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Jordan Staal’s Injury Creates New Opportunities for Jesperi Kotkaniemi With the Hurricanes

With Carolina Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal out for at least a month with a partial calf tear, the Hurricanes now need a replacement for the key to Rod Brind’Amour’s system.…

By Conor Power · The Hockey Writers

Published: Sunday, 18 October 2026 at 12:55 PM

Key Things to Know

The Hockey Writers argues Jesperi Kotkaniemi should take over Jordan Staal's shutdown role following the captain's calf injury.
Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal is expected to miss at least one month due to a partial calf tear.
Kotkaniemi has scored 57 goals and 144 points in 354 career games for the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Carolina Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal is sidelined for at least a month due to a partial calf tear, creating a major vacancy in head coach Rod Brind’Amour’s shutdown center role. The Hockey Writers argues that Jesperi Kotkaniemi is the best internal candidate to step into the third-line defensive position during Staal's absence.

While fourth-liner Mark Jankowski is also an option, the writer suggests the 26-year-old Kotkaniemi has superior top-nine experience and could potentially serve as the long-term successor to the 38-year-old Staal.

Read the full article on The Hockey Writers

Jordan Staal’s Injury Creates New Opportunities for Jesperi Kotkaniemi With the Hurricanes

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