Toggle sidebar

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

  • Xenforo Cloud will be upgrading us to version 2.3.5 on March 3rd at 12 AM GMT. This version has increased stability and fixes several bugs. We expect downtime for the duration of the update. The admin team will continue to work on existing issues, templates and upgrade all necessary available addons to minimize impact of this new version. Click Here for Updates
Status
Not open for further replies.
dcyhabs said:
I doubt most teams draft based on the media but I think MB watches sports shows like Trump watches Fox News. He watches some talking head get all worked up so people will watch and then goes with it while the smart teams totally ignore it. Kotkaniemi was up the list for the talking heads and further down for the less visible analysts. Same with Fucale.
Click to expand...
Holy crap. The reason he went up was because it turned out many teams ranked him very very highly. Not the other way around. Stop spreading this silly narrative.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Grate n Colorful Oz
Victorius said:
I was meaning that Kotka is a center while Galchy is the wannabe center.
Click to expand...

I understood what you were saying. I'm just mentioning that just because someone was drafted as a centre, it doesn't mean they will end up at centre in the NHL when they're playing with/against the best in the world. Most of Kotka's 2017-18 season was played on the wing.
 
Paul Maurice said:
True. It's still his natural position, which he has been playing for most of his life. Next season will be very interesting, wherever he spends it.
Click to expand...
People said same thing about Galchenyuk. Believe it or not... There were people making Toews comparisons.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DAChampion
dcyhabs said:
I doubt most teams draft based on the media but I think MB watches sports shows like Trump watches Fox News. He watches some talking head get all worked up so people will watch and then goes with it while the smart teams totally ignore it. Kotkaniemi was up the list for the talking heads and further down for the less visible analysts. Same with Fucale.
Click to expand...

Why even waste energy to post your fantasies publicly? What is the point?
 
  • Like
Reactions: ansoncarter
Paul Maurice said:
Special thanks to the cameramen who kept going back to them, ruining this kids draft footage for him.
Click to expand...
I think the copposite, its a great reflection of our fans and it shows the kid he's got to earn their respect. AND he will he will prove everyone wrong. He's already playing with the men in Finland and he's only 17. It was a ballsy pick from Bergevin but ultimately he got it right its the best centre in the draft(potentially).
 
Watsatheo said:
People said same thing about Galchenyuk. Believe it or not... There were people making Toews comparisons.
Click to expand...
I mean...i'm not saying this can't backfire. Of course it can. But wasn't Galchenyuk kinda rushed too? If Kotkaniemi plays a successful season as a C in Liiga, he should be a bit more prepared.

It will be very interesting to hear where other teams ranked him, if it's ever revealed.
 
Welcome to Montreal Jesperi. I don't follow the young players enough to have an opinion if it is a good pick or not, but I've always liked the Finns and Swedes.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jaffy27 and lo striver
Watsatheo said:
People said same thing about Galchenyuk. Believe it or not... There were people making Toews comparisons.
Click to expand...

Yea but on the other end people were shocked when a Finnish center in Barkov was selected ahead of top-end Halifax winger Zad...Drouin in the 2013 draft.

Sure Kotka isn't Barkov's tier.. but you can find analogies for anything lol.
 
I really think Canadiens made smart call here. I saw dozens of games from Kotkaniemi last season and here is something i want tell you. I also want so say that i work as a hockey journalist here in Finland, so i think i have objective perspective:

- Kotkaniemi was just interesting name for big crowd before last season. Ässät tested him in a few preseason games and kid impressed coaching staff immediately.

- I remember watching Kotkaniemi's first game in Finnish elite league (Liiga) and he was just amazing. He made 1+1 in his first game and played fearless game. He wants to be the best player on the ice and he goes to the opponent's goal without fear.

