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Justin Poirier’s favorite Hurricanes player is… Jesperi Kotkaniemi

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 29: Justin Poirier speaks to the media after being selected by the Carolina Hurricanes with the 156th overall pick during the 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft at Sphere on June 29, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

The hockey world has just been hit by some rather surprising news. No, we’re not talking about a transaction or a signing, but about Justin Poirier’s favorite player.

The Quebecer was drafted in the fifth round by the Hurricanes and is participating in the team’s development camp. Players attending the camp had to have their photo taken with a board on which they wrote their name, where they’re from, their position and their favorite Hurricanes player.

Unsurprisingly, Sebastian Aho was the player mentioned most often. He is, after all, the face of the team.

Against all odds, Poirier’s choice was Jesperi Kotkaniemi.

I can understand that not everyone prefers top players, but to select Jesperi Kotkaniemi? That’s got to be a joke.

You have to remember the many arrows the Hurricanes have hurled at the Canadiens since they made a hostile offer sheet for Kotkaniemi. Although there’s another Quebecer who took a photo with a chalkboard (Justin Robidas), Poirier wrote MTL (Montréal) on his sign.

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Perhaps this was another opportunity for the Hurricanes to play a joke on the Canadiens.

Except that if it really was Poirier’s choice, you’d have to ask him personally why he chose it.

Kotkaniemi is a third, if not fourth line player with the Hurricanes. All this with a contract that weighs $4.82 million on the payroll.

He played less than 10 minutes in three of the six games of the second-round series against the Rangers. Not to mention that he finished the season with 27 points in 79 games.

We’re hoping for a better career than that for Justin Poirier.

Overtime

– A man of the people.

– There will be many losers in the long run.

– Already?

– It’s confirmed.