Prospect Info: Welcome to Montréal, Jesperi Kotkaniemi (1st round pick, 3OA 2018 - signed ELC)

[Anardil]

Dang, Kakko is another one to watch. Kid is special.

PlayLikeKaka4Kakko!!!!!!!!

 

[Adam Michaels]

I question the people that make these comparisons. Our staff has shown zero ability to draft develop and keep players of that calibre.

Comparisons are made with most draft picks. It's a way analysts try to explain to the audience what type of NHL player the picks resemble in style.

 

[ImNeverWrong]

Comparisons are made with most draft picks. It's a way analysts try to explain to the audience what type of NHL player the picks resemble in style.

Which is fine. But it's also just a shiny way to keep their viewers interested. I think it's blatant false advertising. How often does the tsn player comparisons ever actually pan out? The answer is, hardly ever.

 

[The Great Weal]

Not even going to bother with people that think he is a reach anymore. Look at all the f***ing centers that went in a weak draft for centers. We got the best one on a team that desperately needed one. No clear BPA at 3, we got the most valuable player.

 

[Adam Michaels]

Final Draft Rankings for Kotkaniemi:

16th = ISS HOCKEY
13th = FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS
13th = MCKEEN'S HOCKEY
8th = HOCKEYPROSPECT.COM
6th = NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING (EU Skaters Only)
5th = TSN/McKENZIE

He was no where near a top 5 pick until the media started pushing Bergy to draft him last week.

And all the prospects stopped playing hockey months ago....

Pronman had him 4th, Button had him 5th.

Some of these rankings had Veleno ahead of Kotkaniemi, too.

Him being 6th among European skaters, they listed Kaut and Ginning and Kravtsov ahead of him, but in most other lists, Kotkaniemi was ranked higher (even the lists he was ranked outside the Top-10).

Scheifele was ranked between 15th-20th on most rankings, but he went 7th to Jets. ISS has Elias Petersson at 20, and most lists had him around 10th-11th, Canucks took him at 5 last year.

 

[groovejuice]

Happy MB didn't trade down. Pleased with the pick, it was the best form of damage control in the circumstances (i.e. who knows what lesser player he may have been tempted with, had Kotkaniemi been taken once he'd have traded down).

Hoping to see more of the same tomorrow.

Expect the Inexcusable.

 

[Runner77]

Changed my avatar once again! Priceless

Jesperi's souvenir Draft collage ...

 

[didimentionlarseller]

Still liking this pick and watching his hi lights on YouTube If he can add weight in the next 2 years and keep progressing think he will be a great center

I just keep imagining having Kotkaniemi AND Galchenyuk

 

[SOLR]

What is happening with Saku Koivu nowadays? Maybe we should hire him as a personal coach for Jesperi?!

 

[didimentionlarseller]

I just keep imagining having Kotkaniemi AND Galchenyuk

Sigh and Eller

 

[ImNeverWrong]

Pronman had him 4th, Button had him 5th.

Some of these rankings had Veleno ahead of Kotkaniemi, too.

Him being 6th among European skaters, they listed Kaut and Ginning and Kravtsov ahead of him, but in most other lists, Kotkaniemi was ranked higher (even the lists he was ranked outside the Top-10).

Scheifele was ranked between 15th-20th on most rankings, but he went 7th to Jets. ISS has Elias Petersson at 20, and most lists had him around 10th-11th, Canucks took him at 5 last year.

Jets are studs at drafting. The habs are not. Zadina was the pick without the question marks. He was the pick for a team that can't score. He was the one shot scorer that the habs haven't had in decades. When you draft that early you take the best player available, 100%. Kotkaniemi is going to have career of ice skating uphill as he will be compared to the kid that lights it up with Dylan Larkin in detroit.

 

[Adam Michaels]

What is happening with Saku Koivu nowadays? Maybe we should hire him as a personal coach for Jesperi?!

Last I heard was he's a GM or GM/owner of a team in Liiga.

