2018 NHL Entry Draft Thread (Less then 24 Hours Edition)

[Runner77]

It has been decided:

NHL Combine: Top centre Kotkaniemi poses a dilemma for the Habs

The Canadiens’ interest in Kotkaniemi came into focus Saturday as 104 prospects went though a battery of tests at the NHL Combine in Buffalo. He revealed that the Canadiens were one of three teams which took him out for a steak dinner in the past week. Detroit and Chicago were the others.

They took him out for steaks. Tipped their hand right there.

 

[Habs76]

I think he rubbed people the wrong way with a bit of a know-it-all attitude, who disparaged many, and whose predictions didn’t always come to pass. Clash of egos lead to a lot of acrimony, really. Too bad he wasn’t a bit more humble.

Yeah. If you disagreed with him, he'd get pretty mad and call you an idiot, only to be wrong himself.

 

[Runner77]

Yeah. If you disagreed with him, he'd get pretty mad and call you an idiot, only to be wrong himself.

And then he comes back in here begging for subscriptions to his crappy website.

Parlaying a 3-month part time scouting gig from more than a decade ago into a vehicle and licence to mangle anyone who has a different opinion than he does.

 

[David Suzuki]

The Recrutes fellas want the Habs to take Kotkaniemi at 3 which is a huge strike against him.

 

[jaffy27]

The Canadiens’ interest in Kotkaniemi came into focus Saturday as 104 prospects went though a battery of tests at the NHL Combine in Buffalo. He revealed that the Canadiens were one of three teams which took him out for a steak dinner in the past week. Detroit and Chicago were the others.

They took him out for steaks. Tipped their hand right there.

As long as they tipped the waitress/waiter.....

But really, I’m still banking on Zadina, heard they took him out for lobster.....lol

 

[David Suzuki]

The Canadiens’ interest in Kotkaniemi came into focus Saturday as 104 prospects went though a battery of tests at the NHL Combine in Buffalo. He revealed that the Canadiens were one of three teams which took him out for a steak dinner in the past week. Detroit and Chicago were the others.

They took him out for steaks. Tipped their hand right there.

My sources tell me he ordered it "well done" with a "side of ketchup"

 

[MD thaivuN]

does anyone know what tests Kotkaniemi was impressive? It's fine and dandy he's top 10 in the majority of tests he passed, but if most of them tests he impressed on are like grip strength and benching power, then i'm not impressed.

I want Athletic gifts, not athletic maturity. Hope he falls under the former

 

[Runner77]

My sources tell me he ordered it "well done" with a "side of ketchup"

There was more sizzle than steak, apparently.

 

[Fazkovsky]

kotkaniemi interview, he did say his skating needs work but he said he has good vision and passing skills. I wouldn't say he has a bad shot as well.

Skating is a big knock these days eh?

 

[NotProkofievian]

People who agree with me that we should take Kotkaniemi.

Belial, Grant, TLTQ.

 

[NotProkofievian]

does anyone know what tests Kotkaniemi was impressive? It's fine and dandy he's top 10 in the majority of tests he passed, but if most of them tests he impressed on are like grip strength and benching power, then i'm not impressed.

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

Kotkaniemi said he could play in the nhl next year if given the opportunity

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

 

[Mrb1p]

People who agree with me that we should take Kotkaniemi.

Belial, Grant, TLTQ.

Me too bro

 

[Fazkovsky]

I hope we can move up a bit from second round to draft alexander alexeyev

A big bodied defence that skates well and has untapped offensive potential, and that can hit.

Also kotakiemi played on a pretty low scoring team, his team's leading scorer wasn't even ppg so i know he is underrated

 

[Mrb1p]

I hope we can move up a bit from second round to draft alexander alexeyev

A big bodied defence that skates well and has untapped offensive potential, and that can hit.

His offensive potential aint even untapped, guy is a beast.

 

[The Great Weal]

People who agree with me that we should take Kotkaniemi.

Belial, Grant, TLTQ.

Him or Dobson. Our centers would finally be set with him and our 1st rounder next year.

 

[Draft]

Dobson at 6'3 and 175lbs - lots of room to grow and develop. Mix that with the strong Memorial Cup showing and I think he's solidified himself as a step ahead of Hughes, Bouchard, and Smith in my eyes.

 

[Saxon]

People who agree with me that we should take Kotkaniemi.

Belial, Grant, TLTQ.

I'd be on board with that!

 

[NotProkofievian]

I compiled a few EVP/G of recent Liiga draft year noticeables a little while back. Jesperi does very well. He really didn't get anything done on the powerplay, but 5 on 5, almost nobody did better in their draft year.

Ranking recent Liiga draft year notables by EVP/G

Aleksander Barkov 27 EVP / 53 GP = 0.5094
Artturi Lehkonen 22 EVP / 45 GP = 0.4889
Jesperi Kotkaniemi 25 EVP/ 57 GP = 0.4386
Patrik Laine 18 EVP / 46 GP = 0.3913
Mikko Rantanen 20 EVP/ 56 GP = 0.3571
Sebastian Aho 9 EVP /27 GP = 0.3333
Rasmus Kupari 10 EVP /39 GP = 0.2564

Putting that into /60 is a bit of a pain in the ass, since they only give the lump sum TOI for special teams, not for even strength.

 

[Fazkovsky]

also we forget the team Jesperi is playing on. The leading scorer on his team had 39 pts and the second one 35.

That is very low.

 

[NotProkofievian]

I hope we can move up a bit from second round to draft alexander alexeyev

A big bodied defence that skates well and has untapped offensive potential, and that can hit.

Also kotakiemi played on a pretty low scoring team, his team's leading scorer wasn't even ppg so i know he is underrated

Only one person in the entire league was 1ppg. If he does it next year, it's a pretty serious accomplishment. Only Aho has done it as a U19 in recent years. A few people have been close, but Aho is the only one to actually achieve it as a U19.

 

[Mrb1p]

I compiled a few EVP/G of recent Liiga draft year noticeables a little while back. Jesperi does very well. He really didn't get anything done on the powerplay, but 5 on 5, almost nobody did better in their draft year.

Ranking recent Liiga draft year notables by EVP/G

Aleksander Barkov 27 EVP / 53 GP = 0.5094
Artturi Lehkonen 22 EVP / 45 GP = 0.4889
Jesperi Kotkaniemi 25 EVP/ 57 GP = 0.4386
Patrik Laine 18 EVP / 46 GP = 0.3913
Mikko Rantanen 20 EVP/ 56 GP = 0.3571
Sebastian Aho 9 EVP /27 GP = 0.3333
Rasmus Kupari 10 EVP /39 GP = 0.2564

Putting that into /60 is a bit of a pain in the ass, since they only give the lump sum TOI for special teams, not for even strength.

Kotkaniemi and Lekhonen, recreate the Finnish connection or whatever name were giving em

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Just take him at 3 and save the trouble of potentially losing him to another team. Four 2nd rounders, don’t play games to try and acquire a fifth.

Can't imagine Ottawa takes him.

With that said trading down 1 spot isn't going to garner a lot.

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

Kotkaniemi and Lekhonen, recreate the Finnish connection or whatever name were giving em

Lehkonen - Kotkaniemi - Ikonen