Kotkaniemi hospitalized with splenic injury

Jesperi Kotkaniemi suffered an injury to his spleen Friday night while playing for the AHL's Laval Rocket against the Cleveland Monsters, the team announced Saturday.

The Montreal Canadiens prospect was taken to hospital in Cleveland, where he spent the night under observation.

He's scheduled to return to Montreal on Saturday, where the Canadiens' medical staff will evaluate him further. A timetable for his recovery has yet to be determined, but the club will provide an update in the coming days.

Kotkaniemi has collected 13 points in 13 games with the Rocket. Montreal assigned him to Laval on Feb. 1 after he managed only eight points in 36 contests during his second NHL campaign.

The 19-year-old forward notched 11 goals and 34 points across 79 games in his rookie season.

Montreal drafted him third overall in 2018.

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