 

[Adam Michaels]

Jets are studs at drafting. The habs are not. Zadina was the pick without the question marks. He was the pick for a team that can't score. He was the one shot scorer that the habs haven't had in decades. When you draft that early you take the best player available, 100%. Kotkaniemi is going to have career of ice skating uphill as he will be compared to the kid that lights it up with Dylan Larkin in detroit.

Zadina would have been a good pick. But if you project Zadina to be a top line winger and you project Kotkaniemi to be a first line center, you take the center.

 

[Spearmint Rhino]

Jesperi's souvenir Draft collage ...

One could say Kotka's selection left the audience with a gaping expression

 

[drewjenks]

1.Already confirmed he will play center next year. 17 year olds rarely get the chance in a mens league.
2.His team was bad, you can conversely make the argument that he would have more points on a good team

"His dad was the coach" is not the converse argument of "his team was bad".

I think what you're looking for is "His team was good - so his stats were inflated".

 

[The Great Weal]

"His dad was the coach" is not the converse argument of "his team was bad".

I think what you're looking for is "His team was good - so his stats were inflated".

Nope. It means that if you play a lot for a shitty team, you can make the argument if he still played a lot for a better team, he would have more points.

 

[Adam Michaels]

 

[drewjenks]

Pronman had him 4th, Button had him 5th.

Some of these rankings had Veleno ahead of Kotkaniemi, too.

Him being 6th among European skaters, they listed Kaut and Ginning and Kravtsov ahead of him, but in most other lists, Kotkaniemi was ranked higher (even the lists he was ranked outside the Top-10).

Scheifele was ranked between 15th-20th on most rankings, but he went 7th to Jets. ISS has Elias Petersson at 20, and most lists had him around 10th-11th, Canucks took him at 5 last year.

1. Those are television personalities who presented their rankings on television & websites - with the goal of viewers & clicks rather than accuracy.

2. You correct - draft rankings can be wrong. Does that mean they're less reliable than Bergevins opinion or Bergevins track record at the draft?

 

[ImNeverWrong]

Zadina would have been a good pick. But if you project Zadina to be a top line winger and you project Kotkaniemi to be a first line center, you take the center.

Imo I don't think he can be a legit first line center. I know zadina will be a first line winger. His skills are raw. Can't teach goal scoring instincts at this stage of development. Anyways I'm gonna table this discussion until we see these two in the nhl. It's pointless now to discuss.

 

[drewjenks]

Nope. It means that if you play a lot for a ****ty team, you can make the argument if he still played a lot for a better team, he would have more points.

OK but now your arguing with something I didn't say.

I said his dad was the coach. And I didn't mention his plus/minus - only his points. Where they bad because they couldn't score enough goals or because they got scored on too much...? The latter wouldn't have a negative affect of his point production.

 

[Adam Michaels]

1. Those are television personalities who presented their rankings on television & websites - with the goal of viewers & clicks rather than accuracy.

So to you, they just pick guys at random for clicks and such?

2. You correct - draft rankings can be wrong. Does that mean they're less reliable than Bergevins opinion or Bergevins track record at the draft?

Does it really matter if they're more or less reliable than Habs' scouting staff? The ones who do the scouting, amass data at the combines, interview the kids, talk to their coaches and other personnel, the ones who watch as many meaningless games in regards to the standings and not only playoffs and international tournaments and are employed by the organization, their ranking matters most.

 

[TT1]

I don't mind this pick because i really like Kotkaniemi AND we have Lehkonen to help him out. Lehkonen has an insane work ethic and he's a huge gym rat, he'll take Kotkaniemi under his wing and they're most likely gonna train together.

 

[Wats]

Worst kept secret lol

 

[Adam Michaels]

I don't mind this pick because i really like Kotkaniemi AND we have Lehkonen to help him out. Lehkonen has an insane work ethic and he's a huge gym rat, he'll take Kotkaniemi under his wing and they're most likely gonna train together.

I generally don't worry with Finns. They're generally hard working and out of all the Europeans, they play closer to a North American style.

 

[TT1]

I generally don't worry with Finns. They're generally hard working and out of all the Europeans, they play closer to a North American style.

Sure but having a countrymate on the same team definitely helps when you're a young player coming to the NHL, especially cus Lehkonen is a really good pro and they're close in age.