- You have to know that is not easy to jump from junior hockey to Liiga games because step is so huge. It is only a few talented young players who have come and play effective game from day one in Liiga. We are talking about names like Mikael Granlund, Aleksander Barkov and of course Patrik Laine. Kotkaniemi hasn't yet been so flashing player like these other guys, but 29 points and 10 goals shows that he is very mature and skilled young man.

- I also think that it's his mental side that is very strong, which make him risk-free pick for Montreal. Kotkaniemi is going to play with Ässät next season and we all gonna see big steps from him.

Oh, and if you think what Kotkaniemi means, it's eagle cape ;)
 
  • Like
Reactions: GoodKiwi, muzion, groovejuice and 10 others
Paul Maurice said:
I mean...i'm not saying this can't backfire. Of course it can. But wasn't Galchenyuk kinda rushed too? If Kotkaniemi plays a successful season as a C in Liiga, he should be a bit more prepared.

It will be very interesting to hear where other teams ranked him, if it's ever revealed.
Click to expand...

Essentially there was no real development plan for Galchenyuk at center. In Sarnia, he was put on the wing because Charlie Sarault was ''just a centerman.'' Then the plan in the NHL was just to play him on the wing a bunch until he would magically, someday, metamorphose into a beautiful butterfly center. It may have actually worked, but not for Montreal: we'll see what happens in Arizona.

With Jesperi it seems like there's a real plan. He will play center in Liiga for a full season. I like it because he faces one new challenge this year: center against pros. He's already played and done well against the same competition with quite a few of the same linemates. Only one new thing: center, full time.
 
sandviper said:
Dang, Kakko is another one to watch. Kid is special.
Click to expand...

Adding Kotka- Kakko 19-20 could be similar to what Canes are adding with Necas+ Svec.

Drouin- Kotka- Kakko
Domi- Poehling/Danault- Gallagher
(Pac+Lehkonen as extras).

That's a rebuilt top6 in 1 year, Kotka is 6'2 and Kakko is listed anywhere from 6'2- 6'4.
 
Welcome to the Habs I’m excited to see the crazy Fins you are gonna bring with you Kotka!

Hope you are developed right and become that franchise Center Habs have been missing for so long.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jaffy27
NotProkofievian said:
Essentially there was no real development plan for Galchenyuk at center. In Sarnia, he was put on the wing because Charlie Sarault was ''just a centerman.'' Then the plan in the NHL was just to play him on the wing a bunch until he would magically, someday, metamorphose into a beautiful butterfly center. It may have actually worked, but not for Montreal: we'll see what happens in Arizona.

With Jesperi it seems like there's a real plan. He will play center in Liiga for a full season. I like it because he faces one new challenge this year: center against pros. He's already played and done well against the same competition with quite a few of the same linemates. Only one new thing: center, full time.
Click to expand...
I admittedly have not watched a lot of Kotkaniemi; however, from what I have seen his game seems far closer to a natural center than Galchenyuk’s ever has for me.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jaffy27
Shabutie said:
I admittedly have not watched a lot of Kotkaniemi; however, from what I have seen his game seems far closer to a natural center than Galchenyuk’s ever has for me.
Click to expand...

I see what you mean, and tend to agree, although I do see Galchenyuk as a center. Just not a perfect one.

TheDogCerby said:
Those 2 "fans" freaking out are terrible and should be ridiculed to no end.
Click to expand...

That lady gave us amazing gif material.

Whenever Kotkaniemi makes an amazing play, someone should make a gif of that play followed by her yelling ''WHAT!?''
 
  • Like
Reactions: Uncle Gary, The Great Schlemko, Peanut and 5 others
TheDogCerby said:
Those 2 "fans" freaking out are terrible and should be ridiculed to no end.
Click to expand...
Bizarre reaction to say the least...are they related to Zadina??

The Habs got their centre, it's a good pick by most...I think they should have still taken Zadina and traded to get another pick to then, draft Kotkeneimi....but that has moving parts to it, and MB just can't handle multi-tasking.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad

Top Bottom