Lost money! Even with such a banner, Montreal fans “welcomed” their former striker Jesperi Kotkaniemi.
Paul Chiasson, ČTK / AP
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It was one of the most watched summer vacation stories in the NHL. Carolina offered Kotkaniemi, as a protected free agent belonging to Montreal, a one-year contract for $ 6.1 million, and it was up to the Canadiens to decide whether to call.
In the end, it did not do so, so the Finnish forward, which Montreal chose as the triple draft in 2018, moved from Canada after the first three seasons in the NHL.
Habs fans start booing Kotkaniemi the literal second he steps on the ice ???? pic.twitter.com/zSXvEjXZoU
— alberto (@twistedleafs) October 21, 2021
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He returned to Montreal on Thursday, in Carolina’s third game of the new season. And he immediately realized that Habs fans would let him eat it … After all, NHL clubs are exceptionally trying to get protected free agents, and Montreal last tried in the opposite direction at the beginning of July 2019, when he found another Finnish striker, Sebastian Aha, in Carolina. . He offered him a five-year contract for $ 42.27 million, but the Hurricanes called.
Carolina striker Jesperi Kotkaniemi shoots at the Montreal goal defended by Jake Allen.
Paul Chiasson, ČTK / AP
Most recently, striker Dustin Penner moved from Anaheim to Edmonton fourteen years ago as a protected free agent after being offered by another club. Since then, there have been six failed attempts (including Aha).
That is why the anger of the Montreal supporters, who, in addition to loud humming, also frequented Kotkaniemi with vulgar insults. “The audience’s reaction was not pleasant. It would wave even with experienced players. It wasn’t easy, but I think he expected it, “said Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour.
However, Kotkaniemi answered as best he could. With 50 minutes played, the visitors broke through on the right after some poor defending. “I feel fine. I’m glad I scored my first goal right here, “Kotkaniemi dug into Montreal, for which he scored 20 points for five goals and 15 assists in 56 games in the basic season last season and in 19 duel playoffs in which Montreal reached to the final, he added five goals and three assists.
Carolina enjoyed the 4: 1 triumph and happily dug into Montreal, which also lost the fifth game of the new year. She first published on her Twitter the status of “Canadiens triumphed” written in French, which is the official language in the province of Quebec.
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Jesperi Kotkaniemi returned to Montreal as a rival.
Paul Chiasson, ČTK / AP
And to make matters worse, Hurricanes also posted a link to the site on their social networks didthehabslose.com (Did the Habs lose?). Once opened, the question reappears and the nodding Sebastian Aho answers yes. In addition, the site offers a discount on Kotkaniemi and Aha T-shirts in Carolina colors if customers enter the code “oui”, which means “yes” in French.
It is clear that the rivalry between the two clubs has been intensifying since the summer. It will be interesting to see what comes on New Year’s Eve, when there will be another mutual duel, this time on Carolina’s ice.
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