Per Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour, center Jesperi Kotkaniemi will be a healthy scratch tonight against the Boston Bruins.
Kotkaniemi, 23, has had a down year after a red hot start.
After having eight goals and 15 points in his first 21 games of the season, the Finnish center has had just three goals and 10 points in his next 54.
Part of it has been bad luck but part of it has also been a inability to capitalize on opportunity.
Kotkaniemi lost the 2C spot about halfway through the season to Jack Drury and also saw himself off PP2.
Now with Evgeny Kuznetsov as 2C, Kotkaniemi has once again lost his spot , 4C, to Drury.
The writing had been on the wall for Kotkaniemi for a bit now as his ice time has steadily been decreasing.
Perhaps it can be a good reset for the 2018 third-overall pick, because the Canes need a lot more from him.
Kotkaniemi has six years remaining on his $4.82 million AAV contract.