Another Surprising Update Regarding Jesperi Kotkaniemi

According to TSN's Darren Dreger, people close to Jesperi Kotkaniemi believed that he played his last game with the Montreal Canadiens after he was healthy scratched during the Stanley Cup Final. That certainly makes everything that is happening with him more entertaining.

The @Canes have certainly spiced things up. In early July, some close to Kotkaniemi predicted he had played his last game with the Canadiens following a healthy scratch in the Stanley Cup final. Trade seemed more likely, but Carolina has taken a far more entertaining approach.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) August 29, 2021

Yesterday, the Carolina Hurricanes tendered a shocking one-year, $6.1 million offer sheet to Kotkaniemi. The Canadiens now either have to match it or they lose will him. In return, they would receive a first and third-round pick. Furthermore, due to the offer sheet, the Canadiens would not be allowed to trade him for this entire season, according to CapFriendly.

This is the only scenario in which a player who is not yet eligible for Unrestricted Free Agency essentially has a No Trade clause as part of his contract in an RFA year. https://t.co/dFpVfISU12
— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) August 29, 2021

With Kotkaniemi appearing to be disgruntled with Montreal, does that make them less likely to match the offer sheet? It is a very intriguing development and one that will certainly be considered.

In three seasons with the Canadiens, Kotkaniemi has 22 goals, 40 assists and 62 points in 162 games.