This probably isn\u2019t the trade that Vancouver Canucks fans are yearning for.<\/p>\n
Jesperi Kotkaniemi was infamously drafted ahead of Quinn Hughes in the 2018 NHL Draft.<\/p>\n
So far this season, Hughes has more points (38) during his 30 games with the Minnesota Wild than Kotkaniemi has in terms of games played (37).<\/p>\n
The 25-year-old Finnish centre has been a frequent healthy scratch with the Carolina Hurricanes. He also has four years left on his contract, paying him $4.85 million per season.<\/p>\n
But apparently, that hasn\u2019t prevented the Canucks from having interest.<\/p>\n
\u201cI do think the Canucks thought about Kotkaniemi,\u201d Elliotte Friedman said on Sportsnet 650\u2019s Halford and Brough<\/a> on Friday morning.<\/p>\n The prevailing thought among Canucks fans might be that Kotkaniemi would be involved in a potential Elias Pettersson trade, as the teams try to exchange inefficient contracts.<\/p>\n Friedman shot that down.<\/p>\n \u201c[The Canucks] were talking about a deal for him that didn\u2019t involve Pettersson,\u201d Friedman said.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I think that\u2019s why he was in the lineup on Wednesday night, because I think they knew the Canucks wanted to see him.\u201d<\/p>\n Sure enough, Kotkaniemi drew back into the lineup against the Canucks on Wednesday night, after sitting as a healthy scratch in Carolina\u2019s previous three games.<\/p>\n So, did his audition impress the Canucks?<\/p>\n \u201cI heard the answer was lukewarm after the game,\u201d Friedman said. \u201cBut I know [the Canucks] were interested.<\/p>\n It was another quiet night for the 6-foot-3 centre, as he finished with no shots and the second-lowest ice time among Hurricanes players.<\/p>\n So far this season, he has two goals and nine points in 37 games.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the player is unhappy there,\u201d Friedman said. \u201cI think Carolina knows it, and I think Carolina would like to move him.\u201d<\/p>\n Kotkaniemi\u2019s name has been in trade rumours on and off since he signed a massive eight-year contract with the Hurricanes four years ago. He peaked in the first year after that deal with 18 goals and 43 points, but his productivity and ice time have dipped ever since.<\/p>\n Even though he\u2019s struggled, the Canucks have shown interest before.<\/p>\n Friedman reported in January that the Canucks discussed acquiring Kotkaniemi<\/a> as part of the Hughes trade, before he was inevitably dealt to Minnesota.<\/p>\n And for those hoping this is a pure cap dump that could fetch the Canucks an asset, that doesn\u2019t seem to be the case.<\/p>\n