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

[Kaako Kappo]

I'm surprised how well all the announcers are pronouncing his name, by the way

 

[koyvoo]

Caught-kaniemi or Coat-kaniemi?

 

[Legend123]

JK certainly has the chance to become as good or better than Pettersson will be, no doubt. He is a studly player.

Both are very fine players, and JK will start producing at a 1C level very soon imo.

Very smart pick by Montreal.

No. EP is too good for JK. and I'm a habs fan.

 

[Favster]

https://hfboards.mandatory.com/threads/welcome-to-montréal-jesperi-kotkaniemi-1st-round-pick-3oa-2018-signed-elc.2506893/page-11#post-147221139

Oh man I still remember this

Lol that's great. Especially considering his username

Anyways, no worries there - we've all been wrong once or twice hehe. To be fair the kid has exceeded pretty much everyone's expectations.

 

[ottawa]

I am amazed at the progression. We're talking about a guy who was seen as an average mid 1st round pick about 9 months ago. He ends up being picked 3rd and as someone else said seems to be doing better than Svechnikov at the moment. He went from looking out of place at development camp in July, to being average at rookie camp in September, to taking everyone by surprise in training camp.

Best part, he's not even playing with top wingers, and is barely getting any PP time, but is still producing and playing well. He went from most Habs fans wanting him to return to Finland for development, to a sure-fire NHL top-6 guy in no time. At this progression rate, he could be considered a legit 1st liner before the season ends. 9 pts in 17 games, and if he doesn't slow down, could easily notch 50 pts when all is said and done.

We drafted another player 3rd overall who was supposed to be our big 1st line center; Galchenyuk. While Galchy certainly had a ton of speed, hands and flash, the hockey sense and overall skill level and mature game of Kotkaniemi literally blows Galchenyuk out of the water. While Galchenyuk looks like he's topping as a 2nd line offensive guy who needs good linemates, Kotkaniemi's potential is a 1st line Barkov/Kopitar type of guy who does everything well, and makes his linemates better.

Aside from Koivu, Kovalev and Galchenyuk (at the time of the draft) I have never been more excited for a player in Montreal!

Agree with everything except the Galchenyuk part, what makes you think he's not playing like a first liner in Arizona?

 

[ottawa]

You never know whether he's going to challenge Dahlin. Assume Kotkaniemi becomes a PPG 1C - It's tough to pick any defenseman over that.

As a habs fan I'd probably still take Dahlin. He's already playing like a top pairing defenseman, he's going to be nothing short of great.

 

[schnapshot]

2nd best player in the draft, AINEC. heck he's gonna take a run at dahlin for the best. come at me! kotka making everyone eat their words (including me).

But AHL man Zadina has raw skills bro, you can’t teach that

 

[ImNeverWrong]

https://hfboards.mandatory.com/threads/welcome-to-montréal-jesperi-kotkaniemi-1st-round-pick-3oa-2018-signed-elc.2506893/page-11#post-147221139

Oh man I still remember this

INCLUDING ME i said. right 99.9% of the time!

 

[Canadienna]

INCLUDING ME i said. right 99.9% of the time!

LOL love the updated avy.

I hope Julien swaps him with Danault soon. Big fan of Danault, but would rather have a more offensive guy with Tatar and Gally.

 

[Legend123]

As a habs fan I'd probably still take Dahlin. He's already playing like a top pairing defenseman, he's going to be nothing short of great.

probably???? More like definitely!

 

[Steely Van]

I was hoping he would still be around when the canucks would pick and thought Pettersson would play rw not centre. Luckily Quinn Hughes was still available.

 

[Gsus]

Caught-kaniemi or Coat-kaniemi?

Goat-kaniemi.

Just kidding, Caught-kaniemi.

 

[ottawa]

probably???? More like definitely!

Yeah I don't know why I said probably lol...I definitely take Dahlin over a PPG kotka

 

[DudeWhereIsMakar]

Has the same game as Galchenyuk, but he uses his head a lot more and his peripheral vision is much better than Galchenyuk's too. Think he'll be with the Habs for a long time.

