Jesperi
Kotkaniemi
C · CAR · Defensive · Below average
- PAL
- 35
- WAR
- -0.0
- Value
- 21
- PTS
- 9
2025-26№ 395 / 615
Jesperi Kotkaniemi (Carolina Hurricanes) stats and profile: offensive production, ice time, advanced stats, WAR and PAL rating.
Jesperi Kotkaniemi
#82CPlays: Centre · 52% of faceoffs
Carolina Hurricanes
HEIGHT : 191 cm · WEIGHT : 96 kg · SHOOTS : L
Born : July 5, 2000 · Pori, Finland
Drafted : 2018 · MTL · round 1, pick #3
Contract : $4,820,000 · 2022-23 → 2029-30 · Standard Contract (Extension) · UFAM-NTC
NHL record
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | Carolina Hurricanes | 17 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 6 |
| 2025-26 | Carolina Hurricanes | 42 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 8 |
| 2024-25 | Carolina Hurricanes | 78 | 12 | 21 | 33 | 50 |
| 2023-24 | Carolina Hurricanes | 79 | 12 | 15 | 27 | 36 |
| 2022-23 | Carolina Hurricanes | 82 | 18 | 25 | 43 | 50 |
| 2021-22 | Carolina Hurricanes | 66 | 12 | 17 | 29 | 37 |
| 2020-21 | Montréal Canadiens | 56 | 5 | 15 | 20 | 12 |
| 2019-20 | Montréal Canadiens | 36 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 23 |
| 2018-19 | Montréal Canadiens | 79 | 11 | 23 | 34 | 26 |
| NHL totals | 535 | 83 | 130 | 213 | 248 | |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | Carolina Hurricanes | 14 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 14 |
| 2023-24 | Carolina Hurricanes | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 2022-23 | Carolina Hurricanes | 15 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 8 |
| 2021-22 | Carolina Hurricanes | 14 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 2020-21 | Montréal Canadiens | 19 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 14 |
| 2019-20 | Montréal Canadiens | 10 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 23 |
| Playoff totals | 83 | 12 | 14 | 26 | 65 | |
Honours
- 🏆 Stanley Cuponce · 2025-26
Jesperi Kotkaniemi: our analysis
2025-26 season: 42 GP, 2 G, 7 A, 9 PTS, +3 +/-, 11:21 TOI. WAR -0.0 (395th of 615) · PAL 35, below average.
In 2025-26, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, 26, posts a PAL Rating of 35 out of 100 (below average), and his WAR of -0.0 ranks 395th among 615 regulars, in the bottom half.
His strengths: discipline (92, among the best in the league) and defense (63, above average). On the other hand, power play (15, among the weakest in the league) and shooting (15, among the weakest in the league) hold him back.
Breaking down his WAR (goals above average), his biggest contribution: penalties (+0.9); his biggest cost: finishing (-2.5).
A marked decline: his PAL was 43 in 2024-25, against 35 now; his WAR went from 0.6 to -0.0.
Contract-wise, his Value score of 21 (very poor return) weighs his output against what he costs: 50 is what that salary should buy.
Jesperi Kotkaniemi's story
He first drew wide attention when, as a 17-year-old, he played his first professional game for HC Ässät and scored in the season opener, becoming the Liiga's earliest-born-2000s forward to appear in the league. Raised in Pori, he benefited from daily access to the club's facilities thanks to his father Mikael's coaching role, and shared early development ice time with his older brother Kasperi.
Kotkaniemi moved quickly through Ässät's youth ranks, leading his U16 club in points and goals before spending substantial time with the U20 squad as a 15-year-old. After signing a three-year Liiga contract in June 2017, his rookie professional season yielded 29 points in 57 regular-season games and a playoff appearance that helped earn him a nomination for the Jarmo Wasama Memorial Trophy.
Montreal selected him third overall in the 2018 NHL Draft and signed him to a three-year, entry-level contract on 2 July 2018. He debuted for the Canadiens on 3 October 2018 and recorded an assist in that opener; on 1 November he scored his first two NHL goals against the Washington Capitals. His time in Montreal also included knee surgery after the season, a concussion in December 2019, an AHL stint with Laval in February 2020 and a short loan back to Ässät in October 2020.
