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

[Redux91]

What bodes well for Kotka and future usage is his coach is his Father (however you feel about that lol) , but i liked that his father respected the veteran centers on the team and didnt giftwrap a top C role to his own son in a sign of favoritism, really made him prove his worth

i can only imagine he gets more chances and opportunities next year and really show what he's capable of while still growing into his body and progressing at playing a PRO game (Zadina almost 19 playing against 16-20 yr olds, Tkachuk almost 19 playing vs 18-22 yr olds...check kotkas team, hes playing 22-24-27-30-34 yr olds ALREADY at 17, started the year at 17 ended the year at 17 yrs of age....wow)
Especially now that Jesperi has the "High 1st round pick" status, you can play him 1C on his team now and not have people moan "who?"

 

[Goldenhands]

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.

actually Kotkaniemi is very very skilled, soft hands, imprevisible player offensively that will fool you with some moves, very great playmaker, good passing, good shot and he still has plenty time to mature physically and improve even more... that was the pick to make and its a very good one.. I see him as a great second line center or 1b cnter on a good team... Ideally, we draft one of the top centers next draft if we have another miserable season...

 

[Habaneros]

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

lol..5 days and the media will all be there ...
One thing for sure..will be lots eyes on the Fin league this year..lol

 

[vokiel]

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.

Every team we tried to acquire a center from: Flyers, Rangers, Kings, Blues, Panthers, Devils, Wild, etc...

There's a reason we've targeted them in the first place, we thought they had good depth enough at center to sacrifice one player to us.

 

[Runner77]

Galchenyuk's developpment was stalled from more than just poor coaching and management. He has issues or a lack of intelligence or both.

 

[Adam Michaels]

I know comparisons get thrown around for these kids. But when the two names that come up as comparisons to Kotkaniemi stylistically are Barkov and Kopitar, you know you have made a real good pick.

And then you have Poehling who has been compared to a Jordan Staal or a Mikko Kooivu.

Imagine having Barkov/Kopitar as your 1C and Staal/Koivu as your 2C. That may end up being Kotkaniemi and Poehling for Habs down the road.

 

[Scott Malkinson]

Great pick, guys.

 

[groovejuice]

umm no

At least there is a pool with upside.

 

[Shabutie]

What bodes well for Kotka and future usage is his coach is his Father (however you feel about that lol) , but i liked that his father respected the veteran centers on the team and didnt giftwrap a top C role to his own son in a sign of favoritism, really made him prove his worth

i can only imagine he gets more chances and opportunities next year and really show what he's capable of while still growing into his body and progressing at playing a PRO game (Zadina almost 19 playing against 16-20 yr olds, Tkachuk almost 19 playing vs 18-22 yr olds...check kotkas team, hes playing 22-24-27-30-34 yr olds ALREADY at 17, started the year at 17 ended the year at 17 yrs of age....wow)
Especially now that Jesperi has the "High 1st round pick" status, you can play him 1C on his team now and not have people moan "who?"

Hopefully his father isn’t as toxic as Galchenyuk’s who was also his coach in sarnia (assistant, but still)

 

[Redux91]

I know comparisons get thrown around for these kids. But when the two names that come up as comparisons to Kotkaniemi stylistically are Barkov and Kopitar, you know you have made a real good pick.

And then you have Poehling who has been compared to a Jordan Staal or a Mikko Kooivu.

Imagine having Barkov/Kopitar as your 1C and Staal/Koivu as your 2C. That may end up being Kotkaniemi and Poehling for Habs down the road.

Alone each prospect may not completely blow your socks off, i get it....but together? as a future 1-2 punch doesnt matter which order? NOW you are talking god damn it, how long did it take to get centers like this jesus lol

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

Every team we tried to acquire a center from: Flyers, Rangers, Kings, Blues, Panthers, Devils, Wild, etc...

Blues, Panthers, Devils, Wild what?

Blues only have Thomas and he's basically equivalent to Poehling. Who's their Kotkaniemi?
Panthers: Borgstrom = Kotkaniemi. They don't have a Poehling
Devils and Wilds don't even come close...

 

[Redux91]

Hopefully his father isn’t as toxic as Galchenyuk’s who was also his coach in sarnia (assistant, but still)

While you have a small point

Pro coach > Junior Assistant

 

[No More Subban]

My only gripe about this is that he's not yet NHL-ready. I mean if you're a 3rd overall, you should be but It is what it is. It's not like this team's going anywhere next season.

See ya in 2 years......

 

[The Great Weal]

Pumped to see him at the World Juniors

 

[Not The One]

Very very happy with the pick. I would have been fine with Zadna, Hughes or Dobson but the Habs really nailed it with this one I think.

Hopefully he keeps progressing and the team gives him a few more years to develop and grow up at home before bringing him over.

 

[chaosrevolver]

My only gripe about this is that he's not yet NHL-ready. I mean if you're a 3rd overall, you should be but It is what it is. It's not like this team's going anywhere next season.

See ya in 2 years......

I dont think there was a player who could have went 3 that was truly ready. Only at picks 1 and 2.

 

[The Great Weal]

My only gripe about this is that he's not yet NHL-ready. I mean if you're a 3rd overall, you should be but It is what it is. It's not like this team's going anywhere next season.

See ya in 2 years......

Well not like we are going to do shit next year anyways.

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

 

[LyricalLyricist]

Only reason I’d dislike this is because his initials may become confusing later on.

 

[habsterr]

Upside I see low end 1st line center and Timmins is pretty good at drafting high 1st rounders. Lastly, we didn't pick Tkachuk or Hayton.

 

[No More Subban]

I dont think there was a player who could have went 3 that was truly ready. Only at picks 1 and 2.

Good point. And Zadina too, I think.

Well not like we are going to do **** next year anyways.

I did actually say that lol

 

[SaintsThomas]

Is it a situation where "if he plays in Laval he cant join Montreal"?

 

[LyricalLyricist]

My only gripe about this is that he's not yet NHL-ready. I mean if you're a 3rd overall, you should be but It is what it is. It's not like this team's going anywhere next season.

See ya in 2 years......

What? Most 3rd overall aren’t NHL rdy ASAP.

 

[LyricalLyricist]

Is it a situation where "if he plays in Laval he cant join Montreal"?

No. If he plays in laval he could play here too.

 

[cujo1117]

love the pick and glad we didnt try to be cute by sliding down and get burn at the end. We saw tonight that many centers whent higher than expected. The kid his still 17 and has huge upside...very happy