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

[donghabs98]

And who is that?

That question sums up picks 3-10 for me tonight, there wasn't really any clear distinction on which players should be selected at what particular pick. For our pick it could have gone many ways. If you value a pure goal scorer then Zadina is the clear choice at number 3 but if you look for a good all around player then Kotkaniemi is a good choice.

At our pick I think it was clear we needed to take Kotkaniemi due to our center depth and as shown later by the Coyotes pick it was unlikely that Kotkaniemi would have been available if we traded down. Now there will be some who are opposed to this pick because its not Zadina (like those fans that Sportsnet loved to reference), but I think that is because Zadina was a well known player for so long and people just assumed that the Habs would take him. But if you followed the draft rankings heading up to the draft and looked at the Habs needs then you will realize that this pick makes a lot of sense and is a good pick. What I fear is that some fans will not be patient with Kotkaniemi and label him a bust if Zadina has success quicker.

 

[1909]

Why is this even important for you? I don't think the list is even worth bragging about, it's a bit embarrassing for more reasonable fans. Also Ikonen is out for 6 months with surgery. Evans is recovering from sport hernia, I don't know, I think you should slow down a bit.

I agree. Besides Kotkaniemi and Poehling, I don't see the NHL potential of any of the other three guys.

 

[Adam Michaels]

I mean, we took a kid that probably would be around at 8-9.. and we left a lot of talent on the floor. Drafting by position, instead of talent, is what gets teams into trouble.. I hope idiotface does better tomorrow.

He would have never made it to 8-9 because if Arizona took Hayton (who is considered the second best center after Kotkaniemi) at 5, then if Habs didn't take JK, Arizona would have for sure. In other words, Kotkaniemi would not have been taken 8th or 9th. I'd even say Wings would have taken him at 6th also.

 

[Redux91]

Super pleased Super happy, i can only imagine this kid tops out at 6"3 200 lbs, great shot, good playmaking, and CENTER, it had to be done

hope he plays a game with lehkonen in pre-season

 

[1909]

That question sums up picks 3-10 for me tonight, there wasn't really any clear distinction on which players should be selected at what particular pick. For our pick it could have gone many ways. If you value a pure goal scorer then Zadina is the clear choice at number 3 but if you look for a good all around player then Kotkaniemi is a good choice.

At our pick I think it was clear we needed to take Kotkaniemi due to our center depth and as shown later by the Coyotes pick it was unlikely that Kotkaniemi would have been available if we traded down. Now there will be some who are opposed to this pick because its not Zadina (like those fans that Sportsnet loved to reference), but I think that is because Zadina was a well known player for so long and people just assumed that the Habs would take him. But if you followed the draft rankings heading up to the draft and looked at the Habs needs then you will realize that this pick makes a lot of sense and is a good pick. What I fear is that some fans will not be patient with Kotkaniemi and label him a bust if Zadina has success quicker.

Detroit is not known to burn young players. there is strong possibilities that Zadina plays another season in Halifax.

 

[WeThreeKings]

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

 

[The Great Weal]

Super please Super happy, i can only imagine this kid tops out at 6"3 200 lbs, great shot, good playmaking, and CENTER, it had to be done

hope he plays a game with lehkonen in pre-season

Kotkaniemi, Lehkonen, Ikonen, Ylonen, Nordgren. The Finnish dream baby!

 

[jaffy27]

Payoff at the 1:06 mark.

You mean 1:08....@ 1:06 I get habs lady with glasses that looks like we should’ve picked Veleno instead lol

 

[The Great Weal]

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

I would have cried if I was a Coyote fan. Hayton at 5 is horrific.

 

[Habaneros]

Kotkaniemi, Lehkonen, Ikonen, Ylonen, Nordgren. The Finish dream baby!

Kakko

 

[VAN-HAB]

I mean, we took a kid that probably would be around at 8-9.. and we left a lot of talent on the floor. Drafting by position, instead of talent, is what gets teams into trouble.. I hope idiotface does better tomorrow.

Kotkaniemi is a good player. However I like high skilled player and Kotka ain’t one. Zadina is. But whatever one reason for fans to hate even more the moron Purple Pants when Zadina will start filling price’s net with pucks.

 

[Redux91]

She had crazy eyes

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

 

[Adam Michaels]

That question sums up picks 3-10 for me tonight, there wasn't really any clear distinction on which players should be selected at what particular pick. For our pick it could have gone many ways. If you value a pure goal scorer then Zadina is the clear choice at number 3 but if you look for a good all around player then Kotkaniemi is a good choice.

