A contract buyout is inevitable for Jesperi Kotkaniemi
It's disappointing to come to this conclusion, but Jesperi Kotkaniemi should see his contract bought out this summer, and he would no longer be a member of the Carolina Hurricanes.
He signed an eight-season deal worth nearly $5 million per year, but he clearly isn't meeting the expectations the Canes had set.
Indeed, after 12 points in as many games to start the 2023-24 campaign, KK totaled 15 points over the next 67 games. That's very disappointing.
By his own admission, his season was tough. It's starting to become repetitive, as nearly all his seasons have been difficult, but he plans to do the same thing as usual during the summer, which is concerning.
«Overall, it was horrible. The year was very difficult for me. [...] I could have done a lot better. I'll try to forget it and focus on the next one,» he said. «It will be the same as usual, trying to work hard to come back stronger and be ready for next year.» - Jesperi Kotkaniemi
According to former player Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre, Kotkaniemi will be bought out this summer. Players under 25 can be bought out without having to pay two-thirds of their salary. The Canes would only have to pay one-third as a penalty over 12 years.
This amounts to less than $900k against the Canes' salary cap, which is very advantageous under the circumstances. If they don't make this move, they'll have to keep him until the end of his contract or try to trade him.
That's where it gets complicated. No one wants a player signed for that long at a good sum who doesn't produce. We see this with the Canadiens' Josh Anderson.
These contracts are scary. The Hurricanes have a choice to make, and it's this summer or never.
According to Elliotte Friedman, KK will be bought out. The insider agrees with Grand-Pierre, as do many other analysts.
Rumors suggest that if KK is bought out, he will leave to play in Finland. He could thus have a similar path to Jesse Puljujarvi.
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| POLL |
25 MAI | 449 ANSWERS A contract buyout is inevitable for Jesperi Kotkaniemi In your opinion, will Jesperi Kotkaniemi's contract be bought out this summer? |
| Yes | 338 | 75.3 % |
| No | 111 | 24.7 % |
| LIST OF POLLS |
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