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

[LaP]

Too bad MB was unable to trade Patches for a top 15 pick player (+ ???)

It's not that he was not able to. He did not want to. I mean Tatar was traded for a 1st round pick. Yes 30th pick but when he was traded it looked more like it was going to be around 20th. I mean Tatar is awful. If you retain 1 million on Patch salary at the last deadline i'm sure you get a first round pick and a good prospect. If the team giving the first is eliminated in the first round then you got around a 20th pick.

MB wants a roster player for Patch and he wont get it. He is that dumb. Still trying to win now.

 

[xposbrad]

I would have rather the more pure scorer in Zadina, regardless of position. We did take the best C which we've lacked a true #1 for decades, but I don't know if JK has the upside to be that. Zadina, could be a 30g+ guy in the NHL, has a really good shot. Truthfully, this team is so weak in prospects we should have taken the best player available. I get the fan excitement because we took the best C in the draft, but we'll regret not taking Zadina when he starts putting up more points.

 

[jaffy27]

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.

I see Eagle filling in at 6’3 215/220lbs by the time he hits 22yrs old, he’s gonna be a beast.

Leave him in Suomi, let him dominate the next WJC U20. My guesss is he’s gonna be given a bigger role with his team next year, the perfect scenario for us.

Now, about Jack Hughes and next seasons tank job........

 

[Runner77]

Sportsnet should be ridiculed for doing so. That was planned.

There's no doubt about it. They didn't just locate two fans by happenstance within the short time of the announcement.

I checked the footage on TVA Sports and they didn't show them.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

Coke and Spaghetti. Lmao

 

[lo striver]

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.

yack. that is MLS/Limp Act thingy.

 

[Runner77]

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.

Habs did best by not trading down -- it also reduced the downside risk of Bergevin losing out on who they really wanted and settling for someone far less talented.

 

[NotProkofievian]

I see Eagle filling in at 6’3 215/220lbs by the time he hits 22yrs old, he’s gonna be a beast.

Leave him in Suomi, let him dominate the next WJC U20. My guesss is he’s gonna be given a bigger role with his team next year, the perfect scenario for us.

Now, about Jack Hughes and next seasons tank job........

It looks like he's been using his off-season well in the weightroom at least. Saw a video of him repping 90kg bench pretty easily, legs up. For a 17 year old hockey player that's pretty impressive. He'll be really strong to start the season.

 

[LaP]

I see Eagle filling in at 6’3 215/220lbs by the time he hits 22yrs old, he’s gonna be a beast.

That's great as long as we find a way to trade Price and Weber and do a proper rebuild. Cause by the time Kot is 22 Price and Weber prime will be officially over.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

The team they may have likely dealt with in a swap, Zona, was planning to take a center and there is no doubt they would have swooped in with the 3OA and selected Kotkaniemi. Habs did best by not trading down -- it also reduced the downside risk of Bergevin selecting someone far less talented.

Zona wanted Tkachuk.

 

[Runner77]

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

"Rod, get the tape!! Play the tape!!!"

 

[Forum93]

He rose in the rankings because he is talented. He had a great U18 and did well as a 17 year old playing in a professional MENs league.

He didn’t come out of nowhere. He climbed steadily through the year.

He’s also younger than Zadina and Tkachuk.

Kotkaniemi's stats in comparison with Zadina's don't blow me away but happy to hear everyone's enthusiasm about this pick.

 

[teravaineSAROS]

Jesperi qu'il ne devienne pas un autre Casperi

Mitä?

Jesperi quill no divine pass on otter Kasperi Kapanen?

 

[Runner77]

Zona wanted Tkachuk.

Is that a fact? If so, then what would have prevented Ottawa from selecting Kotkaniemi?

 

[NotProkofievian]

yack. that is MLS/Limp Act thingy.

Euro league hockey fans are a lot like soccer fans, whereas us canadians tend to watch hockey like we're watching chess. I went to a game at Roger's place this year a couple months after watching a game at Helsinki Ice Hall and it's weird when a few thousand fans are louder than 18,000.

 

[Genghis Keon]

These moron fans are gonna give the media great shots for weeks, thanks a lot idiots

 

[McGuires Corndog]

The team they may have likely dealt with in a swap, Zona, was planning to take a center and there is no doubt they would have swooped in with the 3OA and selected Kotkaniemi. Habs did best by not trading down -- it also reduced the downside risk of Bergevin selecting someone far less talented.

Kotka will be the best Center in this draft, IMO, and there’s no way that he would’ve still been on the board had we traded down.

Really happy with the pick, but I will say this: Early on there willl be people bitching we didn’t draft Zadina as he’s a bit closer to the NHL and further in his development cycle at this time. Doesn’t make him the better player long term though.

 

[Habsfan18]

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

Yeah, off-topic but I’ve been subscribed to The Athletic for a little over a week now and it’s incredible. I can’t recommend them enough.

 

[417]

"Rod, get the tape!! Play the tape!!!"

Imagine Tkachuk makes the Sens when JK is in Finland?

We'll never hear the end of it from McGuire...he's going to feast on that low hanging fruit until there's nothing left.

 

[BLONG7]

MB needed to trade Galchenyuk for Arizona 1st round pick. Not Domi.

Habs would have Zadina and Kotkaniemi now.....

Outside the box thinking just can't happen with MB...it just can't.

 

[417]

There's no doubt about it. They didn't just locate two fans by happenstance within the short time of the announcement.

I checked the footage on TVA Sports and they didn't show them.

Said it in another thread...the media does a great job of juxtaposing everything the Habs do as horrible.

Though I suppose MB has given them the narrative to do it...

But last night was so obvious.

 

[McGuires Corndog]

The fans that should be most pissed is Edmonton. Passing on Dobson for Bouchard is criminal.

Cannot believe the Isles walked away from the first round with Dobson & Walhstrom. That my friend is criminal.

Walhstrom will score 40 with Tavares/Barzal and Dobson will be their stud D.

Gonna be quite the team in 3 years if they can hang on to key pieces.

 

[japhi]

Thats gotta be one of the worst top three’s ever.

 

[Runner77]

Outside the box thinking just can't happen with MB...it just can't.

As much as I don't believe in MB anymore, who knows what it would have cost to sway Chayka and whether he was even open to making that deal. It goes in the "we'll never know" file.

 

[japhi]

So... no interviews with Timmins, MB or Kotkaniemi?

Thats what I couldn’t figure out. Wilson and Merkley both get interviewed and nothing for the Habs.