Confirmed Signing with Link: [CAR] F Jesperi Kotkaniemi signs extension with Hurricanes (8 years, $4.82M AAV)

[beowulf]

Admit I am surprised less by the money than by him getting 8 years....ok then. I don't even think he has played up to the level of $4.8M, or at least not consistently in Montreal or Carolina.

 

[tkb81]

Most other fans: this should be an okay deal
Habs fans: LOL waste, not worth a dollar

 

[KrakenFan92]

Kotkaniemi is 21 and has made massive strides in Carolina this year and isn't done developing yet. Much rather than Kotkaniemi at 4.8 mil than Dvorak at 4.45 mil.

KK is on pace for 32 points which would be less than his rookie year. That's what you call a massive stride? Really?

 

[Some Other Flame]

Nah, this is a bizarre deal, for both sides

 

[CarolinaBlueJacket]

This could be very bad, very good or just ok. I will get back to you in 4 years.

 

[PAZ]

KK is on pace for 32 points which would be less than his rookie year. That's what you call a massive stride? Really?

Points aren't everything.

 

[japhi]

Kotkaniemi is 21 and has made massive strides in Carolina this year and isn't done developing yet. Much rather than Kotkaniemi at 4.8 mil than Dvorak at 4.45 mil.

I think this is a good deal and good gamble from the Canes. But not sure where the massive strides you mention are coming from. I've watched approx 20 games of his with the Canes, and 100+ when he was a Hab, and he is basically the same player. Awkward stride, good nose around the net, inconsistent in the D zone and requires sheltered minutes. No PK time, some production on the PP.

I think another summer will do him well, and again I do this deal if I'm any GM in the league, but he is trending to his RC year production.

 

[Frank Drebin]

If the Habs had signed him to this deal, I think I would have been fine with it. It's not going to pay dividends for another 3 years at least though

 

[Stickpucker]

Lock for 8 years on a flat 3 year development curve? like i said...good luck!

Thanks bro!

 

[Mickey Marner]

Interested to see the cap breakdown that leads to such a silly cap hit. Is it just for the 20?

 

[Chrispy]

They can still buy him out for 1/3

They can buy him out in 2026 for 1/3 if it doesn't work, leaving Carolina with a buyout hit of $803,333 per year for 8 years.

That's not a bad worst-case scenario.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

If the Habs had signed him to this deal, I think I would have been fine with it. It's not going to pay dividends for another 3 years at least though

It will be next year if Trochek leaves. If he doesn't the signing is a waste.

 

[DaveG]

Points don't tell the whole story, especially when his linemates are typical Lorentz and Martinook. Love both those guys but it's a miracle that Koko and Stepan are producing as much as they are centering those two.

Honestly I was expecting a 4-5 year deal initially until the 8 year talk started to heat up a couple weeks back.

 

[ottawa]

Good gamble, let's see if it pays off.

 

[Big Daddy Cane]

This should put that silly narrative of the Canes acquiring him as revenge to bed. As if Montreal is that relevant.

They tried to trade for him. They proceeded to sign him to an offer sheet, They made a long-term commitment to him afterwards. Clearly, they see a lot in the player.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

I think this is a good deal and good gamble from the Canes. But not sure where the massive strides you mention are coming from. I've watched approx 20 games of his with the Canes, and 100+ when he was a Hab, and he is basically the same player. Awkward stride, good nose around the net, inconsistent in the D zone and requires sheltered minutes. No PK time, some production on the PP.

I think another summer will do him well, and again I do this deal if I'm any GM in the league, but he is trending to his RC year production.

Then you watched him play with plugs. How is he supposed to show what he can do?

 

[danyhabsfan]

They can buy him out in 2026 for 1/3 if it doesn't work, leaving Carolina with a buyout hit of $803,333 per year for 8 years.

That's not a bad worst-case scenario.

People forget that it's 1/3 instead of 2/3 for players under 26

 

[MXD]

They can buy him out in 2026 for 1/3 if it doesn't work, leaving Carolina with a buyout hit of $803,333 per year for 8 years.

...Okay, that really makes sense. I mean, by then, if he isn,t up to his deal, 800K really won't be much to get rid of him.

 

[OrangePMD]

Interested to see the cap breakdown that leads to such a silly cap hit. Is it just for the 20?

 

[Jakomyte]

Kotkaniemi is getting 4th line minutes (avg 12:01 ice time) and has scored 23 points this year.

A total of zero other players in the entire league that have gotten less average ice time have more points than him (only Tomasino is tied with 23 points as well).

Also he's 21 years old, so there is still time for development and this contract covers age 22-29 seasons, which should include his core years of production.

Any 8-year contract has risk, but I think this is a very good gamble from Carolina to project that he will be at least a serviceable 2nd line center for a good part of his contract, maybe as early as next year, and he has the potential to be more than that. Even if he underperforms, he's already shown to be a good bottom-6 centre and $4.82M for a 3rd line centre wouldn't cripple the Canes cap if that were the case.

As for Kotkaniemi, he gets a guaranteed >$38 million... to play for a good team that wants him. Hard to say no to that.

 

[zizbuka]

Carolina taking a good gamble. KK will probably settle in nicely on the 2nd line, with potential for 1st line.

Of course Montreal fans think it's a stupid move.

 

[llamateizer]

This could be very bad, very good or just ok. I will get back to you in 4 years.

That is why it's a really low risk signature.
After 4 years, he can be bought out for peanuts.
Low risk high rewards for the Canes

 

[Finlandia WOAT]

If the Habs had signed him to this deal, I think I would have been fine with it. It's not going to pay dividends for another 3 years at least though

It could easily pay off next year. It's unlikely they re-sign Trocheck, the 2 spot is wide open and there isn't anyone to replace him other than JK. He could get 40+ ES points next year playing with Svechnikov/Necas/Jarvis.

 

[PajamaBoy]

Amazing deal wow.

 

[kerrabria]

What do I win? (below is from like three weeks ago):

Recent second and third line forwards who signed for 7 or 8 years as RFAs:

• Alex Killorn... $4.45m x 8y when the cap was at $71.5m
• Tyler Johnson... $5m x 7y when the cap was at $73m
• Viktor Arvidsson... $4.25m x 7y when the cap was at $73m
• Alex Tuch... $4.75m x 7y when the cap was at 79.5m
• Colton Sissons... $2.9m x 7y when the cap was at $81.5m

Cap goes up to $82.5m, figure that they see Kotkaniemi as Staal's heir at 2C, so after some arbitrary math, I'll guess we'll end up within a couple hundred thousand dollars AAV of either
$4.75m x 8y
$5.4m x 7y