Prospect Info: Leafs' 2019 3rd-round (#84) -- D Mikko Kokkonen -- Liiga Finland 5' 11" /200 lbs

[LaPlante94]

Why? Height is becoming less and less relevant. Draft skill over size any day of the week.

not even skill imo. Hockey IQ should be the main priority.

 

[deletethis]

5'11" is average..

Not for the NHL.

6'1" is the average height in the NHL.

 

[Matthews34]

Why? Height is becoming less and less relevant. Draft skill over size any day of the week.

Move on from the size debate.

We're not supposed to talk about this anymore

 

[ImpartialNHLfan]

Can Dubas draft one player over 6' please!!!!

Why? He'll just trade him away anyways

 

[MattySnipes]

Can Dubas draft one player over 6' please!!!!

So if this kid was two inches taller you'd be happy? Lmao. Size isn't what it used to be in the NHL. Been that way for years now, St. Louis winning with long and heavy lineup is the exception this year.

 

[40BayStreet]

This looks like a great pick. More points than Heiskanen in his draft year in Same league. Great value.

 

[The Nic]

I'm actually cool with this pick now that it's been confirmed he can skate.

At this point, Kokkonen's skating is deemed to be in the average range. The concern is that he will lose some flexibility as he matures... and should focus on improving his fundamentals before then. I'm sure that will happen. MLSE has invested heavily in all possible areas of player development (and improvement of skills).

 

[capfit9]

Stylistically reminds me a lot of Jaroslav Spacek, if anyone remembers him

 

[BigBlu]

Taken 1 pick after Honka… Did Carolina steal our lunch?

 

[MJ65]

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[stickty111]

Taken 1 pick after Honka… Did Carolina steal our lunch?

Honka doesn't have the IQ that Dubas likes.

 

[7even]

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Dude looks 25 lol

 

[7even]

Taken 1 pick after Honka… Did Carolina steal our lunch?

They already took our lunch with the Marleau trade. Then they circled back around and stole our zebra cake too.

 

[96]

Love this pick.

 

[Cor]

Dude looks 25 lol

 

[MJ65]

 

[Alerion]

This is the most intriguing pick of the day, I hope it pans out.

 

[Once]

I love how cited Kimmo Timmonen as his favourite player growing up. Would love to have that develop in our system

 

[Cpt Maple Leaf]

Can Dubas draft one player over 6' please!!!!

And..... apparently not. At all. lol

 

[Matthews34]

And..... apparently not. At all. lol

It’s unbelievable. You can’t tell me this wasn’t by design and complete bullshit

 

[RoadWarrior]

Kokkonen is a left shot but he plays the right side.

Great pick. Very smart player.

 

[Crysis]

It’s unbelievable. You can’t tell me this wasn’t by design and complete bull****

Seems like he's trying to usher in a new era of smurf hockey.
Kind of like how Detroit had a bunch of Russians in the 1994-2004 era only they weren't smurfs, lol.

 

[al secord]

It’s unbelievable. You can’t tell me this wasn’t by design and complete bull****

I still can't believe they didn't consult you.

 

[stickty111]

Kokkonen is a left shot but he plays the right side.

Great pick. Very smart player.

I didn't know. Even better.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

He's 5'11 according to Elitepropects. I think down the road he can definitely be above 6'.

As long as we are prioritizing skill and hockey IQ, I have no problems drafting small players.

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