Follow me on Twitter by clicking the following link for all Habs updates!
Even though Kotkaniemi is only 21 years old, he’s already got 3 years of professional North American hockey under his belt. To be exact, he has played 171 games during which he’s accumulated 62 points and he’s now finished his entry level contract, which makes him a restricted free agent. There have been some highs, there have been some lows and pretty much everything in between.
Things didn’t end well for KK during the Cup run since he was a healthy scratch for the last 2 games against Tampa. Quite a reversal of fortune considering Maple Leafs’ coach Sheldon Keefe had credited Caufield and Kotkaniemi for the Canadiens’ second lease of life in round 1. And there lies the problem, as Marc Bergevin stated in his end of season media availability, the Canadiens need to see more consistency from the young Finn. When he’s put on the ice, they need to know that they’re always getting the same KK and not a shadow of himself.
Clearly, Kotkaniemi is not in a position of strength to negotiate his new contract and it would be rather surprising to see him get anything else than a bridge deal. There are some precedents of the Habs GM committing long term to players who have just finished their entry level deal, he did sign both Brendan Gallagher and Jonathan Drouin to 6-years pact once their first contract expired. For Gallagher, he thought he knew exactly what he was getting and by the end of Gally’s second contract, it felt like a steal. The same can hardly be said for Jonathan Drouin though, Bergevin signed him not for what he had done, but what he thought he would end up doing. 4 years later that $5.5 M cap hit must hurt Bergevin every day.
Considering Bergevin was burnt badly by the Drouin contract, I very much doubt he’ll be able to get a long contract, after all, he’s no Brendan Gallagher. It seems likely that number 15 will have to settle for a 2-year bridge deal. As I’ve said before, KK has got 62 points in 171 games, this morning the St-Louis signed right winger Jordan Kyrou to a 2-year bridge deal worth $2.8 M per season. While he’s not a center like Kotkaniemi, he’s production level is better with 47 points in 99 games (.47 point per game to KK’s .36). What should then be Kotkaniemi’s value?
Hard to say really, we know that Lehkonen has just signed a one-year deal worth $2.3 M and Joel Armia a four-year one at a $3.4 M AAV. Lehkonen has got a 0.355 point per game ration while Armia’s stands at 0.37. Clearly, there’s more then points to determining a player’s value…Would we say KK is more towards Lehkonen type of money than Armia kind of money. If I was Bergevin, I’d try to sign him for a couple of years at $2.5 M, kind of a prove your worth kind of deal.
To be fair though, Kotkaniemi might not have money and contracts on his mind right now as we learnt today that his father had to go through an operation to remove a tumor and that he is now expected to undergo cancer treatment. We would like to send him our best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»