Saw a headline that the hurricanes healthy-scratched Kotkaniemi against the bruins due him not playing as well as they’d like after a breakout season last year. Depending on how he responds and how both he and the Hurricanes do in the playoffs this year…. I wonder if they’ll be looking to trade him in the offseason? I really don’t know his value as I don’t follow the hurricanes much. He is a former high draft pick that is 23 years old and known to be a two-way center. He is signed for 6 years after this season at a cap hit of 4.8 million.
Not sure if he will even be available but, if he was, I wonder if the flames would target him? He fits the mold of a player a team acquires as part of a retool. While his contract is long, the cap hit is not crazy high if management thinks he could reach his potential as a solid two-way center. If he did, he could potentially be a Backlund replacement when he chooses to retire.
Would his acquisition cost be high? I really don’t know. Surely there would be at least a few teams interested considering what he has shown flashes of in the past. Would Vancouver’s 2024 1st round pick + B-level prospect get it done? That might favour the flames too much - he is a young NHL center even if Carolina is frustrated with him. Don’t think you could expect him to be anything more than a 2nd/3rd line center though.
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