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

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Once you see him modifying "his game" just to avoid mistakes or just to stay in an NHL line up, then you send him back. That's like Sergachev 2 years ago. If you see him struggle a bit but you see that he is learning, that he is actually progressing facets of his game and not playing timid, then I think he should stay.
 
He's had the toughest possible start to his NHL career and hasn't gotten embarrassed, I'd say that's pretty damm impressive for massive reach.

Sounds like the vets want to help Kotka as much as possible and he won't get that level of teaching/experience from Liiga this year.
 
Paul Maurice said:
So literally no reason to send him down, really. Let him develop in the NHL if he can handle it.
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Incorrect. Less challenging environment with more ice time and more prominent role is much better for trying new things and gaining confidence in them. As is, there is more incentive to stick to what he knows and what is safe. This is just so basic, just because he can "handle it" doesn't mean it's the best developmental option for him. So no, the conclusion you are drawing doesn't logically follow from the bolded part of my post.
 
theVladiator said:
Incorrect. Less challenging environment with more ice time and more prominent role is much better for trying new things and gaining confidence in them. As is, there is more incentive to stick to what he knows and what is safe. This is just so basic, just because he can "handle it" doesn't mean it's the best developmental option for him. So no, the conclusion you are drawing doesn't logically follow from the bolded part of my post.
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Some players dont respond well to go down to AHL. Development might even be halted.
 
theVladiator said:
Incorrect. Less challenging environment with more ice time and more prominent role is much better for trying new things and gaining confidence in them. As is, there is more incentive to stick to what he knows and what is safe. This is just so basic, just because he can "handle it" doesn't mean it's the best developmental option for him. So no, the conclusion you are drawing doesn't logically follow from the bolded part of my post.
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Playing against the best 15mins a night is better than playing 2-3mins more in a inferior league, as long as he gets to play in offensive sitations/gets to have the puck.
 
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DDRhockey said:
Some players dont respond well to go down to AHL. Development might even be halted.
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BB88 said:
Playing against the best 15mins a night is better than playing 2-3mins more in a inferior league, as long as he gets to play in offensive sitations/gets to have the puck.
Click to expand...

You can disagree with me about the best option for Kotka, and that's fair. I was responding to a post that implied that NHL is always the right answer as long as the prospect isn't dead weight at that level. That's just false.
 
bl02 said:
do you think he is gonna get 9 plus games this year? I'm assuming he will since he's looked pretty good
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His old team Ässät hasn't won in 10 consecutive games IIRC, myself and a good portion of our fanbase wanted to see him back in Finland after 9 games but I think most of us realize it's not a good place for him to be given Ässät's current state.

I think it'll be either NHL or AHL for him...my preference is AHL but my guess is NHL. He's our best forward (maybe 2nd after Domi)
 
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He’s definitely good enough for the NHL and doesn’t look out of place on a top 6.

I’d still rather have him in Finland right now.
 
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Sens of Anarchy said:
Just wondering since you said Tkachuk was invisible in Boston.
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I personally didn't notice him much but sometimes it's not bad to be invisible, that just means you're keeping up with everyone and not making mistakes and at 18 nonetheless.

Either way, he followed up with a pretty deadly game against Philly...2g + 1a for an 18 year old in his 2nd game is insane.
 
I don't know why the hell Julien just decided early on to replace him by Plek, a healthy scratch level player, who got scored then 5 seconds later.
 
I don't feel like it's necessary for Kotkaniemi to be in the NHL right now. He obviously lacks strength and falls down quite often. The skills are there and he has nice speed but I can't see him producing that much, especially as the games will get tougher in the later part of the year.

I would not send him back to Finland. He's been in NA for a month now and improving. Laval should be his next stop. From what I have seen, he should be a point per game player right now in the AHL. The Habs are gonna lose anyway, and Laval looks good. Might as well just go down there, dominate and maybe win a championship.

He has a taste of the NHL now. I feel like as soon as next season, after a summer of working out, he could score 50+ pts. He will be stronger and faster. A breakout should be in the cards. He has everything it takes. But this season should be about development.
 
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"Management is conducting a game-by-game evaluation of Kotkaniemi and is extremely pleased with what they’ve seen so far. The Finn is being heavily sheltered by coach Claude Julien – he’s taken 23 faceoffs in the offensive zone, 18 faceoffs in the neutral zone and just two faceoffs in the defensive zone – but the Canadiens have been absolutely dominant in shot attempts (67.09 per cent), high-danger scoring chances (76.92 per cent) and every other metric with him on the ice at even strength, per naturalstattrick.com.
They’ve outscored opponents 2-0 in his 5-on-5 minutes as well."

Beyond the Headlines: Why Leafs' Nylander hasn't received an offer sheet - Sportsnet.ca
 
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His advanced stats are godly, he's been one the best analytics forwards in the league so far. Problem is he's had a few posts and offensively he doesn't look fully comfortable yet, still adjusting i guess.
 
During Saturdays game (VGK-PHI) our guy (Antti Mäkinen) said that Kotka and his mom have moved to a house from a hotel,
so he is definitely staying in Montreal, that is...if what he said was true and not a rumor.
 
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