Maple Leafs Make Surprising Hire Connected to Jesperi Kotkaniemi
Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs added a new European scout to their ranks, and it just so happens to be Carolina Hurricanes forward Jesperi Kotkaniemi's father Mikael according to his LinkedIn.
It's always interesting to see who the Maple Leafs end up bringing in on the management side, as they tend to find some diamonds in the rough including salary guru Brandon Pridham, who is currently their Assistant GM.
On the scouting side, the team has Mark Leach as their Director of Scouting after Wes Clark headed to Pittsburgh to follow Kyle Dubas. He's a very solid addition, and it seems the team now has firm direction regarding how they value youth.
The Surprising Jesperi Kotkaniemi Connection Behind the Move
But they made a very interesting acquisition on Monday, and it involves adding a current NHL player's father, that being Jesperi Kotkaniemi's father Mikael.
The news was announced on Mikael's personal LinkedIn profile, and he seemed thrilled to be able to get a chance to work with the Maple Leafs as a European Scout:
I'm excited to share that as of August 1, 2025, I have joined the Toronto Maple Leafs as a European Scout, with responsibility for the entire continent.
It's a real privilege to become part of such a storied organization-one that inspires so much passion and emotion among fans around the world. I'm looking forward to contributing to the Leafs' future success.
It's a real privilege to become part of such a storied organization-one that inspires so much passion and emotion among fans around the world. I'm looking forward to contributing to the Leafs' future success.
Being responsible for the entirety of Europe is a massive undertaking, but for someone like Kotkaniemi, who has 20 years experience in coaching in Europe and helping to develop players.
The elder Kotkaniemi never played in North America, though did enjoy a very respectable career in Finland before transitioning to becoming a coach.
Although if his son was still in Montreal, this could make for an intriguing addition to the rivalry, however whenever the Hurricanes come to town, you best believe it's going to be a bit of a tussle for Mikael to decide who to cheer for.
Why the Maple Leafs Turned to Europe for Their Latest Hire
Ironically, the fact that Kotkaniemi is Finnish is quite the turnaround considering the Maple Leafs have seemingly wanted nothing to do with the country and their draft picks over the last several years.
But perhaps it marks a turnaround in their philosophy, where getting a guy who is so deeply entrenched in the Finnish system will allow them to get a better look, plus his proximity to Sweden, Norway, Germany, and others is going to make Toronto's future draft outlook very foreign (no pun intended).
Europe is a hot bed for hockey, and to have someone like Kotkaniemi on the prowl for the next big star is a huge asset that might fly under the radar, we'll just need to see what his first big move is.
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