CHICAGO -- Carolina center Sebastian Aho found it amusing that the Hurricanes were trolling the Montreal Canadiens off their offer sheet.
In 2019, Aho signed a restricted-free-agent offer sheet with the Canadiens for five years and $42 million, which the Hurricanes quickly matched. Carolina signed Jesperi Kotkaniemi, a Montreal restricted-free agent, to a $6.1 million offer sheet for a year. The Hurricanes declined to match it.
Kotkaniemi received a $20 signing bonus for accepting his contract offer. Aho wears No. 20 with the Hurricanes. It was difficult to miss the reference.
Aho said that it was quite funny to see $20 in signing bonuses at the NHL Player Media Tour. "All jokes aside we got a pretty decent player."
Both Aho and Kotkaniemi were born in Finland. They spoke by phone during the offer-sheet process. Aho stated that he spoke with the center's 21-year-old staff about real-estate options and restaurants, as well as Raleigh life.
"We spoke about general things. Aho stated, "I tried to help him with some small things."
This month, Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon said on Sportsnet radio in Toronto that it was foolish to assume that the offer sheet was being offered for revenge. He did however defend Carolina's prank on the move via social media, including references about the $20 signing bonus.
"We are all in the entertainment industry and we don’t need a league if people don’t enjoy it." Dundon stated that when things worked out as they did, organizationally, we had as much fun as possible and received as much attention as possible.
Aho also agreed, stating that the fans are buzzing about the offer letter -- and the new rivalry between the two teams.
"It got people talking. It's going be a great thing. Aho stated that it will be fun to play them next year. It's part and parcel of the business. Social media is huge nowadays. It doesn't take much to create buzz.
