In his first season with the Carolina Hurricanes, Jesperi Kotkaniemi didn't have a very pronounced offensive role, but he established a fairly positive record on Monday as he and his teammates cleared their lockers and spoke one last times to the media before the offseason.
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“There were several ups and several downs, admitted “KK”, during his appearance on the microphone for just over three minutes. There were some very good times. In general, I had a lot of fun, we had a good group. It's sad that it ended like this."
The forward was embroiled in controversy last offseason, when he first accepted a hostile offer from the Canes, which the Montreal Canadiens preferred not to tie, earning a first-round pick and another third round in compensation.
The Finn took advantage of the season to put his signature on the bottom of an eight-year contract extension, worth $38.56 million.
He was less successful on the ice, however, amassing 29 points in 66 regular season games, in addition to adding two in 14 playoff games. He also averaged around 12 minutes per game.
“Once in a while [it was frustrating], but I knew my role. I did my best, added Kotkaniemi. I tried to be hungry every time I was on the ice.
"I feel like I'm ready to take on more minutes, but I'll take what's offered to me. As we have seen this year, we have four complete lines. Internal competition is fierce. We're going to have to be ready for training camp."
Andersen was close to returning
Two days after being eliminated in Game 7 - a 6-2 loss - of their second-round series against the New York Rangers, the pill was still hard to swallow for Rod Brind'Amour's men.
Although he did not take part in a single game, injured, goalkeeper Frederik Andersen was just as dejected as his teammates. It is that the masked man was closer than ever to returning to the game, he who had suffered a tear in the median collateral ligament on April 16, during a game against the Colorado Avalanche.
"It's a particularly difficult injury for a goaltender, because of the nature of our work," Andersen said. In the playoffs, you want to come back as quickly as possible. That's what I was focusing on. I did everything I could."
The Dane has been particularly effective in 2022-23, his first campaign in Raleigh. He went 35-14-3 with a 2.17 goals-against average and .922 save percentage. He and Antti Raanta formed a whole duo, they who put on the William M. Jennings trophy, awarded annually to the goalkeepers of the team that allowed the fewest goals in the regular season. Both are still under contract for the next season.
