The Montreal Canadiens continue to be a figure in current trade chatter. The chatter suggests the Habs remain on the lookout for a top-six forward or a center to bolster the team’s depth.
That said, the market is unusually dry this season. There is a massive shortage of centers on the market, leading to questions about who might be available come trade deadline time.
But one name that’s emerged as a potential trade candidate is Carolina Hurricanes forward Jesperi Kotkaniemi.
As Canadiens’ fans may recall, Kotkaniemi was the Habs’ first-round pick in 2018. He went third overall in a draft that saw Brady Tkachuk and Quinn Hughes taken after Kotkaniemi.
Be that as it may, Kotkaniemi was a rising star. Following a 20-point season in 2020-21, the Hurricanes inked the Finnish forward to an offer sheet. The Canadiens declined to match and took the compensation in return.
That offer sheet conundrum soured the relationship between the Canadiens and Kotkaniemi. Fast-forward five seasons, and the 25-year-old has not lived up to the hype. His best year in Carolina was in 2022-23 when he scored 18 goals and 43 points.
Since then, Kotkaniemi has pretty much fallen off the radar in Carolina. But that doesn’t mean he can’t be a decent depth fit back in Montreal. The Canadiens need depth, the Hurricanes want to unload his cap hit, and he could come very cheaply.
Kotkaniemi, furthermore, doesn’t have a prohibitive cap hit. His current $4.82 million cap hit doesn’t seem too prohibitive, his lack of offensive production notwithstanding.
How Kotkaniemi Fits into Canadiens Lineup
Let’s be real. Kotkaniemi is hardly a top-six forward. At best, he’s a reliable bottom-six option. That’s pretty much what the Habs need at the moment. The addition of Phillip Danault was a significant boost to the club’s depth down the middle.
Meanwhile, Oliver Kapanen seems to have entrenched himself on the second line. So, adding Kotkaniemi would be a move to boost the fourth line. He would be an upgrade over Joe Veleno to a certain extent, allowing Veleno to move over to the wing.
Once the Canadiens get healthy again, Kotkaniemi can slide into a spot on the wing if needed. He wouldn’t be on track to tear up the scoresheet. Getting reliable defensive play with occasional scoring would be a boon to the Habs’ lineup.
There’s a Catch with Kotkaniemi
The biggest catch with Kotkaniemi, and the biggest reason why the Canadiens could pass on him, is his contract. While his cap hit is manageable, he has four more years left on his deal. That may be too much for the Habs, or anything other team, really, to stomach.
If Kotkaniemi had one or two years left on his deal, it would make more sense to acquire him. And even if the acquisition cost is likely low, the juice may not be worth the squeeze.
All told, the Canadiens may look into landing Kotkaniemi. For the right price, it’s an option the club may consider. But his contract could just mean the Habs could be taking on an untradeable deal.
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