<p>The <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/carolina-hurricanes/line-combinations">Carolina Hurricanes</a> will be without center Jesperi Kotkaniemi for at least their next three games.</p>



<p>On Tuesday, Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour confirmed per <a href="https://x.com/WaltRuff/status/1909648024298566121">team reporter Walt Ruff</a> that Kotkaniemi is expected to miss at least a week due to an undisclosed injury.</p>



<p>Facing the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/boston-bruins/line-combinations">Boston Bruins</a> on Saturday, Kotkaniemi exited late in the second period and did not return after suffering the injury. On the season, Kotkaniemi has made 76 appearances with the Hurricanes in which he has collected 11 goals and 20 assists for 31 points coupled with 50 penalty minutes and a plus-nine rating. Skating in his fourth campaign with the Hurricanes, Kotkaniemi is two seasons removed from a career-high 43-point finish in 2022-23 that saw him put up 18 goals and 25 assists in 82 games.</p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="131"></div>



<p>Originally chosen third overall by the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/montreal-canadiens/line-combinations">Montreal Canadiens</a> in the 2018 NHL Draft, Kotkaniemi has totaled 75 goals and 117 assists for 192 points through 474 career contests. Kotkaniemi has also added 12 goals and 10 assists for 22 points through 69 appearances in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Hurricanes acquired Kotkaniemi in the 2021 offseason following a successful offer sheet signing.</p>



<p>Per <a href="https://puckpedia.com/player/jesperi-kotkaniemi">PuckPedia</a>, Kotkaniemi is in the third year of an eight-year contract that carries a $4.82-million annual average value.</p>



<p>While the Hurricanes will be without Kotkaniemi on Tuesday versus the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/buffalo-sabres/line-combinations">Buffalo Sabres</a>, the club will see the return of captain Jordan Staal, who missed the past four games due to a lower-body ailment, as well as fellow forward Andrei Svechnikov following a two-game absence related to an undisclosed injury.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="131"></div>



<p>On the season, the Hurricanes sit second place in the Metropolitan Division with a 46-26-4 record and 96 points. Last Thursday, the Hurricanes clinched their spot in the upcoming postseason, marking the seventh consecutive year in which the club will compete for the Stanley Cup.</p>