 

[Legend123]

Yeah I don't know why I said probably lol...I definitely take Dahlin over a PPG kotka

Dahlins potential is immense

 

[montreal]

Has the same game as Galchenyuk, but he uses his head a lot more and his peripheral vision is much better than Galchenyuk's too. Think he'll be with the Habs for a long time.

Galchenyuk was highly skilled but his issues were his defensive game, skating and speed. Kotka has more smarts and a much better defensive game, plus he's quicker although both had issues with skating but with Kotka I guess it's more his awkward technique.

 

[TT1]

Kotka's game is all about his smarts and his playmaking ability/vision. Galchenyuk's game is all about trying to deke an entire team on his own, turning the puck over and having to skate all the way back to our d-zone with his linemates.

They have very little in common.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

Has the same game as Galchenyuk, but he uses his head a lot more and his peripheral vision is much better than Galchenyuk's too. Think he'll be with the Habs for a long time.

I'd say he's a pretty different guy that Galchenyuk. Already Kotkaniemi is miles ahead of where Galchenyuk was in terms of effort, smarts, vision and attitude. Both guys have good size, but Kotkaniemi is about 2 years and 20 pounds away from Galchenyuk level strength. Galchenyuk also has the better shot, though Kotkas is still very good. IMHO Kotkaniemi is a more natural center already.

 

[Kunta Kinte]

Galchenyuk had/has a way way better wirst shot and slapper. Quicker hands too.. Effort level wasn't always there tho for Galchenyuk, not involved enough without the puck and in his zone... Still loved his skill set. That halfboard PP threat was a thing of beauty. I always liked halfboard PP guy in mtl like Kovy, Kostitsyn, Galchenyuk

 

[TT1]

I think Kotkaniemi's wrister is really underrated and could possibly be deadly if he keeps working on it. He has that slingshot looking release like Matthews does, except unlike Matthews he takes longer to wind up and release his shot, which gives the goalie more time to setup for it.

If he works on his release timing he can have a really deadly shot. Galchenyuk definitely has a better 1 timer and edgework (not speed) tho. In any case, Galchenyuk loses most of his efficiency when hes not on the PP.. if you cant tell i really dislike him as a player .

 

[Sagikev]

LOL love the updated avy.

I hope Julien swaps him with Danault soon. Big fan of Danault, but would rather have a more offensive guy with Tatar and Gally.

I agree that they shoulf be swapped, but not right now. He's just strong enough for the NHL, let him learn on the 3rd line. He should be up on the 1st line around january IMO (if he shows she's ready physically, becaude skillwise he definitely is). He should get 1st wave pp though, that's for sure.

 

[Californiadreamin]

Kotka's game is all about his smarts and his playmaking ability/vision. Galchenyuk's game is all about trying to deke an entire team on his own, turning the puck over and having to skate all the way back to our d-zone with his linemates.

They have very little in common.

When galchenyuk was confident and comfortable to play to his strengths he was not selfish like this. Imo, it wasnt until he started being juked around either by way of external or internal forces that he started being in his own head and trying to be someone he wasnt.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

When galchenyuk was confident and comfortable to play to his strengths he was not selfish like this. Imo, it wasnt until he started being juked around either by way of external or internal forces that he started being in his own head and trying to be someone he wasnt.

Glachenyuk just doesn't process the game quickly. I don't think he's selfish, he just doesn't think quick enough to make passes the moment they need to be made.

 

[Lebowski]

Galchenyuk was highly skilled but his issues were his defensive game, skating and speed. Kotka has more smarts and a much better defensive game, plus he's quicker although both had issues with skating but with Kotka I guess it's more his awkward technique.

I'd say Kotka has the same issues in terms of agility and foot speed.

Their releases are also very similar. A lot of power, but takes too long to get off.

 

[Californiadreamin]

Glachenyuk just doesn't process the game quickly. I don't think he's selfish, he just doesn't think quick enough to make passes the moment they need to be made.

I watched him in sarnia and followed him quite a bit. He seemed to have the potential to be a quick passer or a good shooter and I guess maybe his shooting progressed further than his passing abilities at the NHL level. He seems to almost put him self out of position when he makes a good pass, almost as if hes always " taking the hit " to make the good pass.