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Photo of NHL player Jesperi Kotkaniemi

Carolina Hurricanes Logo Jesperi Kotkaniemi

Position Center / Left Wing Current Team Carolina Hurricanes
Shoots Left Current Contract 8 years ($4.8M CapHit)
Height 6'3" Expires 2029-30
Weight (lbs) 212 Expiry Age (Jun 30) 29
Age (DOB) 25 (July 6, 2000) Expiry Status UFA
Drafted 2018, Round 1, Overall 3 (MTL)
Date Team Transaction
Dec 6, 2025 Carolina Hurricanes Activated from IR
Nov 25, 2025 Carolina Hurricanes Placed on IR
Mar 21, 2022 Carolina Hurricanes Signed 8 years @ $4.820M AAV starting in 2022-23
Aug 28, 2021 Carolina Hurricanes Signed 1 year @ $6.100M AAV starting in 2021-22
Jul 1, 2018 Montreal Canadiens Signed to an entry level contract.
Status History Coming Soon

2025-26 Player Card



URL: https://thestanleycap.com/cdn/player_cards/20252026/jesperi-kotkaniemi-8480829.png

2024-25 Player Card



URL: https://thestanleycap.com/cdn/player_cards/20242025/jesperi-kotkaniemi-8480829.png

2023-24 Player Card



URL: https://thestanleycap.com/cdn/player_cards/20232024/jesperi-kotkaniemi-8480829.png

About Player Cards

Player cards present an infographic of a players performance. In this case it shows the player performance over a 3 season span. Each square is separated into three separate sub-boxes with the two smaller boxes on top representing the past two seasons and the larger box on the bottom representing the current or most recent season. This allows the reader to guage how consistent a player has been, and if early in the season it can help identify whether a players performance may be impacted by small sample size and subject to regression or is consistent with recent past performance.

Notes and Definitions
  • The numbers represent percentiles so the higher the better.
  • Percentiles are determined by comparing Forwards to Forwards and Defensemen to Defensemen.
  • Bursts/mi are calculated from NHL Edge Data are are speed bursts above 20mpg per mile skated. The NHL doesn't adjust for ice time so the players that skate more will naturally have more bursts over 20, or at least more opportunity to have more. The NHL also does not provide ice time in the context of NHL Edge Statistics, however, it does provide distance skated. By adjusting for distance skated it will have a similar effect to adjusting for ice time but also adjust for situationional effect. For example, Players don't typically skate as much on the PK, mostly within the defensive zone, so don't get significant opportunity in that ice time to get speed bursts above 20mph. Adjusting with miles skates would account for this better than adjusting with ice time.
  • Sh%AE is Shooting Percentage above Expected (Sh% - xSh%) and is an indicator of how good a shooter is at converting chances into goals.
  • Relative statistics are On Ice - Off Ice statistics and can be an indicator of whether the player makes his teammates better or worse.
  • All data is 5v5 except Shooting Hardest and Average, Skating Top Speed and Bursts/mi which are all situations, ES Average which is even strength (NHL doesn't give a specific definition).
Data Sources
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5v5 Individual Stats

Season Team(s) GP TOI G/60 A/60 Pts/60 xG/60 GAE/60 Sh% xSh% Sh%AE %SA Rush %SA Reb.
2018-19 MTL 79 896:09 0.67 1.21 1.87 0.59 0.08 8.55 7.56 0.99 1.96 5.88
2019-20 MTL 36 387:47 0.77 0.15 0.93 0.51 0.26 12.50 8.27 4.23 2.04 0.00
2020-21 MTL 56 694:46 0.43 0.86 1.30 0.49 -0.06 7.69 8.79 -1.10 8.24 3.53
2021-22 CAR 66 698:46 1.03 1.12 2.15 0.71 0.32 16.67 11.55 5.11 3.06 7.14
2022-23 CAR 82 1019:23 0.71 1.00 1.71 0.64 0.06 12.37 11.25 1.12 2.21 10.29
2023-24 CAR 79 890:04 0.67 0.74 1.42 0.83 -0.16 9.26 11.39 -2.13 1.85 10.49
2024-25 CAR 78 965:30 0.68 1.24 1.93 0.70 -0.01 11.22 11.45 -0.23 1.45 7.97
2025-26 CAR 31 326:25 0.37 0.92 1.29 0.66 -0.29 6.06 10.83 -4.77 0.00 11.11

