| Born: | July 6, 2000 | Draft: | 2018 Canadiens #3 Overall |
| Hometown: | Pori, Finland | Position: | Centre |
| Known For: | Shoots: | Left | |
| National Team: | Finland | Current Team: | Carolina Hurricanes |
Jesperi Kotkaniemi (Finnish pronunciation: [ˈjesperi ˈkotkɑnie̯mi]; born 6 July 2000) is a Finnish professional ice hockey center currently playing for the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League (NHL). Nicknamed “KK” by Canadiens fans, he was drafted third overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.
In October 2018, he became the first player born in the 2000s to play in one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada, when he appeared on the Canadiens opening night roster.
Jesperi Kotkaniemi Statistics
Deeper Dive
- Habs’ Kotkaniemi Elevates Play Amid Team Struggles
- Canadiens Potentially Set at Center After Strong Playoffs
Achievements
- U18 World Junior Championship (WJC) Top 3 Player on Team Finland (2018)
- U18 WJC gold medal with Team Finland (2018)
- U17 WJC silver medal with Team Finland (2017)
- U20 SM-liiga silver medal (2017)