TSN radio spoke with an NHL reporter. Speculation that Habs want another first round pick (mid)? to take a Center Kotkaniemi/Hayden/Veleno.
2018 NHL Entry Draft Thread (Less then 24 Hours Edition)
- Thread starter montreal
- Start date
-
Work is still on-going to rebuild the site styling and features. Please report any issues you may experience so we can look into it. Click Here for Updates
- Status
- Jun 24, 2012
- 86,517
- 161,353
Not a mistake to not trade down considering who our GM is.
Habs Halifax
Loyal Habs Fan
Kotkaniemi. He is a rising stock value and doesn't turn 18 till after the draft (8 months younger than Zadina). Something interesting to note is to look at each season he has played in each step up league along the way (Assat U16, Assat U18, Asset U20, Assat Liiga). He is typically playing against older players every step along the way and he improves his stats in his 2nd year every time. This year he has 29 pts in 57 Liiga league games. Bet you he is close to a pt/game player next year. In comparison, Kupari had 14 pts in 39 games
He has size and can score goals. Watched a lot of video of him today cause I was curious and his skating don't look bad at all. We are not getting a #1C if we don't draft one and the 2nd round centers are more top 2 potential.
Made up my mind. I'm willing to bank on the accelerated increase in development on one of the youngest players in the draft who clearly got better as the season went along.
I'll buy the Kotkaniemi stock now please.
He has size and can score goals. Watched a lot of video of him today cause I was curious and his skating don't look bad at all. We are not getting a #1C if we don't draft one and the 2nd round centers are more top 2 potential.
Made up my mind. I'm willing to bank on the accelerated increase in development on one of the youngest players in the draft who clearly got better as the season went along.
I'll buy the Kotkaniemi stock now please.
Last edited:
David Suzuki
Registered User
3rd overall for 12th overall. When they offer you a pick like that you don't ask for anything else.
The Great Weal
Phil's Pizza
- Jan 15, 2015
- 56,152
- 73,077
Habs Halifax
Loyal Habs Fan
I don't think he is really bad but I do think he is like a Beaulieu type player. Lots of raw skills but he leaves you the feeling you can always get more from him. The other thing I don't like about Veleno is he is not a goal scoring center. He has a decent shot but no accuracy or will to score. Not the type of center we need on our roster. His ceiling is a Duchene and his low is a Danault. More likely in the middle somewhere and likely just a bit better than Danault IMO.
Another team has to be willing to pay the required price in order for the Habs to trade down....onus is on those teams to step up with offers, which likely won't happen until the very last second.
So why wouldn't the Habs, at this point, overplay the fact that they're not moving off #3?
This is pretty standard draft negotiations.
CanadienShark
Registered User
- Dec 18, 2012
- 40,206
- 14,977
montreal
Go Habs Go
- Mar 21, 2002
- 59,384
- 45,924
I'm scared of what he's going to do, I think it's a great draft to get creative, so I don't expect MB to be able to pull that off. He's got to be looking at the short term despite saying BS about getting the best player 5 years from now cause he's got to know he won't be here by then unless Molson told him he doesn't give a f*** as long as he can swim around in piles of money ala Scrooge McDuck.
CanadienShark
Registered User
- Dec 18, 2012
- 40,206
- 14,977
I'm still so torn. I'd like either of Kotkaniemi or Boqvist, but don't like the idea of passing up Zadina.
Habs Halifax
Loyal Habs Fan
That's been my plan for months now. Zadina and Kotkaniemi would be a dream first round for us and would compare to MacDonagh and Patch in 2007. However, I have come to realize that Kotkaniemi will go in the top 10 and definitely from 8-12 range. Blackhawks or Islanders will take Kotkaniemi IMO. Heck, the Wings might take him with the 6th pick.
Habs should take Kotkaniemi and then negotiate a trade to get another 1st. My top picks are.. Dahlin, Svechnikov, Zadina, Dobson, Boqvist, Kotkaniemi, Wahlstrom. Then Hughes, Tkachuk, Bouchard, Veleno, Hayton, Smith.
