The Toronto Maple Leafs have hired a new European scout and he’s not some average overseas hockey mind, either. He’s the father of a current and fairly good NHL centerman.
Announced by the person himself earlier this week, the Leafs have hired Mikael Kotkaniemi, the father of Carolina Hurricanes center Jesperi Kotkaniemi, as a scout.
“I’m excited to share that as of August 1, 2025, I have joined the Toronto Maple Leafs as a European Scout, with responsibility for the entire continent,” Kotkaniemi wrote on LinkedIn.
“It’s a real privilege to become part of such a storied organization—one that inspires so much passion and emotion among fans around the world.