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Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Carolina Hurricanes (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Hurricanes’ Kotkaniemi Bouncing Back Beautifully in 2024-25 Season

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers | By Zach Martin | Last updated Mar 15, 2025 4:50 PM ET

The Carolina Hurricanes are surging at the right time as they are winners of six straight games. After their 4-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Friday night (March 14), they are now 40-22-4 on the season and 27-7-1 at home in the Lenovo Center. There are a ton of storylines to look at as to why this team is surging at the right time, especially after the rollercoaster that was the trade deadline. However, there is one story that needs to be addressed more than most, it’s one of redemption for a Finnish forward who was not pleased with his 2023-24 season. It is one of proving that he belongs in Raleigh with the team that took a bet on him in 2022-23 when they gave him an eight-year, $38.56 million deal at 22 years old.

The 2024-25 season was one of Jesperi Kotkaniemi hoping to have a bounce-back type of campaign, and it was just that. After 66 games with 16 left in the current season, it is safe to say that he is not done rewriting the narrative of why he belongs in Carolina. This team has taken a kid from Pori, Finland, and has seen him go through the ups and downs, the good and the bad, and is watching him come into his own as an NHLer. Kotkaniemi has shown more times than not that he is not done yet.

Kotkaniemi Proving He Belongs

Entering the 2024-25 season, the mantra that was needed for Kotkaniemi to have a rebounding season was “Luja tahto vie läpi harmaan kiven” or “A strong will takes you through the grey stone” which has the same meaning as “Where there’s a will there’s a way.” The Finnish saying speaks to having to break through the tough parts to get where you want to be. Regarding Kotkaniemi, the 2023-24 season was one he knew was not his best. During last season’s exit interviews, he said it was, “Pretty sh*tty, overall. Tough year for me… I could have been a lot better. I’ll just try to forget this year now and focus on the next one.”

He finished 2023-24 with 12 goals and 27 points in 79 games. Kotkaniemi averaged only 12:50 of total time on ice (TOI) and had a 9.4 shooting percentage (S%). It was a season to forget for the Finnish forward. He knew that 2024-25 needed to be better, especially when analysts around the league brought up the question of whether the Hurricanes should buy him out. In the end, the Hurricanes ran it back with him again, knowing that he had a style to his game that would fit the system beyond the scoresheet. Over the last two months, since Jan. 14, he has tallied 12 points, which ranks third among all Hurricanes skaters. Furthermore, his 30 points are ranked eighth on the team.

Kotkaniemi even passed his points total from last season with 16 games to go after tallying two assists in the Hurricanes’ 4-2 win on Friday. He accumulated 30 points in 13 fewer games compared to last season’s 27 points in 79 games. In 66 games, he hit 30 for the first time since 2022-23. When asked about surpassing last season’s points total, Kotkaniemi stated, “It’s a boring answer, but I just try to work hard and get a little better every day. [I try to] enjoy every day here. It’s a beautiful city and good teammates here. What could be better?”

The mentality Kotkaniemi is showing is why people are on the wagon of him being Jordan Staal 2.0 of being a shutdown center who plays a complete two-way, 200-foot game and contributes more off the scoresheet than on it. If people remove the third-overall pick label on him, Kotkaniemi has become the player he was meant to be and one the Hurricanes saw in him.

Back in 2022 when Kotkaniemi signed his extension, former Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell noted Kotkaniemi’s ceiling: “Jesperi has shown us just how high his ceiling can be through his skill and work ethic, and that he is a great fit with our young core,” said Waddell. “He is still just 21 years old, and we are confident his role in our organization will continue to expand in the years to come.” Looking at where he is now, the Hurricanes made the right decision to extend him at 21 years old. Now 24, he is one of the unsung heroes of this roster.

Back on Whalers Night (Feb. 27) when they defeated the Buffalo Sabres 5-2, he got the team and the fans fired up with an opening faceoff brouhaha, and winning said bout. He is not one to throw fisticuffs, but he did what was needed to fire up the team. His stepping in to help the Hurricanes in any way has shown why he is getting more ice time this season in multiple situations. His TOI average for 2024-25 is at 14:00, the last time he was at 14 minutes-plus was in 2022-24 when he averaged 14:44. That season, he had a 14 S%, and now this season, he has an 11.2 S%.

Furthermore, his faceoff percentage (FO%) has been the most consistent on the Hurricanes with him having a 51.5 FO% this season. He has tied his previous mark with room to see it go up. In his three seasons with the Montreal Canadiens, he never had a 50% or better FO%. Now in his fourth season with the Hurricanes, he is over 51% again for the fourth straight time. Head coach Rod Brind’Amour has always been known as a faceoff specialist, and it is clear why he is a two-time Selke winner. He can help players unlock another level of their game. It may take time but eventually, it will shine if you put in the work. It also helps when you have Staal who is a faceoff wizard as well.

Kotkaniemi is 13 points away from tying his career-high (43) that he set in 2022-23. While there are 16 games left in the 2024-25 regular season, does he have what it takes to tie the mark or set a new one? It will be close to tallying 13 or 14 points in 16 games to tie or break it. However, he only needs 10 to hit 40 points for the second time in his career. Kotkaniemi has accumulated 30 or more points in three seasons over his career, two in Carolina. I believe that he has the chance to hit 40 points again this season, even with 16 games remaining. It will be tight, but he has had four multipoint games this season (ranking sixth on the Hurricanes), so there is a chance that if he has one or two more, he will hit 40 again.

Redemption and Growth

All in all, it is safe to say that Kotkaniemi has had a season to remember and one of getting his confidence back after last season. While there are not a ton of games left before the 2025 Playoffs begin, he has already proven that he belongs, and this season could be the stepping stone to more memorable seasons for the Finnish forward. All roads are not the same, but it is how you journey on that path to become the player you need to be. For Kotkaniemi, the path is leading him to be one of the underrated Hurricanes who needs his flowers in a redemption bounce-back season. All eyes will be on the Kotkaniemi hunt for 40 points once again.