The Carolina Hurricanes offer sheet to Kotkaniemi is the most expensive troll job in NHL history and its laugh-out-loud funny
Never did I think I’d be writing about hockey in late August, but the Carolina Hurricanes gave me no choice. Hockey Twitter was set ablaze when it was announced that the Canes tendered an offer sheet to Montreal Canadiens forward Jesperi Kotkaniemi, the 3rd overall pick in 2018, which he has signed. And now a shitstorm has ensued thanks to the epic trolling of the Canes and their social media team.
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) August 28, 2021
Les Hurricanes ont annoncé aujourd’hui avoir déposé une offre hostile au joueur autonome avec restriction Jesperi Kotkaniemi des Canadiens de la Montreal. L’entente proposée est d’une durée de un ans et d’une valeur annuelle moyenne de 6,1 millions $.
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) August 28, 2021
To put it in context, the Habs tendered a five-year, $42 million offer sheet to Sebastian Aho at the beginning of free agency in 2019, threatening to take one of Carolina’s best players from them. The Canes eventually matched the offer, but that doesn’t mean they’ve forgotten about the time when the Habs tried to fuck them out of Sebastian Aho. On the contrary. Two years later, the Hurricanes tendered Kotkaniemi an offer sheet is reminiscent of Michael Jordan in The Last Dance.
The Carolina Hurricanes when the Habs tendered Sebastian Aho an offer sheet in 2019: pic.twitter.com/UQ8ApHpQb7
— Nick Reid (@ReidAboutSports) August 29, 2021
Carolina tendered a one-year, $6.1 million offer sheet to Kotkaniemi, which includes a $20 signing bonus. Why tack on the extra 20 bucks? Because Sebastian Aho wears #20. This signing bonus has to go down as one of the best troll jobs from a front office in sports history, and even though I’m a Habs fan I am all here for it. Give me the pettiness, baby.
What’s great about this troll job is that it’s organization-wide. Management started it by going after one of the Habs’ best young players after they tried to do the same a couple of years ago, but Carolina’s social media team has only fueled the fire. Announcing the tendered offer sheet on Twitter in French, as well as translating their bio, is pure gold. The Canes’ Twitter has been wildin’ out all night and I’ve got to give it to them: they’re doing a fantastic job with engagement and making themselves relevant in the thick of the offseason. Kudos to their social media manager, he deserves a raise for this one.
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) August 28, 2021
dougie hamilton seeing canes throw 6 million for a guy just for a joke pic.twitter.com/Pu1bsJ2RFG
— former wild card spot haver (@OVECHKlN) August 28, 2021
This hockey club is currently more destructive than Hurricane Ida thanks to their Twitter account, and I find it hilarious. I’m a Habs fan, and while the Canes are trying to screw the Canadiens over by putting them in quite the pickle, I have nothing but respect for the troll job and I’m here for the beef. These guys have waited two years for this moment and they want ALL the smoke.
The Carolina Hurricanes and their A+ social media team are taking no prisoners, and now the Montreal Canadiens and general manager Marc Bergevin find themselves on the hot seat.
Night, y’all pic.twitter.com/8ZDBZsM7eF
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) August 29, 2021
Nick Reid
Blue Jays Contributor for DeanBlundell.com. Sport Management student at Brock University. Have seen a game at all 30 Major League ballparks. Would rather be eating poutine at the Rogers Centre.
