I was reading the 2017 version of this mock draft, and it's mind blowing how some times fans seem to know more than NHL's GMs.
I’ve got another 10-12 years before retirement. I was in middle school for the punk rock explosion.
What's the report on this kid? Everyone here seems to like him.
A lot of the reports I've seen indicate that he isn't a great skater. Given how much flak Andersson has gotten for his skating, I'm surprised so many people are on Kotkaniemi's band wagon.
Went Dobson, but fine with Jesperi
Address D in the back end of the first with Benard-Docker/Samuelsson/Alexeyev/Tychonik
Then I get the silver cus I broke in 1960.Jeez...you’re eight years older than me. @Bozle, get in here....
Make sure you teach him respect.My son was born in 2008. I expect him on HFNYR in a few years haha
What's the report on this kid? Everyone here seems to like him.
Growth and progress.
Just kept advancing and developing.
He's a solid pick. Not quite sure I take the offensive upside quite as much as a given as some, but he's in the mix.
A lot of the attention is the recent tournament results.
Good skater, not necessarily a great skater. Good creativity. Very good vision. Has to keep avoiding making one move too many and use his linemates more, especially as a center. Good size, very good hockey sense. Curious to see how he responds as teams start to focus on him and the space closes up. He does tend to pull it back when he's played hard.
Feel comfortable saying top six upside, not quite sure about first line upside. But it's not a far-fetched concept either.
I understand your point, Edge, and I think we've already went over this, but Kotkaniemi had a great season in Liiga. I think that gets forgotten in this equation. He had one of the best seasons with his club team of any of the draft eligibles.
Some people have moved him up a lot recently, and I think rightfully so, as they watch more. I have had him in the top 10 well before the WJC18, not that it means much, but not everyone is just being reactionary due to his play at the WJC18. I know some others have voiced support for potentially picking him months prior to the tournament.
He's 3 inches taller than Andersson and should weigh 20 pounds than him in the NHL. He's also more creative offensively and a better passer. He's a better hockey player than Andersson.
He's not one of these speedsters, but if you choose to draft him, you gotta understand what you are getting. I also think his skating is way underrated. He doesn't struggle to get around the ice, he's just not a dynamic skater. I don't think its an issue, and I think its better than Andersson's skating, as well.
How lite?![]()
I read that Raatanen had similar numbers in Liiga but a season later than Kotkaniemi.How lite?![]()
Anze-Kopitar/Sasha Barkov-lite.
Yep! Kotkaniemi is almost a full year younger than Rantanen was in his draft year. JK is one of the youngest players in this draft, so it's definitely a tad more impressive that he posted those numbers in Liiga.I read that Raatanen had similar numbers in Liiga but a season later than Kotkaniemi.
Yep! Kotkaniemi is almost a full year younger than Rantanen was in his draft year. JK is one of the youngest players in this draft, so it's definitely a tad more impressive that he posted those numbers in Liiga.