On 28 August 2021 he signed a one-year, US$6.1 million offer sheet with the Carolina Hurricanes that Montreal declined to match, sending him to Carolina in exchange for Montreal's 2022 first- and third-round picks. He agreed to an eight-year, US$38.5 million extension with the Hurricanes on 21 March 2022 and later won the Stanley Cup with Carolina in 2026.
Internationally he has represented Finland at the U18 level, helping to win silver at the 2017 World U18 Championship with six points in seven games and gold in 2018 with nine points in seven games, where he was named one of Finland's top three players. As a centre he is primarily defined by his playmaking instincts and on-ice vision, traits that propelled him from Finnish junior ranks into the NHL.
Facts drawn from Wikipédia, told in our own words.
Advanced stats
- TOI/GP
- 11:48
- PP TOI/GP
- 0:50
- SH TOI/GP
- 0:02
- Pts/GP
- 0.59
- EV points
- 10
- Hits
- 18
- Blocks
- 8
- Takeaways
- 4
- Corsi % (SAT)
- 53.4 %
- Off. zone starts
- 39.3 %
- Faceoffs
- 49.1 %
Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)
2026-27 projection
Projected points
25between 12 and 37 (80% range)
- Goals
- 10
- Assists
- 15
- Games
- 65
So far: 10 pts in 17 games. The team has played 19 of 84 games. Projected pace: 0.31 pts per game (last season: 0.21).
The projection follows last season's pace. Tested on 2,265 player seasons (2022-23 to 2025-26): average miss of 9 points over 82 games; for players at 0.9 points per game and up, it ran 5 points high on average.
Trend
Stable
- Points per game: 0.34 in 23-24, 0.21 in 25-26
- PAL Rating: 43 → 35
Outlook, age included
→ StableAge 26: prime years
This is only a projection. It knows nothing about injuries, trades or role changes; one player in five finishes outside the range.
Player ratings, 2025-26
All ratings →Fourteen ratings from 0 to 100 drawn from data, never by hand: 75 = established NHL player, 95+ = elite.
OV · OverallConfidence 79 %
72
Established NHL
- SK
- Skating
- 65
- Confidence 73 %
- ST
- Strength
- 90
- Confidence 82 %
- EN
- Endurance
- 64
- Confidence 80 %
- DU
- Durability
- 71
- Confidence 77 %
- CK
- Checking
- 78
- Confidence 82 %
- FG
- Fighting
- 79
- Confidence 64 %
- DI
- Discipline
- 67
- Confidence 82 %
- FO
- Faceoffs
- 78
- Confidence 85 %
- PA
- Passing
- 71
- Confidence 79 %
- SC
- Scoring
- 71
- Confidence 79 %
- DF
- Defense
- 79
- Confidence 76 %
- PS
- Penalty shot
- 86
- Confidence 8 %
- EX
- Experience
- 86
- Confidence 100 %
Why these ratings?Hide details
SK — Skating65
- Top speed (35 %)35.5 · 65
- Bursts > 20 mph /60 (30 %)4.968 · 70
- Distance /60 (20 %)16.2 · 69
- Speed consistency (15 %)34.9 · 67
ST — Strength90
- Contact absorbed /60 (50 %)5.715 · 88
- Body mass (50 %)0.691 · 84
EN — Endurance64
- Ice time per game (45 %)13.4 · 67
- Total ice time (20 %)469 · 55
- Shift length (15 %)46.1 · 78
- Lowest recent ice time per game (15 %)11.7 · 63
- Special-teams time per game (5 %)1.471 · 60
DU — Durability71
- Share of games played (100 %)0.788 · 71
CK — Checking78
- Hits /60 (70 %)4.983 · 78
- Lowest seasonal rate (20 %)3.504 · 77
- Season volume (10 %)4.159 · 76
FG — Fighting79
- Fights per 82 games (100 %)0.911 · 79
DI — Discipline67
- Net penalty value /60 (50 %)-0.001 · 67
