Major Jesperi Kotkaniemi development and contract buyout

Elliotte Friedman, perhaps the top NHL insider, has said he thinks Kotkaniemi will be bought out by the Carolina Hurricanes.

He recently discussed this on his podcast, "32 Thoughts":

As a result, the third overall selection selected by the Montreal Canadiens in 2018 would become an unrestricted free agent, allowing him to sign a deal with any team of his choosing.

But, as was the case with his countryman Jesse Puljujarvi, reporters will undoubtedly begin to speculate as to whether Kotkaniemi will choose to play in Finland once more.

Do you think he will draw a lot of attention on the free agency market if his contract is indeed bought out this summer?

Would you sign KK for a million bucks for a single season?

Whatever the case, this will be an intriguing issue to monitor, and with Friedman's comments, it has unquestionably gained seriousness (as a possibility).

Kotkaniemi, who turns 24 this summer, inked a contract for $4.82 million per year until 2030 after scoring just one point in 11 games during the 2024 playoffs.

The cost to the Hurricanes of buying out Kotkaniemi's contract would be around $835,000 year through 2036. What a poor offer sheet and what a poor signing.

To put it mildly, they are talking a lot less about their move these days.