The Hurricanes would rather convert a winger to a center than see KK on the 2nd line

Dose
Crédit: Carolina Hurricanes' Jesperi Kotkaniemi warms up before Game Four of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

When you look at the Hurricanes’ line-up on paper, you can come to an easy conclusion: at center, it’s thin. Sebastian Aho will play on the team’s first unit-no surprise, because that’s been the case for several years-but Rod Brind’Amour has a little problem: he needs to find a guy to play at center on the 2nd line. The Hurricanes are in much the same situation as the Habs… But instead of giving that role to Jesperi Kotkaniemi, a 3rd overall pick who aspired to fill a chair like that, the Canes have other plans. Chip Alexander, who covers the club’s activities in Carolina, talked about it on the Jason Gregor show: The Hurricanes would rather convert a winger to center than see KK on the 2nd line.

The Habsolument Fan site also wrote on the subject:

[content-ads] That says… a lot. But at the same time, we can’t act like it’s really surprising either. Since arriving in Carolina, Jesperi Kotkaniemi has played a total of 305 games with the Hurricanes. That’s not enough for a guy who wants to play in the top-6 of a National Hockey League club. And it’s not enough for a guy who wants to play in the top-6 of a National League club that has been aspiring to greatness for several years now. It’s strange to say, but it’s as if KK had reached the bottom of the barrel. He still has five years left on his contract ($4.82 M per season) and on DailyFaceoff, he’s projected as his club’s 4th center. To say that the Hurricanes are stuck with him is an understatement… and it’s ironic because they thought they were doing the right thing by making him an offer sheet in 2021. Too bad… [spacer title=’Overtime’] – Classic.

– It was quiet today in Brossard.

– Oops.