Jesperi Kotkaniemi — Stats & Advanced Analytics
Jesperi Kotkaniemi is an NHL center for the Carolina Hurricanes. In the 2025-26 season Jesperi Kotkaniemi has 2 goals, 7 assists and 9 points in 42 games, worth -4.3 Goals Above Replacement.
Player Overview
Jesperi Kotkaniemi, a former high draft pick, has played eight NHL seasons as a center, appearing in 518 career games. While he has accumulated 78 goals and 125 assists, his peak GAR of 7.4 occurred in his rookie season, indicating a strong start that hasn't been consistently matched.
His current season has seen him record 2 goals and 7 assists in 42 games, with a GAR of -1.0. Contributions on the power play have been minimal.
Player Profile
| Position | Center |
|---|---|
| Team | Carolina Hurricanes |
| Shoots / Catches | L |
| Height | 6'3" |
| Weight | 212 lb |
| Draft | 2018 — Round 1, Pick 3 — MTL |
2025-26 Season Stats
| GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | Shots | S% | TOI/GP | CF% | xG | Game Score | GAR | WAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42 | 2 | 7 | 9 | +3 | 8 | 42 | 4.8% | 11:21 | 56.4% | 4.5 | 0.2 | -4.3 | -0.20 |
GAR Component Breakdown
| Even-Strength Offense | Even-Strength Defense | Power-Play Offense | Shorthanded Defense |
|---|---|---|---|
| +0.1 | +2.0 | -0.1 | +0.0 |
League percentile rank: points 17th, GAR 17th, WAR 17th (100th = league leader).
Career by Season (Regular Season)
| Season | GP | G | A | P | GAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 42 | 2 | 7 | 9 | -4.3 |
| 2024-25 | 78 | 12 | 21 | 33 | 3.0 |
| 2023-24 | 79 | 12 | 15 | 27 | -4.6 |
| 2022-23 | 82 | 18 | 25 | 43 | -4.1 |
| 2021-22 | 66 | 12 | 17 | 29 | -4.0 |
| 2020-21 | 56 | 5 | 15 | 20 | -10.1 |
| 2019-20 | 36 | 6 | 2 | 8 | -4.4 |
| 2018-19 | 79 | 11 | 23 | 34 | -2.6 |
Analysis
In the 2025-26 season Jesperi Kotkaniemi has been worth -4.3 Goals Above Replacement, which ranks in the 17th percentile leaguewide.
His value is driven primarily by even-strength defense (+2 GAR), while his power-play offense grades below replacement (-0.1).
Across 8 tracked seasons his GAR peaked at 3.0 in 2024-25.
All figures are model outputs from Hockey Alchemy. Learn how the value metrics are built on the methodology page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Jesperi Kotkaniemi's GAR this season?
Jesperi Kotkaniemi has been worth -4.3 Goals Above Replacement (GAR) in the 2025-26 season, in the 17th percentile of NHL players.
How many points does Jesperi Kotkaniemi have this season?
Jesperi Kotkaniemi has 2 goals and 7 assists for 9 points in 42 games this season.
Is Jesperi Kotkaniemi a good center?
Jesperi Kotkaniemi ranks in the 17th percentile among NHL skaters by GAR (-4.3) in the 2025-26 season.