It’s not done often, but the last two teams to be involved in an NHL offer sheet situation are involved in one again. This time, the Carolina Hurricanes have turned the tables and extended an offer sheet to a player from the Montreal Canadiens.
Reports on Saturday are that the Hurricanes have tendered Jesperi Kotkaniemi to an offer sheet worth $6.1 million.
The deal is for one year and the Canadiens have seven days to match. If Montreal does not match, Canadiens will receive a first- and a third-round pick as compensation.
The deal breaks down as follows:
Signing Bonus: $20
Base Salary: $6,100,015
Total Compensation: $6,100,035
Most have noticed that the 20 represents Sebastian Aho’s number (the player Montreal tendered an offer sheet to) and the annual average salary for the one year ends in Kotkaniemi’s jersey number.
This deal feels almost all about retribution. Kotkaniemi is a good player and he’ll help the Hurricanes if Montreal doesn’t match, but these numbers are out there and almost unbelievable.
GM Don Waddell said, “Jesperi Kotkaniemi accepted our offer. He wants to come to Carolina. He sees the core we’re building and wants to be a part of that.” He added, “We’re proud, but there’s still a waiting period. When you make an offer like that, you saw an vulnerable position. The offer, with the compensation and the core we have, we realized this was the best chance we had to get the player.”
These are exactly the same words released by the Canadiens at the time the Habs offer sheeted Aho.
The 21-year-old scored 20 points (five goals, 15 assists) in 56 regular-season games with the Canadiens last season, and eight points (five goals, three assists) in 19 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
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