5v5 On Ice Stats

Season Team(s) GP TOI SAF/60 GF/60 xGF/60 SAA/60 GA/60 xGA/60 GF% xGF% xGF Rel xGA Rel xGF% Rel
2018-19 MTL 79 896:09 49.08 2.41 2.68 36.82 2.08 2.01 53.73 57.06 -0.02 -0.47 4.99
2019-20 MTL 36 387:47 45.64 1.86 2.28 43.01 2.94 2.57 38.71 47.04 -0.47 0.26 -7.32
2020-21 MTL 56 694:46 41.37 2.07 2.10 35.49 1.99 1.96 51.06 51.71 -0.37 -0.14 -2.39
2021-22 CAR 66 698:46 48.86 2.83 2.87 35.29 2.23 2.38 55.93 54.59 -0.34 -0.28 -0.04
2022-23 CAR 82 1019:23 47.68 2.53 2.66 32.20 1.88 2.03 57.33 56.65 -0.51 -0.15 -2.53
2023-24 CAR 79 890:04 52.18 2.36 3.05 37.21 2.43 2.39 49.30 56.07 0.23 0.22 -0.44
2024-25 CAR 78 965:30 46.79 3.05 2.95 36.85 2.30 2.34 56.98 55.74 0.06 0.06 -0.07
2025-26 CAR 31 326:25 41.73 2.57 2.32 34.56 2.21 2.21 53.85 51.21 -0.87 -0.42 -3.61

NHL Edge Stats

Skating Shooting Zone Time
Season GP Top Speed Bursts>20/mi Avg. Speed ES Avg. Speed Top Speed Avg. Speed %Long Range %Mid Range %High Danger ES DZ% ES NZ% ES OZ%
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Legend

Percentile 0-25 Percentile 25-50 Percentile 50-75 Percentile 75-100
Forwards are compared with forwards and Defensemen are are compared with Defensemen.

5v5 Lines

Season
Season Teammate Teammate Team TOI GF/60 GA/60 GF% xGF/60 xGA/60 xGF% xGF Rel xGA Rel xGF% Rel
This table is for Basic and Premium subscribers only. To view please login to and/or subscribe to one of our subscription plans. 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 2026-27 2027-28 2028-29 2030-31 2031-32 2032-33 2033-34 2034-35

Glossary

Type Statistic Definition
IndividualG/60Goals Against per 60 minutes.
IndividualA/60Assists per 60 minutes.
IndividualPts/60Points per 60 minutes.
IndividualxG/60Expected Goals per 60 minutes.
IndividualGAE/60Goals Above Expected (G/60 - xG/60).
IndividualSh%Shooting Percentage.
IndividualxSh%Expected Shooting Percentage.
IndividualSh%AEShooting percentage above expected (Sh% - xSh%).
Individual%SA RushPercentage of shot attempts determined to be on the rush.
Individual%SA Reb.Percentage of shot attempts determined to be from rebounds.
On IceSAF/60Shot Attempts For per 60 minutes.
On IceGF/60Goals For per 60 minutes.
On IcexGF/60Expected Goals For per 60 minutes.
On IceSAA/60Shot Attempts Against per 60 minutes (lower is better).
On IceGA/60Goals Against per 60 minutes (lower is better).
On IcexGA/60Expected Goals Against per 60 minutes (lower is better).
On IceGF%Goals For Percentage = Goals For / (Goals For + Goals Against)
On IcexGF%Expected Goals For Percentage = Expected Goals For / (Expected Goals For + Expected Goals Against)
On IcexGF RelxGF/60 when On Ice - xGF/60 when not On Ice.
On IcexGA RelxGA/60 when On Ice - xGA/60 when not On Ice (lower is better).
On IcexGF% RelxGF% when On Ice - xGF% when not On Ice.
Individual and On-Ice stats from Puckalytics.com (starting in 2015-16). NHL Edge Stats from edge.nhl.com (starting in 2021-22). Edge statistic definitions can be found at the Edge Stats Glossary.

News and Opinions

Current Contract

Jesperi Kotkaniemi signed an $38,560,000 8-year contract with the Carolina Hurricanes and General Manager Don Waddell on March 21, 2022 with an AAV of $4,820,000. This contract will start in 2022-23 and end after the 2029-30 season. In the first season of the contract the cap hit was equivalent to 5.84% of the salary cap.

Standard Contract (RFA) ( )  (0 ratings)

Season Age* Clause Cap Hit AAV Perf. Bonus Sign. Bonus Salary Compensation Minors Salary Status
2022-23 22 $4,820,000 $4,820,000 - - $4,000,000 $4,000,000 $4,000,000 RFA-arb
2023-24 23 $4,820,000 $4,820,000 - - $4,500,000 $4,500,000 $4,500,000 RFA-arb
2024-25 24 $4,820,000 $4,820,000 - - $4,820,000 $4,820,000 $4,820,000 RFA-arb
2025-26 25 M-NTC $4,820,000 $4,820,000 - - $4,820,000 $4,820,000 $4,820,000 UFA
2026-27 26 M-NTC $4,820,000 $4,820,000 - - $4,820,000 $4,820,000 $4,820,000 UFA
2027-28 27 M-NTC $4,820,000 $4,820,000 - - $5,200,000 $5,200,000 $5,200,000 UFA
2028-29 28 M-NTC $4,820,000 $4,820,000 - - $5,200,000 $5,200,000 $5,200,000 UFA
2029-30 29 M-NTC $4,820,000 $4,820,000 - - $5,200,000 $5,200,000 $5,200,000 UFA
Total - - $38,560,000 $38,560,000 $38,560,000
Signed: Mar 21, 2022
Team: Carolina Hurricanes
GM: Don Waddell
Exp. Status: UFA
Cap %: 5.84
Clause: Starting in 2025-26 player has a 10 team no trade clause.

