Hurricanes to sign Kotkaniemi to eight-year extension

Jesperi Kotkaniemi is set to receive a long-term deal from the Carolina Hurricanes. James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

Hurricanes to sign Jesperi Kotkaniemi to eight-year contract extension

Originally posted on Daily Faceoff | By Zach Laing | Last updated 3/12/22

The Carolina Hurricanes will be signing forward Jesperi Kotkaniemi to an eight-year contract extension as soon as March 21, PuckPedia reported Saturday.

News of the deal was first broke by Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli, who on March 4 reported the two sides had been recently meeting. He reported the Canes were hoping to get Kotkaniemi signed to an eight-year deal.

According to PuckPedia, the extension will pay him an AAV of $4.82 million — a homage to sweater No. 82 he wears.

The expectation is #LetsgoCanes are re-signing 21 y/o F Kotkaniemi to 8 year $4.82M Cap Hit deal on March 21

Was pending RFA w/ $6.1M qualifying offer after signing 1 yr $6.1M offer sheet

Deal covers 5 UFA years

Rep’d by Markus Lehto @wassermanhockey https://t.co/x5WZojyV6J
— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) March 12, 2022

However, this time Montreal was unable to match the significant one-year, $6.1 million offer sheet. In return, the Habs got back a first- and third-round pick.

Kotkaniemi has appeared in 54 games this year for the Hurricanes scoring 11 goals and 23 points — a point total already surpassing his 2020-21 production with Montreal.

He’s fit in well in Carolina’s bottom six, and with him on the ice at five-on-five, the Canes have controlled 57.35 percent of the shot attempts, 53.19 percent of the goals scored and 53.62 percent of the expected goal share.

This article first appeared on Daily Faceoff and was syndicated with permission.

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