- Penalties taken /60 (30 %)0.82 · 64
- Penalties drawn /60 (20 %)0.816 · 78
FO — Faceoffs78
- Faceoff % (85 %)50.7 · 78
- Faceoffs /60 (15 %)37.3 · 74
PA — Passing71
- Primary assists /60 (40 %)0.598 · 71
- Secondary assists /60 (20 %)0.513 · 77
- Offensive creation (RAPM) (20 %)0.027 · 73
- Power-play points /60 (10 %)3.251 · 48
- Assist consistency (10 %)0.425 · 71
SC — Scoring71
- Goals /60 (25 %)0.672 · 69
- Individual xG /60 (20 %)0.761 · 73
- Finishing (goals − xG per shot) (20 %)-0.611 · 67
- High-danger chances /60 (15 %)1.21 · 73
- xG per shot (10 %)0.083 · 75
- Shot attempts /60 (10 %)12.4 · 77
DF — Defense79
- RAPM defense /60 (35 %)0.09 · 84
- Relative xG against (20 %)-0.065 · 76
- On-ice xG against /60 (15 %)2.465 · 82
- Penalty kill /60 (10 %)0.004 · 80
- Takeaways − giveaways /60 (10 %)-2.031 · 61
- Shot attempts against /60 (5 %)57 · 79
- Blocked shots /60 (5 %)2.26 · 68
PS — Penalty shot86
- Shootouts (60 %)34.4 · 88
- Penalty shots (40 %)26.7 · 76
EX — Experience86
- Career regular-season games (65 %)88
- Career playoff games (25 %)84
- NHL seasons (10 %)75
OV — Overall72
- SC · Scoring (20 %)71
- PA · Passing (20 %)71
- DF · Defense (20 %)79
- SK · Skating (12 %)65
- FO · Faceoffs (10 %)78
- EN · Endurance (8 %)64
- DI · Discipline (5 %)67
- ST · Strength (3 %)90
- CK · Checking (2 %)78
| Season | OV | SK | SC | DF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 72 | 65 | 71 | 79 |
| 2024-25 | 73 | 69 | 73 | 77 |
| 2023-24 | 74 | 71 | 75 | 79 |
| 2022-23 | 81 | 73 | 78 | 91 |
The bars show confidence (sample size), not player quality. — : not enough data, not a zero. Engine version 1.0.
WAR and PAL ratings, 2025-26
How we rate →PAL Rating scores performance from 0 to 100 against players at the same position (50 = average player), starting from the player's strength, offensive or defensive. Value Rating compares that performance with what the player costs: 50 means paid what the play is worth.
WAR
-0.0
wins above replacement
395 of 615
PAL Rating
35/ 100
Performance · Below average
296 of 476 at the position
Value Rating
21/ 100
Very poor return
4.82 M$ · expected PAL 62
ProfileDefensiveValue comes mostly from defense
- Offense
- 16
- Defense
- 56
See full detailsHide details
- Offense
- 16
- Creation
- 23
- Shooting
- 15
- Possession
- 42
- Defense
- 63
- Discipline
- 92
- Power play
- 15
- Penalty kill
- 47
From 0 to 100; 50 is the average player at the same position, adjusted for ice time.
| Season | Team | WAR | PAL | Value | Cap hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | CAR | -0.0 | 35 | 21 | 4.82 M$ |
| 2024-25 | CAR | 0.6 | 43 | 25 | 4.82 M$ |
| 2023-24 | CAR | -0.0 | 41 | 23 | 4.82 M$ |
| 2022-23 | CAR | 0.9 | 71 | 51 | 4.82 M$ |
Hockey IQ, 2025-26
Rankings and method →The quality of the player's decisions with and against the puck at 5-on-5, against regulars at the same position (50 = average). PAL measures output; IQ measures how the player plays.
Overall IQ
22/ 100
Below average
better than 22% of forwards, offense and defense combined
Offensive IQ
46/ 100
Average
passing, shots, puck
Defensive IQ
20/ 100
Below average
takeaways, discipline, own zone
Overall IQ isn't an average of the two scores: it's the player's rank with offense and defense combined, 329 of 424 forwards.