Previous Contracts (show) (hide)

Jesperi Kotkaniemi signed a $6,100,035 1-year contract with the Carolina Hurricanes and General Manager Don Waddell on August 28, 2021 with an AAV of $6,100,035. This contract will start in 2021-22 and end after the 2021-22 season. In the first season of the contract the cap hit was equivalent to 7.48% of the salary cap.

Standard Contract (RFA) ( )  (0 ratings)

Season Age* Clause Cap Hit AAV Perf. Bonus Sign. Bonus Salary Compensation Minors Salary Status
2021-22 21 $6,100,035 $6,100,035 - - $6,100,035 $6,100,035 $6,100,035 RFA
Total - - $6,100,035 $6,100,035 $6,100,035
Signed: Aug 28, 2021
Team: Carolina Hurricanes
GM: Don Waddell
Exp. Status: RFA-arb
Cap %: 7.48
Note: This contract was a successful offer sheet by Carolina Hurricanes which Montreal chose not to match.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi signed a $2,775,000 3-year contract with the Montreal Canadiens and General Manager Marc Bergevin on July 1, 2018 with an AAV of $925,000. This contract will start in 2018-19 and end after the 2020-21 season. In the first season of the contract the cap hit was equivalent to 1.16% of the salary cap.

Entry Level Contract ( )  (0 ratings)

Season Age* Clause Cap Hit AAV Perf. Bonus Sign. Bonus Salary Compensation Minors Salary Status
2018-19 18 $925,000 $3,425,000 $2,500,000 $92,500 $832,500 $925,000 $70,000 ELC
2019-20 19 $925,000 $3,425,000 $2,500,000 $92,500 $832,500 $925,000 $70,000 ELC
2020-21 20 $925,000 $3,425,000 $2,500,000 $92,500 $832,500 $925,000 $70,000 ELC
Total $7,500,000 $277,500 $2,497,500 $2,775,000 $210,000
Signed: July 1, 2018
Team: Montreal Canadiens
GM: Marc Bergevin
Exp. Status: RFA

Career Statistics

Regular Season Playoffs
Season League Team GP G A Pts +/- PIM Shots Sh% TOI/G GP G A Pts +/- PIM Shots Sh% TOI/G
2014-15 Jr. C SM-sarja Ässät U16 30 21 12 33 30
2015-16 U20 SM-sarja Ässät U20 23 5 10 15 +15 12
2015-16 U18 Mestis Ässät U18 6 5 12 17
2015-16 YOG Finland U16 6 3 4 7 1
2016-17 WJC-18 Finland U18 7 1 5 6 +1
2016-17 U20 SM-liiga Ässät U20 17 9 6 15 +6 18 7 4 1 5 -2
2017-18 WJC-18 Finland U18 7 3 6 9 +9 37
2017-18 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Finland U18 4 2 2 4 6
2017-18 Liiga Ässät 57 10 19 29 -1 20 7 1 1 -4 6
2018-19 NHL Montréal Canadiens 79 11 23 34 +1 26 134 8.2 13:44
2019-20 AHL Laval Rocket 13 1 12 13 16
2019-20 NHL Montréal Canadiens 36 6 2 8 -11 23 55 10.9 13:00 10 4 4 +4 23 11 36.4 13:53
2020-21 Liiga Ässät 10 2 6 8 -3 8
2020-21 NHL Montréal Canadiens 56 5 15 20 -1 12 87 5.7 14:48 19 5 3 8 -5 14 28 17.9 13:42
2021-22 NHL Carolina Hurricanes 66 12 17 29 +3 37 81 14.8 12:01 14 2 2 -4 2 18 0.0 11:45
2022-23 NHL Carolina Hurricanes 82 18 25 43 +10 50 129 14.0 14:44 15 3 4 7 -5 8 24 12.5 16:50
2023-24 NHL Carolina Hurricanes 79 12 15 27 -4 36 128 9.4 12:59 11 1 1 -2 4 15 0.0 11:01
2024-25 NHL Carolina Hurricanes 78 12 21 33 +9 50 115 10.4 14:04 14 4 4 +1 14 19 0.0 13:30
2025-26 NHL Carolina Hurricanes 31 2 6 8 +2 8 35 5.7 11:10
NHL Career 507 78 124 202 +9 242 764 10.2 13:31 83 12 14 26 -11 65 115 10.4 13:34