At our pick I think it was clear we needed to take Kotkaniemi due to our center depth and as shown later by the Coyotes pick it was unlikely that Kotkaniemi would have been available if we traded down. Now there will be some who are opposed to this pick because its not Zadina (like those fans that Sportsnet loved to reference), but I think that is because Zadina was a well known player for so long and people just assumed that the Habs would take him. But if you followed the draft rankings heading up to the draft and looked at the Habs needs then you will realize that this pick makes a lot of sense and is a good pick. What I fear is that some fans will not be patient with Kotkaniemi and label him a bust if Zadina has success quicker.

I'm with you on all of that. My reply was to someone who doesn't seem to agree with Kotkaniemi as the pick and said they should always pick the best player available at 3. I was asking who they think that is.

 

[The Great Weal]

Kakko

I'd like to get another center. They are crazy valuable. So many went in a weak center draft this year, and next year looks spectacular.

 

[Redux91]

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

It was even worse because you immediately knew what it set up for the Islanders god f***ing damn i was fuming lol.. was thrilled with kotka but islanders crashed my buzz a little bit

 

[Adam Michaels]

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

Yea seriously. I'm very curious if they've seen any games from Kotkaniemi. Media should track them down and interview them.

 

[LyricalLyricist]

I'll say this. Even if Zadina becomes a slightly better player...Kot is still best pick. It's a more valuable position and we've been looking for 2 decades.

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

Why is this even important for you? I don't think the list is even worth bragging about, it's a bit embarrassing for more reasonable fans. Also Ikonen is out for 6 months with surgery. Evans is recovering from sport hernia, I don't know, I think you should slow down a bit.

lol so I'm only allowed to say "important things"?
Embarassing? Name the teams with a better center prospect pool. There's only a few of them.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

I'd prefer he goes to Finland. Play center there. Play in the WJC maybe WC. Then if needed he can play in Laval the following year.

As long as he's in Laval the urge to call him up to Montreal would be too enticing. We've already seen how Montreal yanks young guys up as soon as they produce a little bit.

Gainey left Subban in the AHL for a full year and it was the right thing to do. He didn't budge on that.

Bergevin hasn't shown that kind of restraint with our prospects expect for Hudon. McCarron and DLR should never have touched an NHL ice sheet their 1st year of pro.

Kotka needs to be far, far, away from that bullshit. He can play center in Finland away from the pressures of this admin.

 

[Habs10Habs]

I have to admit I was hoping for Zadina. But after reading @WeThreeKings and a few others opinions. I'm firmly on the "Kotka" bandwagon.

 

[The Great Weal]

It was even worse because you immediately knew what it set up for the Islanders god ****ing damn i was fuming lol.. was thrilled with kotka but islanders crashed my buzz a little bit

Islanders would have won the 1st round by taking Wahlstrom+Bouchard/Smith.

 

[donghabs98]

Detroit is not known to burn young players. there is strong possibilities that Zadina plays another season in Halifax.

I think he will be going back to Halifax too. With this upcoming season being a very important one for the Mooseheads with the Memorial Cup and a good veteran coach in Eric Veilleux I see Detroit sending him back.

 

[beh3moth]

Happy with this. Montreal has a pretty good scouting record FWIW, we just trade them all away at some point or another. If Kotkaniemi was their #3, I'll trust the choice.

 

[Adam Michaels]

I'd prefer he goes to Finland. Play center there. Play in the WJC maybe WC. Then if needed he can play in Laval the following year.

As long as he's in Laval the urge to call him up to Montreal would be too enticing. We've already seen how Montreal yanks young guys up as soon as they produce a little bit.

Gainey left Subban in the AHL for a full year and it was the right thing to do. He didn't budge on that.

Bergevin hasn't shown that kind of restraint with our prospects expect for Hudon. McCarron and DLR should never have touched an NHL ice sheet their 1st year of pro.

Kotka needs to be far, far, away from that bull****. He can play center in Finland away from the pressures of this admin.

Agreed 100%. I'm also of the opinion another year in Liiga (where he said he will play center) is the way to go. And then he can come to Laval the year after.

And to think that in 2019-2020, both Poehling and Kotkaniemi will come to Laval at the same time.

 

[ImNeverWrong]

Kotkaniemi, Poehling, Ikonen, Evans, Vejdemo
We have one of the best center prospect pool in the league now

Lol is this a freaking joke