Report: Canadiens' Kotkaniemi will be available to play in postseason

Jesperi Kotkaniemi will take part in Montreal Canadiens training camp as a full participant and will be available to play if and when the campaign resumes, a team source told The Athletic's Arpon Basu.

The 19-year-old prospect was hospitalized after injuring his spleen during a game with AHL's Laval Rocket on March 6. He remained in hospital overnight for observation and sat out the club's final game on March 11 before the AHL season was postponed and ultimately canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Earlier in June, Kotkaniemi underwent a scan in Finland that showed his spleen was fully healed, according to Basu. Kotkaniemi was cleared to participate in off-ice workouts in April, but he had yet to be given the green light to take contact.

Kotkaniemi collected six goals and two assists in 36 NHL games during the 2019-20 campaign before the Canadiens assigned him to Laval on Feb. 1. He registered 11 goals and 34 points in 79 contests during his rookie season in 2018-19.

The Canadiens drafted Kotkaniemi third overall in 2018.

Montreal will face the Pittsburgh Penguins in the play-in round as part of the league's 24-team return-to-play plan.

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