Kotkaniemi has had an excellent rookie season but serve as a healthy scratch for the first time in his career. Kotkaniemi has just one goal and four assists (five points) in his last 11 games.

Kotkaniemi climbed up draft boards throughout the season, racking up 10 goals and 19 assists (29 points) in 57 games as a 17-year-old in Finland’s top league. Kotkaniemi is the top centre in the draft and has drawn comparisons to Aleksander Barkov.