| Jesperi Kotkaniemi | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Kotkaniemi in 2018 | |||
| Born |
6 July 2000 Pori, Finland | ||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | ||
| Weight | 201 lb (91 kg; 14 st 5 lb) | ||
| Position | Centre | ||
| Shoots | Left | ||
| NHL team Former teams |
Carolina Hurricanes Ässät Montreal Canadiens | ||
| NHL draft |
3rd overall, 2018 Montreal Canadiens | ||
| Playing career | 2017–present | ||
Jesperi Kotkaniemi (Finnish pronunciation: [ˈjesperi ˈkotkɑnie̯mi]; born 6 July 2000) is a Finnish professional ice hockey center for the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected third overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. In October 2018, he became the first player born in the 2000s to play in one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada, when he appeared on the Canadiens opening night roster.