C/W Jesperi Kotkaniemi - Ässät, Liiga (2018, 3rd, MTL) Part II

[HankyZetts]

how do you know? Who is the Habs skating coach and who are some of the skating coaches in Liiga?

If McCarron was getting the best skating coaches, he wouldn't need to hire one on his own and you say he's a below average skater so then what's that say for the job the best skating coaches are doing? Not that I agree, his skating is not that bad. He's slower then he needs to be and needs to improve his lower body strength to improve his balance.

Kotka does not skate well, his technique is painful to watch. If the Habs have better resources why didn't it work for McCarron for all these years until he hired someone on his own cause he looked much quicker this year so far then any other year.

What do you mean how do I know? Is it not implied by the fact that the NHL is the highest level of hockey in every facet? It is the cream of the crop, relating to hockey, in every way, so why wouldn't they have the best skating coaches, generally speaking?

Who better to critique his technique than those of the highest technique?

Kotka can play and practice with the best, aaand hire a private skating instructor at the same time. Just like Mcarron. So I fail to recognize a valid argument as to why he has to fly home to Pori to learn to skate better..

 

[NobleSix]

So kotkaniemi made the nhl and Zadina did not

 

[montreal]

What do you mean how do I know? Is it not implied by the fact that the NHL is the highest level of hockey in every facet? It is the cream of the crop, relating to hockey, in every way, so why wouldn't they have the best skating coaches, generally speaking?

Who better to critique his technique than those of the highest technique?

Kotka can play and practice with the best, aaand hire a private skating instructor at the same time. Just like Mcarron. So I fail to recognize a valid argument as to why he has to fly home to Pori to learn to skate better..

No it's not implied, unless you can name the Habs skating coach, do they even have one? Again, if they have one, and McCarron wasn't improving, what's that say about the job they are doing?

If Kotka is playing 82 games in the NHL and flying all over the two countries, how much time do you think he'll have to hire a skating coach?

Also I never said he needs to fly home to learn to skate better. But less games, less travel, less pressure, less dealing with bi-polar Hab fans, less wear and tear physically. More time to work out, train, practice in Finland in a different environment. It's just a matter of not rushing your best hope, what does playing in Finland for 1 year hurt?

 

[Pavels Dog]

So kotkaniemi made the nhl and Zadina did not
I dont think anyone predicted this

I'm pretty sure there's nothing definitive on Zadina yet. Wings play their last preseason game tonight and Zadina is playing, final decisions will be made after tonight.

And regardless it's not a sprint. Kotka played pro last season so it would be reasonable that he would be able to transition fast.

 

[le_sean]

I'm pretty sure there's nothing definitive on Zadina yet. Wings play their last preseason game tonight and Zadina is playing, final decisions will be made after tonight.

And regardless it's not a sprint. Kotka played pro last season so it would be reasonable that he would be able to transition fast.

Technically Zadina played pro two seasons ago so I guess he’s trending downwards.

 

[Pavels Dog]

Technically Zadina played pro two seasons ago so I guess he’s trending downwards.

20 something games with what I'm fairly certain was limited icetime. Based on preseason, Zadina could easily play in the NHL. It's just not certain that he isn't best served by a few months in AHL first.

 

[Lepardi]

I hope she becomes as legendary as the kid who cried when the Knicks drafted Porzingis.

 

[Scuba-Steve]

Based on preseason, Zadina could easily play in the NHL.

He was my choice at the last draft, so I watched 2 red Wings games this preseason (against the Pens and the Leafs) and I disagree with you. The kid is clearly not ready and is invisible most of the time. You can see the talent, but he needs to get more involved and he also need to think the game faster.

So far Kotakaniemi is miles ahead of Zadina. Boy I was wrong.

 

[1972]

Red Wing fans have been thanking Montreal for not taking Zadina tho

Reminds me when Sabres fans were thanking everyone for passing on Grigorenko in 2012.

 

[HankyZetts]

No it's not implied, unless you can name the Habs skating coach, do they even have one? Again, if they have one, and McCarron wasn't improving, what's that say about the job they are doing?

If Kotka is playing 82 games in the NHL and flying all over the two countries, how much time do you think he'll have to hire a skating coach?

Also I never said he needs to fly home to learn to skate better. But less games, less travel, less pressure, less dealing with bi-polar Hab fans, less wear and tear physically. More time to work out, train, practice in Finland in a different environment. It's just a matter of not rushing your best hope, what does playing in Finland for 1 year hurt?

Dude just because Mcarron sucked doesn't mean a single thing wrt to Kotkaniemi. The kid is keeping up with the best players in the NHL physically and mentally. If that continues there is no rational way to explain sending him home to coddle his development.

As for the Habs skating coach, as far as I know teams will hire these kinds of technical instructors in the summer for development camps and such, and they will give the athletes the curriculum needed to improve in areas like skating. I really have no clue if they keep them on staff throughout the year but i bet they are easily accesible for any Habs player. If kotka needs a dedicated, top notch skating coach, the habs will help him with that more than Pori. No questuon.