See full detailsHide details
Offense
- Playmaking passes
- 51
- Shot selection
- 45
- Penalties drawn
- 81
- Puck management
- 16
Defense
- Takeaways
- 6
- Discipline
- 66
- Safe zone exits
- 15
Percentiles: 80 means better than 80% of regulars at the same position. Play without the puck (positioning, coverage) isn't measured: the NHL doesn't publish that data.
| Season | Team | IQ | Off. | Def. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | CAR | 22 | 46 | 20 |
| 2024-25 | CAR | 14 | 60 | 8 |
| 2023-24 | CAR | 27 | 52 | 20 |
| 2022-23 | CAR | 5 | 18 | 10 |
WAR, 2025-26
How it's calculated →Wins added to the team, compared with a replacement-level player called up from the AHL.
-0.0
wins above replacement
-0.5 to 0.4 — 90% interval
395 of 615 forwards
-0.0 goals above replacement
Full leaderboard →See full detailsHide details
- EV offense
- -0.4
- EV defense
- +0.7
- Power play
- -0.0
- Penalty kill
- +0.0
- Shooting
- -2.5
- Penalties
- +0.9
- Average → replacement
- +1.2
In goals.
| Season | Team | GP | WAR | 90% interval | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | CAR | 42 | -0.0 | -0.5 to 0.4 | 395/615 |
| 2024-25 | CAR | 78 | 0.6 | -0.4 to 1.8 | 219/596 |
| 2023-24 | CAR | 79 | -0.0 | -0.8 to 0.9 | 396/608 |
| 2022-23 | CAR | 82 | 0.9 | -0.2 to 2.2 | 157/617 |
Player tracking (NHL EDGE)
League EDGE leaderboards →Speed, shot power, distance covered, time by zone: measured by chips in the puck and shoulder pads. 90th percentile = better than 90% of players.
- Hardest shot
- 134.6 km/h60th percentileleague avg. 130.1 km/h
- Top skating speed
- 34.0 km/h20th percentileleague avg. 35.2 km/h
- Bursts over 20 mph, season
- 1235th percentileleague avg. 21
- Offensive zone time
- 45.0 %81st percentileleague avg. 43.1 %
See full detailsHide details
- Total distance, season
- 53.0 km41st percentileleague avg. 52.2 km
- Distance, single-game high
- 4.33 km42nd percentileleague avg. 4.52 km
- Offensive zone at 5v5
- 43.9 %90th percentileleague avg. 42.4 %
- Neutral zone time
- 19.4 %96th percentileleague avg. 16.8 %
- Defensive zone time
- 35.6 %92nd percentileleague avg. 40.1 %
Shooting
| Shots on goal | Goals | Shooting % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All | 2050th percentile | 581st percentile | 25.0 %96th percentile |
| High danger | 752nd percentile | 596th percentile | 71.4 %99th percentile |
| Mid range | 550th percentile | 054th percentile | 0.0 %32nd percentile |
| Long range | 272nd percentile | 092nd percentile | 0.0 %87th percentile |
Shots on goal by zone
2026-2027 regular season. Measured by puck and player tracking chips; the percentile ranks the player within the league.
Game log, 2026-27
🔥 2-game point streak
CHI
NYI
NSH
WPG
CBJ
BOS
STL
EDM
VAN
CGY
WSH
PHI
MTLJesperi Kotkaniemi: frequently asked questions
How many goals does Jesperi Kotkaniemi have in 2026-27?
Jesperi Kotkaniemi has 5 goals and 10 points (5 assists) in 17 games in 2026-27.
How old is Jesperi Kotkaniemi?
Jesperi Kotkaniemi is 26 years old: he was born on July 6, 2000.
How tall is Jesperi Kotkaniemi, and how much does he weigh?
Jesperi Kotkaniemi is 6'3" (191 cm) and weighs 212 lb (96 kg).
Where is Jesperi Kotkaniemi from?
Finland: Jesperi Kotkaniemi was born in Pori, Finland.
What team does Jesperi Kotkaniemi play for?
Jesperi Kotkaniemi plays for the Carolina Hurricanes in the NHL, at C, wearing number 82.
Is Jesperi Kotkaniemi injured?
No: Jesperi Kotkaniemi is not on the latest NHL injury report. This answer is updated throughout the season.
How good is Jesperi Kotkaniemi?
