By: Jake Ferraro | Follow me on Twitter/X @18Jxxx18
One thing that will be crucial for Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney this offseason is adding center depth. Struggling centers were a big reason why the Bruins fell to the Buffalo Sabres in the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. A good number of centers will be available this offseason through a trade or a signing.
Pavel Zacha, Morgan Geekie, Fraser Minten, Casey Mittelstadt, and Elias Lindholm make up the majority of the Bruins’ center depth. However, some of the production still feels off. One center to look out for this offseason to be traded is Jesperi Kotkaniemi of the Carolina Hurricanes. Considering the Bruins’ uncertain future and Kotkaniemi’s likely departure from Carolina, he’s someone the Bruins should look into trading for this offseason.
Kotkaniemi once had high potential as he was the former third overall pick of the Montreal Canadiens in the 2018 National Hockey League Draft. However, Kotkaniemi hasn’t been given a chance to thrive since being drafted. Kotkaniemi’s tenure in Montreal ended after the team fell in the 2021 Stanley Cup Finals, as he joined the Hurricanes before the 2021-22 season. Even with a rough first three years in Montreal, Carolina still believed he could break out. Kotkaniemi showed potential when he recorded a career-high 43-point season in Carolina during the 2022-23 season.
Since the 2023-24 season, Kotkaniemi has failed to record 35 points. However, the players the Hurricanes acquired may have reduced his role to the point where he could not flourish. In 2025, the Hurricanes traded for forwards Taylor Hall and Logan Stankoven and signed forward Nikolaj Ehlers last offseason. Jackson Blake’s emergence this season also hasn’t helped Kotkaniemi be an important piece on the roster. All four players helped the Hurricanes reach the 2026 Stanley Cup Finals.
This season is a big reason Kotkaniemi’s tenure in Carolina may end after the Stanley Cup Finals conclude. Kotkaniemi struggled with recording nine points in 42 games. Kotkaniemi dealt with injuries and, in April, expressed his frustration with the Hurricanes for not playing. Kotkaniemi hasn’t played one game in the 2026 playoffs for the Hurricanes. The fact that the Hurricanes made the Stanley Cup Finals without Kotkaniemi can realistically decrease his trade value this offseason, but that is where the Bruins can take advantage and look into trading for him.
Kotkaniemi still has potential; he will turn 26 on July 6. A fresh start out of Carolina may be what Kotkaniemi needs, and the team may take a little back for him to clear up some cap space. Middle and late-round draft picks could be a realistic option for what the Hurricanes may want in return for Kotkaniemi. The Bruins could also try to trade centers Sean Kuraly, Alex Steeves, or Mark Kastelic to the Hurricanes to open up a roster spot for Kotkaniemi.
At an AAV of $4.82 million through 2030, Kotkaniemi’s contract is reasonable to take on. After all, Kotkaniemi has a lower AAV than Lindholm, Mittelstadt, and Geekie. In addition to being productive offensively, Kotkaniemi can still bring a physical presence that the Bruins lacked in the 2026 playoffs. The Bruins’ future at the center position is one where trading for Kotkaniemi should be considered.
The Bruins have centers who are due for contracts over the next two years. Michael Eyssimont, Kuraly, Zacha, and Mittelstadt are all unrestricted free agents after next season, while Minten is a restricted free agent. After the 2027-28 season, Kastelic and Steeves are both unrestricted free agents, and James Hagens is a restricted free agent. If the Bruins lose a few of those centers, they will need one they can sign to a lengthy contract. That is where Kotkaniemi could be a target, given how much time he has left and the potential still there.
The Bruins have seen their centers get a fresh start with them and perform better. Zacha, Geekie, and Kastelic are three big examples, as all three of them recorded career-highs in goals and points in a single season. Kuraly and Mittelstadt also showed promise this season. Now, it could be Kotkaniemi’s turn to be another center who breaks out with the Bruins if Sweeney were to trade for him this offseason.
Leave a Reply