Kotkansalo has not been able to contribute offensively at the beginning of this season even though he has seen time on power play. Defenseman looks comfortable with the puck, makes quick and accurate passes in a tight spaces and can deliver puck to the net but those assets have not been visible on the scoreboard. Kotkansalo needs to step up with the offensive contribution as the season progresses.

At the own end Kotkansalo needs some fine-tuning and needs to react faster but he is already defensively sound, can intercept passes, positions himself well and even has some grit in his game. Due to his solid defensive game, he plays when his team is shorthanded and he was on ice protecting one-goal lead at the end of the game. Defender seems slow and bit clumsy at times so the skating seems to be the area which needs the most work at this point.