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“It’s over (for Kotkaniemi). Finished, finished, finished, finished. In the league, it’s over!”
Marc-Olivier Cook
“It’s over (for Kotkaniemi). Finished, finished, finished, finished. In the league, it’s over!”
Credit: Getty Images
Jesperi Kotkaniemi wasn’t in uniform last night for Game 2 of the Panthers vs Hurricanes series.

Not because he was sick or injured. Rod Brind’Amour simply left him out, even though he was healthy.

The Hurricanes lost the game by a score of 5-0… but we all agree: it wasn’t KK who changed anything on the ice.

The former Canadiens man has really hit rock bottom. He’s no longer good enough to help his club, and his head coach had every reason to send him packing.

So, what’s next?

For Renaud Lavoie, it’s simple: there’s no more room for him in the NHL.

No club is going to acquire him via trade because of his contract ($4.82 million per season until 29-30), and now the Hurricanes are stuck with him.

It’s over (for Kotkaniemi). Finished, finished, finished, finished. In the league, it’s over! – Renaud Lavoie

During his column this morning on BPM Sports, Renaud Lavoie mentioned that KK had a smile on his face yesterday… even though he was practicing with the extras and was going to be left out.

That says a lot about his attitude.

It’s like the time when – again, as Renaud Lavoie mentioned this morning – Nate Thompson wanted to help him in Montreal practice his face-offs, even though the veteran knew KK might steal his job… But the youngster had refused, which had Thompson in a tizzy.

Anyways.

The Hurricanes are stuck with him right now, and maybe the option to buy out his contract will become even more popular before long in Carolina.

Because KK isn’t yet 26, the Hurricanes have the option of buying out his contract at a third of the cost (instead of the usual two-thirds)… and the penalties wouldn’t really be imposing.

The contract would be on the Hurricanes’ books until the end of the 2035 season, but at a cost of $841,333 for seven years and $461,333 for four years.

And with the salary cap set to rise… that doesn’t make it dangerous.

(Credit: CapWages)

It’s crazy to see how far we’ve come with him.

We’re still talking about a third overall pick-although after several years, we realize he should never have gone out at that rank.

And he should never have signed such a lucrative contract, either, after such an ordinary start to his career and with no intention of improving.

That said, it’s a good thing he’s no longer playing in Montreal.

The Canadiens really dodged a bullet… and did the right thing by deciding not to match the Hurricanes’ hostile offer sheet in 2021.

I wonder how much interest there would be for his services in the four corners of the NHL should his contract be bought out by the Hurricanes.

My feeling: a few teams will offer him a minimum-wage contract as a last chance – or a PTO… and if he isn’t able to take advantage of that chance, he’ll probably be finished in the NHL.

But I wouldn’t be surprised either if no club showed any interest in him.

Being him, I’d be afraid for my future in the NHL…


Overtime

– Let’s go!

– Alex Ovechkin heads back to Russia.

– Brad Marchand is always inventing new ways to upset the opposition. And it’s fantastic!

– All the better.

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