Guess what he'll be doing a heck of a lot of in said 82 game NHL schedule??Skating!

 

[Mrb1p]

I'm pretty sure there's nothing definitive on Zadina yet. Wings play their last preseason game tonight and Zadina is playing, final decisions will be made after tonight.

And regardless it's not a sprint. Kotka played pro last season so it would be reasonable that he would be able to transition fast.

But one of the argument that Zadina was the BPA was that he was seen as more seasoned.

 

[leafsfan1234]

Habs are going to ruin him by bringing him onto a loser squad. Kid should spend the year in the AHL like the Leafs did with Nylander.

 

[Scuba-Steve]

Habs are going to ruin him by bringing him onto a loser squad. Kid should spend the year in the AHL like the Leafs did with Nylander.

I get what you are saying, but I think he will be hard to ruin.

 

[missionAvs]

 

[Merci Saku]

Habs are going to ruin him by bringing him onto a loser squad. Kid should spend the year in the AHL like the Leafs did with Nylander.

Geeez Nylander wasn’t close to the level of play Kotkaniemi display

Some of y’all sure like to act like you know better than an nhl management team

 

[Pavels Dog]

He was my choice at the last draft, so I watched 2 red Wings games this preseason (against the Pens and the Leafs) and I disagree with you. The kid is clearly not ready and is invisible most of the time. You can see the talent, but he needs to get more involved and he also need to think the game faster.

So far Kotakaniemi is miles ahead of Zadina. Boy I was wrong.

He's been a bit up and down, but not out of place and it's clear that he could be a contributor on the PP especially. Anyways don't want to debate X vs. Y too much, just wanted to respond that Zadina's destination isn't clear as of right now.

But one of the argument that Zadina was the BPA was that he was seen as more seasoned.

I don't recall arguments about him being more seasoned, that seems somewhat odd. But size, playstyle etc. also play into NHL readiness, and the decision on where to play a guy is also impacted by the team's needs. In the case of Montreal, they are weak at C. Detroit is strongest at wing.

 

[leafsfan1234]

Geeez Nylander wasn’t close to the level of play Kotkaniemi display

Some of y’all sure like to act like you know better than an nhl management team

Nylander in his draft + 2 year was way better than Kotkaniemi is now. Don't delude yourself.

 

[Frank Drebin]

Habs are going to ruin him by bringing him onto a loser squad. Kid should spend the year in the AHL like the Leafs did with Nylander.

Like when Florida ruined Barkov
Or when Calgary ruined Monahan
Or Colorado ruining MacKinnon

 

[Merci Saku]

Nylander in his draft + 2 year was way better than Kotkaniemi is now. Don't delude yourself.

Read better, we were talking about their 18 years old year

Way better, yeah sure

 

[leafsfan1234]

Read better, we were talking about their 18 years old year

Way better, yeah sure

I was talking about Nylander's draft + 2 year, where he was sent to the AHL despite clearly being NHL ready.

 

[theVladiator]

I was and still am suspicious of Kotkaniemi's pick, political reasons could have played a role in the pick, and even in the decision to bring him into the NHL. Disclaimer: it's based on speculation and not on actually watching him play .

This is absolutely a huge step for him, and a ray of hope for Habs fans. I am very curious and I am looking forward to catching Habs games to take a look.

 

[Scuba-Steve]

I was and still am suspicious of Kotkaniemi's pick, political reasons could have played a role in the pick, and even in the decision to bring him into the NHL. Disclaimer: it's based on speculation and not on actually watching him play .

This is absolutely a huge step for him, and a ray of hope for Habs fans. I am very curious and I am looking forward to catching Habs games to take a look.

Watch him play you'll be surprised at how good he is. I was also suspicious but now I can say he's the best skater prospect I've seen in Montreal since I started watching hockey in 1990.

 

[the paisanos guy]

Watch him play you'll be surprised at how good he is. I was also suspicious but now I can say he's the best skater prospect I've seen in Montreal since I started watching hockey in 1990.

Same. I've never had an 18 year old prospect (or any age for that matter) on the Habs come close to impressing me as much as this kid.

 

[The Great Weal]

I'm pretty sure there's nothing definitive on Zadina yet. Wings play their last preseason game tonight and Zadina is playing, final decisions will be made after tonight.

And regardless it's not a sprint. Kotka played pro last season so it would be reasonable that he would be able to transition fast.

Yeah but hes also nearly a year younger than Zadina. I've always said that Zadina isnt nhl ready, but I thought he would be more NHL ready than Kotkaniemi.

 

[PKWeber]

Habs are going to ruin him by bringing him onto a loser squad. Kid should spend the year in the AHL like the Leafs did with Nylander.

Nylander is a soft small winger. Not a good comparison at all.