C/W Jesperi Kotkaniemi (2018, 3rd, MTL) Part III

[Habs 4 Life]

I love how it's all about the point total
Bet most never watched him play!!!
This kid is benefiting big time by being here and is nothing like Galchenyuk!

 

[Hi ImHFNYR]

It's clear this kid was rushed to the NHL.

He's on pace for 36 points and he'll probably get even less as the NHL grind starts to wear on him later into the season.

He might've outgrown the Finnish league, but it's better to let a player dominate a lesser league while they develop than throwing him into a role in the NHL he isn't suited for.

Habs are going to ruin this kid like they did to Galchenyuk.

He may have been rushed but your reasoning makes me think you are very new to the process of developing prospects

 

[jiboy]

Kotkaniemi is not worring me at all about being "rushed".

Hes an humble kid with drive , doesnt seem like the type of player who feels like he made it and would slack off.

He wants to get better and he will , hes is probably feeling the fatigue from his last 6 months wich has been totally crazy.

If the habs continue their nose dive he might play at the WJC that would be pretty sweet to see him against his age group on the big stage.

 

[Thebesthockey]

this project needs to be carefully watched
habs will mess it up

 

[Gainesvillain]

I wouldn’t mind if the habs gave Kotkaniemi a break from the NHL grind for a few weeks and sent him to the WJC. Let him shift gears and play with some extra time & space. He's starting to look a little ragged out there.

Doubt they will, though.

 

[gifted88]

I wouldn’t mind if the habs gave Kotkaniemi a break from the NHL grind for a few weeks and sent him to the WJC. He's starting to look a little ragged out there.

Doubt they will, though.

Could be a good confidence booster.

 

[BB88]

I wouldn’t mind if the habs gave Kotkaniemi a break from the NHL grind for a few weeks and sent him to the WJC. Let him shift gears and play with some extra time & space. He's starting to look a little ragged out there.

Doubt they will, though.

He should go there because he could play with high end prospects and potentially dominate for a few weeks.
His high end vision/IQ is getting wasted with his linemates at the NHL.

Confidence is the key with young players and prospects.

 

[Deficient Mode]

It doesn't look to me as if Kotkaniemi lacks confidence. He still attempts and mostly executes difficult stickhandling moves. I think he could be a bit fatigued at times but he also looks to be skating better since the start of the season.

His production is still very good for a d+1 player who wasn't getting any power play time until recently. As others mentioned, there are plenty of examples of guys who scored 30-40 points in their d+1 season who became star players.

 

[Hfbsux]

His production has slowed down in the last few games, but he still makes nice plays here and there like this pass at 1:15 from his last game:

https://production.smedia.lvp.llnw....ts.mp4?x=0&h=e7833ab5cb779e63f7c0ceabfc27eafb

 

[schnapshot]

Honestly, the hot takes on this thread are ridiculous.

First, he played as a winger in his draft year so he wasn't even a sure bet to become a center at the NHL level.

Now he's on pace for 36 pts playing 3rd line minutes as a center in the NHL, but he's getting ruined by Montreal.

Sure he may be fatigued, but there's nothing wrong with his play. The rest of the team has been playing less well too...

 

[Hfbsux]

Honestly, the hot takes on this thread are ridiculous.

First, he played as a winger in his draft year so he wasn't even a sure bet to become a sure center at the NHL level.

Now he's on pace for 36 pts playing 3rd line minutes as a center in the NHL, but he's getting ruined by Montreal.

Sure he may be fatigued, but there's nothing wrong with his play. The rest of the team has been playing less well too...

Watched almost every game and I make sure to keep my eyes on him everytime he's on the ice. He doesn't really look out of place here, makes nice play in all 3 zone. Sure he will make mistakes and be outpowered once in a while but it is expected from a kid who just turned 18. Statwatchers need to calm down a bit.

 

[HOPE]

I wouldn’t mind if the habs gave Kotkaniemi a break from the NHL grind for a few weeks and sent him to the WJC. Let him shift gears and play with some extra time & space. He's starting to look a little ragged out there.

Doubt they will, though.

it's honestly a must. if they don't do it, i will be mad.

 

[Tube Skates]

Of course his production is bound to slip a bit. All the pros are back up to speed now. I don't like the Habs very much but this kid looks good out there. Cool and crafty

 

[Kunta Kinte]

Slick pass to Lekhonen for the goal tonight.

Would love to see him getting good minutes everygame with Drouin/Domi/Weber/Whoever on the PP.

 

[Kaako Kappo]

Slick pass to Lekhonen for the goal tonight.

Would love to see him getting good minutes everygame with Drouin/Domi/Weber/Whoever on the PP.

He has been, for a while now?

 

[Deficient Mode]

Kotkaniemi has been on the top PP unit the past 7 or 8 games, yes. The top unit has only scored one goal during that stretch in 20-22 minutes on ice, though. He had a primary assist on that goal. So he still hasn't really reaped the rewards of that PP time. The Habs haven't really worked out a sustainable power play strategy yet.

 

[417]

it's honestly a must. if they don't do it, i will be mad.

Why is it a must?

 

[jfhabs]

it's honestly a must. if they don't do it, i will be mad.

Maybe they do to prevent putting someone on the waivers?

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

He’s playing in front of the net and down low on the powerplay. I would rather have him on the halfwall personally for his developement and his skillset is more suited for it but I understand the coaching staff putting domi or drouin there instead of him. He’s the screen/tip/behind the net option and i think his stick is a little too long to be playing that spot and making plays in tight in front of the net haha. But hey I won’t complain at least he’s out there on the first wave

 

[schnapshot]

mOnTrEaL iS rUiNiNg KotKaNiEmI

 

[Fledgemyhedge]

I've watched him play so I'm not worried at all. Keep learning the game buddy.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

I think Kotka is doing more than just fine.
- youngest player in the NHL
- plays a center position in Montreal as a European rookie (3rd line)
- 4th in rookie scoring (14 points in 28 games)
- 3 players above him in points are: Tkachuk (19) White (21) Pettersson (20)
- at 18, Pettersson was playing in the Allsvenskan, White&Tkachuk were playing in the NCAA
- going to (possibly) score 40-50 points while 18 years old the entire season

 

[Artorius Horus T]

Last player who was 18 the entire NHL season and had 50 points, or more?

 

[Icebreakers]

I think Kotka is doing more than just fine.
- youngest player in the NHL
- plays a center position in Montreal as a European rookie (3rd line)
- 4th in rookie scoring (14 points in 28 games)
- 3 players above him in points are: Tkachuk (19) White (21) Pettersson (20)
- at 18, Pettersson was playing in the Allsvenskan, White&Tkachuk were playing in the NCAA
- going to (possibly) score 40-50 points while 18 years old the entire season

Just because someone else was playing at a lower league at 18 doesnt mean the other will do better because they made it faster. Marner played in the OHL at 18. Gaudreau was in college until 21. So what?

All the other points are fine. Him being 18 and the youngest is enough. There no point in bringing up Tkachuk, White and EP though and what they were doing at 18.

 

[Icebreakers]

Last player who was 18 the entire NHL season and had 50 points, or more?

Mackinnon, Laine (Regular season).