Ben Shelley: How will Jesperi Kotkaniemi’s eight-year deal work out for the Hurricanes?

Yawl need to re-sign Trocheck!
Trade Necas, Skjei, Gardiner 2023 2nd for Zadina, Walman, and Stars 2024 4th
Canes clear enough cap to re-up Trocheck and Neno
Wings get a dependable LD in Skjei
Z and Necas are nearly a wash, edge to Necas

Mediocrely

KK avoids contact as much as Necas. Not what a team needs in the playoffs.

KK was a decent (not spectacular) playoff performer with the Habs. I had high hopes for him as a Hab, but developing young talent was not the Bergevin-era Habs' biggest strength (arguably its biggest weakness). Thought a fresh start for him in Carolina would be good for him. He's still quite young, so he can still make a solid place for himself. However, it would seem my expectations for him when he was drafted (a no. 2 centre on a good team) was a bit high. A no. 3 on a good team and a no. 4 on an excellent team seems more appropriate.

Carolina will regret paying this much for a third liner with not much offensive upside. Third lines and good ones can be had for much less. Montreal will get the last laugh.

KK avoids contact as much as Necas. Not what a team needs in the playoffs.
- Barbecued Hockey

I would take Necas over KK simply because Necas has upside and can become a little touger as he grows into his body. Injury concern for sure as he is slender and not physical at all.

Me thinks that Carolina jumped the gun on this signing!

Me thinks that Carolina jumped the gun on this signing!
- Jrw10

The jury is still out. He shows flashes of being really solid but disappears at times.

He is going to take Staal’s spot after his contract expires next season.
As he goes into his prime I expect him to be an 18-25 goal scorer with 30-40 assists and it’s best for him in Carolina, cause in Montreal he is the 3rd overall pick that doesn’t perform as you would expect the 3rd pick to perform.
Carolina sees him as a guy they traded a late first and a third for that’s going to be a 3rd line center for at least 9 years, so that 3rd overall pick pressure isn’t there.

He is going to take Staal’s spot after his contract expires next season.
As he goes into his prime I expect him to be an 18-25 goal scorer with 30-40 assists and it’s best for him in Carolina, cause in Montreal he is the 3rd overall pick that doesn’t perform as you would expect the 3rd pick to perform.
Carolina sees him as a guy they traded a late first and a third for that’s going to be a 3rd line center for at least 9 years, so that 3rd overall pick pressure isn’t there.
- Dropthepucknotgloves

You can’t consider KK a 3rd round pick…. This was such a stupid decision by Montreal. We are not talking about Monday morning quarterback here… Right at the draft, everyone was just stupefied….

He should have been a late first rounder and will be a 3rd Center on a good team like the Canes, or a second Center for a last tier team like the Habs or Arizona…

So Mr Dindon enjoy your revenge…. Not sure who got whom with this one…

I don’t think KK is that good, but I honestly don’t think that contract is that bad either. Risky, but if KK can develop into a decent player (like a Lars Eller) by the time that contract is half over it’ll be below market value

Even this year, he was on pace for like 15-22-37 in 82 games. That’s playing career low minutes as a miscast 4th liner. I think there’s some unfair pressure put on the guy because of that OS

You can’t consider KK a 3rd round pick…. This was such a stupid decision by Montreal. We are not talking about Monday morning quarterback here… Right at the draft, everyone was just stupefied….

He should have been a late first rounder and will be a 3rd Center on a good team like the Canes, or a second Center for a last tier team like the Habs or Arizona…
- TheInformer697041

Weeks before the draft Bleacher Report had KK ranked 9th, Hockey Writers had him ranked 8th. He jumped because he was the top center in the draft and may still be unless you call Tkachuk a center.

KK was a decent (not spectacular) playoff performer with the Habs. I had high hopes for him as a Hab, but developing young talent was not the Bergevin-era Habs' biggest strength (arguably its biggest weakness). Thought a fresh start for him in Carolina would be good for him. He's still quite young, so he can still make a solid place for himself. However, it would seem my expectations for him when he was drafted (a no. 2 centre on a good team) was a bit high. A no. 3 on a good team and a no. 4 on an excellent team seems more appropriate.
- Ovation

He's also had unfair expectations when you consider he's only 6 months older than Kirby Dach and Alex Turcotte who both have yet to crack 30 points and are still looked at as future 2C's.

I think he'll be the biggest bargain in the league aside from Draisaitl.
He's poised to get 30 goals, 75+ apples