Jesperi Kotkaniemi remains under the microscope after Rod Brind'Amour's Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup without using him during the playoffs.
The Carolina forward brought the Cup home to Pori, Finland, turning what should have been a straightforward celebration into another heated public debate.
Kotkaniemi shared images from his day with the trophy alongside family, friends and local supporters at the rink where his hockey journey began.
The setting was warm and personal. Fans gathered around the Cup, children posed for photos and Kotkaniemi lifted the trophy in front of the community that watched him develop.
But one social-media decision quickly drew attention. Kotkaniemi reopened the comments on his latest Instagram post after previously shutting them down following Carolina's championship victory.
That earlier move came amid heavy criticism tied to his limited role. Kotkaniemi appeared in 42 regular-season games and didn't dress once during the Hurricanes' playoff run.
He still met the requirement to have his name engraved on the Stanley Cup, creating a sharp divide between the official recognition and how some fans viewed his contribution.
Kotkaniemi faces the reaction head-on
Opening the comments again showed that Kotkaniemi wasn't hiding from the conversation during his day with the Cup, even with the backlash still following him.
Much of the criticism has come from Montreal Canadiens supporters who haven't forgotten the 2021 offer sheet that moved the former third-overall pick to Carolina.
That history has followed Kotkaniemi through every slump, lineup decision and contract discussion. Winning the Cup hasn't stopped the debate surrounding his place with the Hurricanes.
Brind'Amour trusted the group that carried Carolina through the postseason, leaving Kotkaniemi outside the lineup as the team completed its championship run.
That coaching decision now hangs over every celebration photo. Kotkaniemi is officially a champion, but his absence from the playoff lineup remains the detail driving the reaction.
Back in Pori, he chose to enjoy the moment in public. The Cup was on the ice where he grew up, surrounded by people who remember the player before the NHL scrutiny arrived.
The comments may stay divided, but Kotkaniemi made his position clear without saying a word. He brought the Cup home, opened the door to the reaction and celebrated anyway.
Does Jesperi Kotkaniemi deserve to be celebrated as a Stanley Cup champion?
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