Kotkaniemi is hurting the Canes more than anything else

He started the season on the team's first line, often playing with the great Sebastian Aho.

Slowly, he slipped down the list.

In early November, he was ultimately moved to the fourth line and played roughly 11 minutes each game, a far cry from Montreal.

Even worse, the Canes' head coach made a key adjustment in his last game.

This is almost half the ice time Kotkaniemi had a few weeks ago.

Definitively, paying a forward $6.1 million to play 7 minutes per game is not optimal for a team hoping to make the playoffs this season.

His team's lack of utilisation of him is hurting the Hurricanes.

Rookie Grant McCagg used the chance to mock the Hurricanes, pointing out how the aggressive offer made to Kotkaniemi would likely prohibit them from enhancing their squad before the trade deadline.

The remainder will be thrilling!

Credit: habsetlnh