Season recap: Jesperi Kotkaniemi

MONTREAL -- With the Canadiens' 2019-20 campaign in the rearview mirror, it's time to look back at how it all went down for the Habs this season. Next up: Jesperi Kotkaniemi.

The skinny
The sophomore slump wasn't the most fun for Jesperi Kotkaniemi, who had enjoyed an 11-goal, 34-point rookie season as a smiley 18-year-old after being taken with the third-overall pick in 2018. The knee surgery he underwent in the offseason may not have held him out of action at the start of 2019-20, but he got off to a sluggish start and recorded just three points in 12 games before a groin injury would force him out of the lineup until mid-November.
SHOP: Jesperi Kotkaniemi Socks
Kotkaniemi would play 10 more games before suffering a concussion against the Colorado Avalanche in early December. He scored a goal in his return after an eight-game absence, and when he tallied on January 9 against the Oilers, he moved into fifth place in franchise history for most career goals scored by a teenager.* Still, the Pori native was sent down to the Laval Rocket after totalling six goals for eight points in 36 games for Montreal. Kotkaniemi felt a spark as soon as his AHL stint began, however, notching seven assists in his first four games with the Habs' AHL affiliate. KK would go on to record 13 points (1G, 12A) in as many games with the Rocket, but his season came to a close on March 7 when he suffered an injury to his spleen against the Monsters in Cleveland.
Notable numbers
Playoff punditry
The real story of Kotkaniemi's 2019-20 season takes place after the NHL pause. The Finnish centerman took full advantage of the unexpected halt to the season to work on his body and his game and returned to North America a new man. Kotkaniemi exploded onto the scene in the bubble in Toronto, scoring his first postseason goal just 11:27 into his very first game against Pittsburgh, and muscled his way onto one of the top two lines and formed a dynamic duo of 1-2 centers with rookie Nick Suzuki. In the Canadiens' 5-0 win in Game 2 against the Flyers, Kotkaniemi became the second-youngest Montreal player to enjoy a multi-goal playoff outing with a two-goal effort.* KK finished the playoffs with four goals, a plus-four differential, and an average of 13:53 of ice time in 10 contests. His shooting percentage of 36.4% was by far tops on the Habs, and his 36 hits were second only to Ben Chiarot for Montreal.
Goal of the year

They said it
"For KK, having a tough second year in 2019-20], being sent to Laval and bouncing back and taking his career upon himself. He's getting stronger, as we all know. Last year, many times I felt watching him play that he was falling down a lot and losing his balance. So, whatever he did the last four or five months, working on his strength and legs -- and a lot has to do with his mental preparation -- he did that. We saw what he could bring to a hockey club and that's what we expect from him from Day 1 at camp next year." *-General manager Marc Bergevin at his press conference after the Canadiens were eliminated from the playoffs*
*\*courtesy [@StatsCentre*