The Carolina Hurricanes have signed Jesperi Kotkaniemi to an offer sheet.
The offer sheet is terrible news for the Canadiens. If they choose not to match, they will receive first and third round picks in 2022. For that reason, Montreal is likely to match, which will put Kotkaniemi’s 2022 salary at a figure much higher than they were hoping, and they will need to give the young center a $6.1 million qualifying offer to retain his rights after the season is over.
Kotkaniemi, 21, has 22 goals and 40 assists in 171 games in his career.
