RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 18: Jesperi Kotkaniemi #82 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates after scoring a goal against the Washington Capitals during the 2023 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series game at Carter-Finley Stadium on February 18, 2023 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
Many players took major leaps forward last season, and Jesperi Kotkaniemi has to be at the top of that list. With the team relying on him in a larger role during the first year of a long contract extension, Kotkaniemi met the challenge.
As one of the team’s most polarizing players, Kotkaniemi has been under a microscope since joining the team after signing an offer sheet during the 2021 offseason.