Drafting Kotkaniemi and Smith would also be a good return
Habs Halifax
Loyal Habs Fan
Think of it this way... Kotkaniemi is a goal scoring center. How much more goals does Zadina score vs him in the NHL? Could be a wash and Kotkaniemi has potential to be a #1C.
Not sure if anyone posted this already but watch this video and some of the goals he has scored. It's compares to how Zadina scores goals.
sheed36
Registered User
Boqvist looks like a very good player but I'm a little concerned about his apparent concussions. I've read he's had a couple of concussions already but don't really know if that info is 100% accurate. Maybe it won't be an issue going forward with him but with concussions you never now.
It looks a bit wonky, but my concerns about his skating have been assuaged after reviewing some of his late season games. It's not the prettiest skating I've ever seen, but he's managing to give pro defences hell as a 17 year old. He's first to the puck quite often.
His point totals will go as his PP production goes. He had extremely good 5 on 5 production this year (like, better than Laine's draft year), but the 2nd PP unit didn't produce anything. This year he'll probably get 1st PP minutes, but they also lost their top scorer. I predict about 0.9 ppg, which only a handful of players accomplish in Liiga each year (over a long sample). If he does hit 1ppg he'd challenge for the league scoring title which would be phenomenal.
Per Sjoblom
Registered User
- Jan 3, 2018
- 7,134
- 12,736
Habs Halifax
Loyal Habs Fan
I think his skating can improve but he won't be a elite level puck possession center at the NHL level. However, if you pair him with a guy like Drouin who skates very well, they could be deadly. I absolutely love goal scoring centers with size. And he is only going to get better. He's been playing catch up for most of the last 2 or 3 years cause he is younger than most in this draft. The last part of the season vs the beginning of the season is proof of that.
As far as how much he can improve skating... well he is playing in the right league IMO.
sheed36
Registered User
If the Habs take Brady Tkachuk @ 3 many here won't think the Habs got rewarded and we might need a suicide watch here if it did happen. I know very little about Tkachuk so I can't comment on if he would be a good pick for the Habs or not but from reading the many opinions on this board many don't like him @ 3 it seems.
I would like to say I have full confidence in Habs management to get things right in this draft but unfortunately I have zero confidence in this management and I always expect the worst now and I doubt I'm alone in this thinking here.
The latest sportsnet draft ranking from Sam Cosentino in the link in that article as Kotkaniemi all the way down @ 19. I've seen this player ranked anywhere from 4th to 19th now.
Last edited:
Victoire HuGo
Formerly le Barron de HF
Habs must be high on Kotka and they're scared he won't be there past pick #5.
The Great Weal
Phil's Pizza
- Jan 15, 2015
- 56,152
- 73,077
We are more than likely going to suck again and have another high pick next year. The centers are stacked next year. Don't reach unless you are positive.
Victoire HuGo
Formerly le Barron de HF
Sadly I doubt that we will finish top 5 next year, MB is on thin ice so I see him signing guys like Stastny which make us good enough to be a bubble team again a la Leafs pre-Shanahan era.
Habs Halifax
Loyal Habs Fan
Who scores more goals in the NHL... Kotkaniemi or Zadina? Both don't have top end speed but Zadina it a bit better skater. However, both know how to pick corners
Mrb1p
PRICERSTOPDAPUCK
He's been playing ahead of his age group, and recovering from injuries in the meantime. What he's managed to do so far is pretty remarkable, actually. I think he will positively contribute to his club's possession numbers since apparently he already did that this year in Liiga. It's really hard to take the puck away from him, and as you saw in the video you posted, he turns a lot of pucks over and is able to find people all over the ice with his passing. These abilities are what made me a huge fan of Chytil last year.
WeThreeKings
Demidov is a HAB
Kotkaniemi Dobson and Bouchard interviewed by Detroit. So Kotkaniemi is definitely in the top 10 radar.
Habs Halifax
Loyal Habs Fan
Wings could go in any direction. They are the first threat to take Kotkaniemi as they need help everywhere. Then the Blackhawks and then the Islanders. One of those 3 teams is taking him IMO... if the Habs don't take him 3rd.
- Status
