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

[Jethlan]

Do you guys think he could become as good as Barkov?

 

[Natey]

Those 2 "fans" freaking out are terrible and should be ridiculed to no end.

The older couple? They probably just wanted the harednosed character guy in Thachuk. This is Montreal, you can't blame fans for not remembering what talent is lol

 

[Natey]

Should be fun hearing Pierre McGuire rip the Habs for passing on Tkachuk and letting the Ottawa Senators take him instead.

I'm far more worried about Zadina in Detroit.

 

[MonkeyBusiness]

Even though I was expecting it, I'm happy we ended up drafting Kotkaniemi. We're finally building a prospect pool for the center position, and we have an amazing piece who has the potential to be an elite first line center.

 

[yoteshot]

I've been practicing saying "Kotkaniemi" all night. Think I've got it down, although whispering someone's name has raised questions with my wife.

I've seen this quite a bit on Twitter and Facebook and I don't get it. We already had Niemi, pretty simple name. Then you add Kotka at the beginning, very simple too! We're not talking Lyszczarczyk here haha

 

[Keduzin]

I was 100 % certain until yesterday that Aki Berg drafted at #3 was the most insane Finnish pick ever. Montreal however proved me wrong, Kotkaniemi won’t ever score 30 points in the NHL, if he even ever gets there. Sorry, but Canadiens made a horrible decision by getting him on their team !

 

[admiralcadillac]

You have absolutely no idea as to his intelligence or his "issues".

Or maybe I do

 

[Natey]

I was 100 % certain until yesterday that Aki Berg drafted at #3 was the most insane Finnish pick ever. Montreal however proved me wrong, Kotkaniemi won’t ever score 30 points in the NHL, if he even ever gets there. Sorry, but Canadiens made a horrible decision by getting him on their team !

Uhh this is Montreal. 30 points is fantastic production for us!

 

[Warden of the North]

Smart pick guys, hope he turns out well for you.

 

[NotProkofievian]

I was 100 % certain until yesterday that Aki Berg drafted at #3 was the most insane Finnish pick ever. Montreal however proved me wrong, Kotkaniemi won’t ever score 30 points in the NHL, if he even ever gets there. Sorry, but Canadiens made a horrible decision by getting him on their team !

B O O K M A R K E D

 

[Dough72]

Oh, and if you think what Kotkaniemi means, it's eagle cape

and the greatest nickname ever was born

 

[azcanuck]

Good draft pick. Centers are hard to find. This kid is very solid and will be a good NHLer. Part of a good rebuild for Montreal.

 

[Lshap]

Already scared of MB, one reporter aksed him if it was in the plan to start him on the wing in camp or when he’s ready in a year or 2, he said it’s not out of the question and a lot of centers have to play wing when they reach the nhl

Playing wing is a fraternity-hazing ritual in Montreal. Wanna join the team? Sit on the right or left side of the classroom, but not in the center. Yell, "Please sir, can I have another healthy scratch?" over and over. Then we'll hit you with the trade-paddle a few times. Congratulation, man, you're in! Here's your Arizona Coyotes jersey.

 

[Lshap]

I've seen this quite a bit on Twitter and Facebook and I don't get it. We already had Niemi, pretty simple name. Then you add Kotka at the beginning, very simple too! We're not talking Lyszczarczyk here haha

You're right. His name sounds easier than it reads. You know the PA announcer is going to have a blast with it: "Jesperi... Kot-ka-ni-emi!"

 

[Justin11]

Already scared of MB, one reporter aksed him if it was in the plan to start him on the wing in camp or when he’s ready in a year or 2, he said it’s not out of the question and a lot of centers have to play wing when they reach the nhl

Of course he has to start by playing the wing. Look how well it worked out for Galchenyuk.

 

[FinnishHockeyFan]

I was 100 % certain until yesterday that Aki Berg drafted at #3 was the most insane Finnish pick ever. Montreal however proved me wrong, Kotkaniemi won’t ever score 30 points in the NHL, if he even ever gets there. Sorry, but Canadiens made a horrible decision by getting him on their team !

You are so wrong with this. He is not going to be NHL-player in maybe two years, but after that he is ready, just watch. Like i said earlier, Kotkaniemi had impressive rookie season in Finnish elite league. I think it's more impressive than make some points in junior games. It's not easy for young guy to score goals in Liiga.

 

[Habs Icing]

Our best center pick in over a decade aka galchenyuk, gets turned into a 3rd line winger with drug problems because he's depressed.

You have a right to be a cynic but you don't have a right to BS. Domi is not a 3rd liner and what drug problems does he have? Taking insulin is a drug problem for a cynic like you?

 

[sandviper]

 

[Habs Icing]

Winner of the draft was the Islanders. Loser was the Coyotes. Thank god Bergevin didn't trade down to 5 just to get a meh asset like another 2nd.

Isn't their GM an analytics guru. No way he was the biggest loser. If you check the numbers you'll find Arizona won the draft by a mile.

 

[Jabba11]

Picking a top 6 center/#2C 3rd overall is the dumbest thing Bergevin could have done. Leaving Zadina who's a goal scorer when your team absolutely need a goal scorer is out of my mind. Trading away Galchenyuk for a playmaking winger and having no support from the system at their skillset is plain risky and stupid. Montreal's future at center is nothing to be excited for. The offensive upside for Kotka and Poehling are not high. I don't even understand how people could think that Kotka is in the same conversation as Barkov. Barkov was an elite prospect. Youngest scorer at the WJC and destroyed the Finnish Elite League. Was on the radar 2-3 years in advance.

It's unfair to label a 17 yo that just got drafted but it's also unfair for the 18 yo Zadina who could have been our pick too. Time will tell. But yesterday, Montreal and Arizona went for need instead of BPA and other teams have inherited better prospects.

 

[Habs Icing]

Hayton at #5 stunned me. I was surprised with Kravtsov also going top-10, but Hayton, O’Brien and Dellandrea were my biggest surprises.

Kotkaniemi just felt anti-climatic. Happy with the pick, though not doing cartwheels. Still think he’ll be a great player for us.

Actually when early lists were putting Dellandrea late in the 2nd round I was surprised. From what I saw at the U18 I felt he was going to be a top notch 2 way center. Him and Foudy really impressed at the U18s.

 

[blarneylad]

I was 100 % certain until yesterday that Aki Berg drafted at #3 was the most insane Finnish pick ever. Montreal however proved me wrong, Kotkaniemi won’t ever score 30 points in the NHL, if he even ever gets there. Sorry, but Canadiens made a horrible decision by getting him on their team !

This is such a laughable post

If you are going to make a controversial statement like that at least back it up with reasoning.

 

[jaffy27]

I'm down with calling Kotkaniemi 'Eagle'

Any montage of his highlights needs this song......

 

[NotProkofievian]

You're right. His name sounds easier than it reads. You know the PA announcer is going to have a blast with it: "Jesperi... Kot-ka-ni-emi!"

They do a cool thing in Pori when their team scores a goal. The PA announcer says the first name, then cuts the mic, and all the fans yell the goal scorer's last name.

 

[Runner77]

Whoever is complaining about him should read this

Brown: Why Jesperi Kotkaniemi is the draft's top rising...

And if you don’t pay for it you should cause The Athletic is amazing

Ugh, no. I heard good things but let them do their own advertising. Thanks.