Montreal Canadiens: Jesperi Kotkaniemi Returns After Spurning Habs For Warmer Climes

The Montreal Canadiens are off to a terrible start to the 2021-22 season having dropped all four games so far.

Not only are they losing, but they are not even scoring goals. With a record of 0-4-0 comes their putrid, league worst offence that has combined for just three goals so far this season.

They will look to buck that trend tonight when they face a familiar foe for the first time since he elected to skip town over the offseason.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi was the third overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft. The Habs haven’t made a higher selection since taking Doug Wickenheiser first overall in 1980. Kotkaniemi played three seasons with the Canadiens, putting up 62 points in 171 career games in Montreal. It was hoped he would develop into a big, strong top six centre but he didn’t really develop after his 34 point rookie season.

In August, Kotkaniemi was a restricted free agent and he signed a one-year offer sheet with the Carolina Hurricanes that came with a $6.1 million cap hit. The Canadiens were put in a tough spot by Kotkaniemi’s negotiations with another team and they elected not to match and took the Hurricanes first and third round picks as compensation.

Tonight, Kotkaniemi will return to the Bell Centre for the first time as a visitor. He has played two games thus far with the Hurricanes, and has been held pointless.

Kotkaniemi was a fan favourite for his potential and fun-loving personality when he landed in Montreal but many fans were already starting to lose patience with his stalled development. His this season in the NHL saw him score just five goals in 56 games and he was a healthy scratch for a couple of big games in the postseason.

It will be interesting to see what kind of reception Kotkaniemi receives from the fans at the Bell Centre tonight. Many loved him when he was here, but are they sour about the way he left? We will find out when he first touches the ice tonight, but I’m guessing he hears his fair share of boos from the Bell Centre faithful this evening.