moved to left wing and is playing on a line with Vincent Trocheck and Teuvo Teravainen. He didn’t waste any time finding the back of the net as he scored a power play goal in his first period with the Hurricanes.

Kotkaniemi would quickly add an assist on another power play goal, this time by Teravainen. That’s one goal and one assist in his first period of action with the Hurricanes.

This is, of course, a preseason game and Christian Dvorak, who was acquired immediately after the Habs lost Kotkaniemi, scored a goal and had three assists in his first preseason game with the Canadiens.

So, it is a little early to make any grand declarations about winners and losers in these trades. But it is interesting to see both players have immediate success and find chemistry right away with new linemates.