Carolina Hurricanes center Jesperi Kotkaniemi may finally be breaking out as his start to the 2023-24 season has produced six goals and seven assists in 17 games, totaling 38 shots on goal. His 2.77 points/60 at 5-on-5 leads regular Hurricanes forwards and is in the 88th percentile of NHL forwards. Let’s look at what kept his production depressed in prior seasons, what has changed this year, and what it means for his fantasy upside moving forward.  

It feels like a lifetime ago now, but Kotkaniemi had a very good 18-year-old season for the Montreal Canadiens. He posted 1.91 points/60 at 5-on-5 in 2018-19, a rate higher than other first-year players like Robert Thomas, Roope Hintz, and future teammate Andrei Svechnikov. 

By the end of that first season, his all-around profile was obvious. Tra