Habs decline to match Hurricanes' offer for Kotkaniemi, add Dvorak as replacement

The Montreal Canadiens have acquired forward Christian Dvorak from the Arizona Coyotes after declining to match the Carolina Hurricane's one-year, $6.1-million US offer to restricted free agent Jesperi Kotkaniemi on Saturday.

The Habs acquired Dvorak for a first and second-round draft pick, and will receive first and third-round picks in the 2022 NHL draft from the Hurricanes.

Dvorak, 25, finished sixth on the Coyotes with 31 points (17 goals, 14 assists) in 56 games last season.

The native of Palos Township, Ill., was a second-round pick (58th overall) in the 2014 draft. He has five NHL seasons under his belt – all of which have been spent with the Coyotes – during which he has registered 146 points (67 goals, 79 assists) through 302 regular-season games.

Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin addressed the loss of Kotkaniemi in a statement on Saturday: "Carolina has used a tool available to them in the collective bargaining agreement and we accept that decision."

Kotkaniemi, a six-foot-two, 201-pound forward, was taken third overall by Montreal in the 2018 NHL draft. He had five goals and 15 assists in 56 regular-season games last season, adding five goals and three assists in 19 playoff contests.

"His age and natural skillset suggests a very high ceiling, and the opportunity to acquire players like that simply does not come along very often," said Canes Assistant General Manager Eric Tulsky. "Jesperi is a smart player who sees the ice extremely well; it seems like every time he touches the puck, he puts his team in a better position."