Jesperi Kotkaniemi produced -0.0 wins above replacement (WAR) in 2025-26, 395th of 615 players at his position in the NHL. His PAL rating is 35 out of 100: below average for his position.
How much does Jesperi Kotkaniemi make?
Jesperi Kotkaniemi earns $4.8M for the 2025-26 season. His Value Rating is 21 out of 100 (very poor return): it measures the on-field return for that salary, compared with players at his position.
When does Jesperi Kotkaniemi's contract end?
Jesperi Kotkaniemi's contract runs through the 2029-30 season; he will then be an unrestricted free agent. It includes a M-NTC clause.
Is Jesperi Kotkaniemi overpaid?
Yes, his output falls short of what his salary should buy. His Value rating is 21 out of 100 (very poor return), where 50 is the output expected for his salary, compared with players at his position.
Is Jesperi Kotkaniemi a top-10 player at his position?
No: by WAR, he ranks 395th of 615 players at his position in the NHL in 2025-26. Our comparison tool puts him side by side with any other player.
Is Jesperi Kotkaniemi getting better?
No, he is slipping: his PAL rating went from 43 in 2024-25 to 35 in 2025-26 (out of 100, 50 = average player at his position).
How has Jesperi Kotkaniemi played lately?
Over his last 10 games, Jesperi Kotkaniemi has 7 points (4 goals, 3 assists).
What are Jesperi Kotkaniemi's career stats?
Over his NHL career, Jesperi Kotkaniemi has 535 games, 83 goals, 130 assists and 213 points. His best season: 2022-23, with 43 points in 82 games.
Where was Jesperi Kotkaniemi drafted?
Jesperi Kotkaniemi was drafted 3rd overall (round 1) by Montreal Canadiens in 2018.
Is Jesperi Kotkaniemi better at home or on the road?
At home: in 2026-27, he averages 0.67 points per game at home (4 in 6 games) and 0.55 on the road (6 in 11 games).
How does Jesperi Kotkaniemi perform in the playoffs?
In the playoffs, Jesperi Kotkaniemi has 83 games and 26 points in his career. His pace (0.31 points per game) is lower than his regular-season pace (0.40).
Which player is most similar to Jesperi Kotkaniemi?
Ondrej Palat: he is the player at his position whose PAL profile (the 0-to-100 dimensions) is closest to his in 2025-26.
Ondrej Palat's page →Is Jesperi Kotkaniemi a good fantasy pick?
Probably not, except in deep leagues: our projection has him at 25 points in 2026-27, or 0.38 points per game.
Does Jesperi Kotkaniemi have siblings?
Yes: his brother Kasperi Kotkaniemi (plays as a goaltender).
Is Jesperi Kotkaniemi related to anyone famous?
Yes: Mikael Kotkaniemi (father, former professional hockey player and current coach); Kati Kotkaniemi (mother).
What is Jesperi Kotkaniemi's nationality?
Jesperi Kotkaniemi is Finnish. Internationally: Finland: silver medal at the 2017 IIHF World U18 Championship (Slovakia); gold medal at the 2018 IIHF World U18 Championship (Russia).
What awards has Jesperi Kotkaniemi won?
Named one of Finland's top-3 players by the IIHF at the 2018 IIHF World U18 Championship ; Nominated for the Jarmo Wasama Memorial Trophy (Liiga rookie of the year) after the 2017–18 season.
How many championships has Jesperi Kotkaniemi won?
4: Won the Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2026; Gold medal at the 2018 IIHF World U18 Championship with Finland; Silver medal at the 2017 IIHF World U18 Championship with Finland; U20 silver medal with HC Ässät at the end of the 2016–17 season.
Where did Jesperi Kotkaniemi play before turning pro?
Youth club HC Ässät Pori: top point and goal scorer in U16 in 2014–15; spent most of 2015–16 with the U20 team (aged 15) and also played U18/U16 that season; played U20 in 2016–17. Signed a three-year professional Liiga contract with HC Ässät in June 2017..
How many points is Jesperi Kotkaniemi projected to score in 2026-27?
Our projection has him at 25 points in 65 games in 2026-27 (12 to 37 points, 80% interval), based on his recent seasons, age and role.
See also: his Carolina Hurricanes teammates
Full roster →
NHL.com ↗ · Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)