Overview
- Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that Carolina is actively weighing trade offers for Jesperi Kotkaniemi, with no deal completed to date.
- Kotkaniemi’s role has shrunk this season with two goals and six points in 25 games at roughly 11 minutes per night and recent healthy scratches, and he was left off Finland’s Olympic roster.
- The 25-year-old carries an eight-year contract at a $4.82 million cap hit with four seasons remaining after this year, a factor teams must evaluate in any deal.
- Friedman said Carolina previously included Kotkaniemi in talks for Phillip Danault and in a package offered to Vancouver for Quinn Hughes.
- With few centers available, interest persists despite his struggles, and media analysis has floated possible fits such as the Flyers, Kings, Blues, Predators, Jets and a Canadiens reunion as speculative scenarios.