Canadiens’ Jesperi Kotkaniemi has knee surgery in Montreal

NHL-hockey-Canadiens-Kotkaniemi-skating

Montreal Canadiens centre Jesperi Kotkaniemi. (Graham Hughes/CP)

Montreal Canadiens centre Jesperi Kotkaniemi had surgery on his left knee Tuesday, the team has announced.

The procedure isn’t expected to delay Kotkaniemi’s off-season training, GM Marc Bergevin said in a statement.

“With regards to Jesperi, it was a chronic, minor injury that did not stop him from playing this past season,” Bergevin said in the statement. “Jesperi will remain in Montreal for the coming weeks to complete his rehabilitation program with our team’s medical staff.”

Kotkaniemi, 18, just completed his rookie season with the Canadiens after the team took him third overall in the 2018 NHL Draft. In 79 games, the Pori, Finland, native had 11 goals and 34 points.

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