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

[sandviper]

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

Compare Zadina’s D-1 stats to Kotkaniemi’s draft year stats where they are more or less the same age. The difference isn’t as wide as it seems and in fact, given Kotkaniemi plays in a professional league, it is more impressive.

Don’t get me wrong, I think Zadina will make us (and Ottawa) pay in some form or fashion down the road. I think time will tell, but my expectation is Kotkaniemi has a big D+1 year, which will give us some more perspective relative to Zadina and even Tkachuk.

 

[sandviper]

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.

Thing is, JK needs more time. I fully support another year in Liiga. He’s so much younger than Tkachuk, it will only help him. Tkachuk physically is more NHL ready, and given his experience as well vs older competition, I would not be shocked at all if he makes the Sens.

 

[Bieber fever]

Zadina = Fosberg/Hossa

Kotkaniemi = RNH

 

[MrNasty]

He projects to be 8 feet tall if fingers are any indication of potential growth...creepy long.

 

[MaxDummy]

This feeling inside me... what is it.. I Feel positive about a Habs move.. Its been so long since the last time..

 

[Habs Icing]

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.

Especially when she was practicing how to pronounce Tkachuck.

 

[McGuires Corndog]

Let’s also remember that Kotkaniemi is also a full 8 months younger than Zadina and one of the youngest top players available in the draft.

This is what I want to see:

Next season - Liiga
Following season - 9 games with Habs followed by full AHL season
2020-2021 - Let’s go!

 

[Forum93]

Compare Zadina’s D-1 stats to Kotkaniemi’s draft year stats where they are more or less the same age. The difference isn’t as wide as it seems and in fact, given Kotkaniemi plays in a professional league, it is more impressive.

Don’t get me wrong, I think Zadina will make us (and Ottawa) pay in some form or fashion down the road. I think time will tell, but my expectation is Kotkaniemi has a big D+1 year, which will give us some more perspective relative to Zadina and even Tkachuk.

Hope you're right about that, thanks.

 

[417]

Thing is, JK needs more time. I fully support another year in Liiga. He’s so much younger than Tkachuk, it will only help him. Tkachuk physically is more NHL ready, and given his experience as well vs older competition, I would not be shocked at all if he makes the Sens.

Agreed...i just know McGuire's routine.

He spent all week setting this up

 

[Cobra Commander]

Those fans reactions plus Bergevin's mumblings at the podium make Montrealers look like a bunch of fools, an embarrassement to us all.

 

[Saxon]

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

Well they both played in pro men's leagues at seventeen. Compare those stats.....

 

[Deebs]

Zadina = Fosberg/Hossa

Kotkaniemi = RNH

Lol... some of you guys kill me

 

[NobleSix]

I don't think Kotkaniemi would have been available if we traded down. I think the Coyotes would have picked him.

I'm glad we just took him at 3.

 

[McGuires Corndog]

Agreed...i just know McGuire's routine.

He spent all week setting this up

We will not regret passing on Tkachuk. I guarantee it.

He hasn’t produced elite offensive numbers in any of the leagues he’s played in, and that to me is a huge red flag.

 

[LaP]

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.

And he'll be right. The day you draft Kot is the day you decide to rebuild (unless he is more ready than we think). Vets should be traded if Kot appears to be a project at the next camp and if they are not MB should be heavily criticized for it.

 

[Habs Icing]

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 !

One question. How many games have you watched where Cockamame played?

 

[Keduzin]

This is such a laughable post

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

Ok, first of all as you might have figured out I am from Finland and as you have also most likely noticed the Finns always cheer for their fellow countrymen, especially in hockey. I’ve been following Kotkaniemi closer the last two seasons and always been crazy about these young Finns in the last 3-4 years and followed their progress even closer than the other Finnish players.
Jesperi does not even come close to the likes of Barkov, Laine, Rantanen, Ristolainen, Määttä, Aho, Puljujärvi when it comes to skill and determination to be the best. The closest comparison to Jesperi would be Artturi Lehkonen or Kasperi Kapanen, both busts in my opinion and their ceiling is really low.

I really do hope I’m dead wrong on this one but Kotkaniemi has not shown anything, at any level, to prove me wrong.

 

[BenchBrawl]

Am satisfied.

 

[McGuires Corndog]

Zadina = Fosberg/Hossa

Kotkaniemi = RNH

Zadina = Havlat/F.Forsberg

Kotkaniemi = Kopitar

 

[Keduzin]

One question. How many games have you watched where Cockamame played?

Sample size aproximately 40-60

 

[jaffy27]

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.

Best player according to what, Who??

TSN Rankings??

ISS?

Or Canadiens own scouting assessment??

 

[Tyson]

Zadina = Fosberg/Hossa

Kotkaniemi = RNH

They compare Kotkaniemi to Kopitar at the same age...that would be awesome

 

[habsterr]

Zadina = Havlat/F.Forsberg

Kotkaniemi = Kopitar

Much better than original poster. Honestly this is probably the right move drafting a big center with some high end skills over a goal scorer winger or tough gritty winger.

 

[Habs Icing]

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.

Oh you mean like they do with Piatti at the Saputo Cheese Factory

 

[Keduzin]

They compare Kotkaniemi to Kopitar at the same age...that would be awesome

The only thing comparable is that there surenames start with the same two letters