Canes get payback for Aho by offer-sheeting Jesperi Kotkaniemi

Remember when Marc Bergevin tried to throw a wrench in the plans of the Carolina Hurricanes by offer-sheeting Sebastian Aho? The Canes would end up matching the offer and keeping their player, but the team is getting some payback now by offer-sheeting Habs restricted free agent Jesperi Kotkaniemi. And, the team has made a big offer.

While it's only a one-year deal, Carolina has agreed to pay Kotkaniemi $6.1 million. The Habs must match the salary, or risk losing the former third overall pick.

Carolina even went as far as to release a Tweet in french announcing the offer sheet:

Translation: The Hurricanes announced today that they have made a hostile offer to restricted free agent Jesperi Kotkaniemi of the Montreal Canadiens. The proposed agreement is for a one-year term and an average annual value of $ 6.1 million.

The compensation, if Montreal decides to let him go, would be a first and third round pick. The Canadiens have seven days to make their decision.

"Jesperi Kotkaniemi accepted our offer. He wants to come to Carolina," said Waddell. "He sees the core we've built here and he wants to be a part of that. We're proud, but there's still a waiting period. When you make an offer like that, we saw a vulnerable position. The offer, with the compensation and the core we have, we realized that it was the best chance we had to get the player."

Hurricanes owner Thomas Dundon made it clear when the Habs offer-sheeted Aho that he was not happy and indicated payback may come down the line. Now it's here.

Related: All the ways the Hurricanes trolled the Canadiens with the Kotkaniemi offer sheet

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