Judging by the recent hype I don't anticipate Kotkaniemi will make it past pick 7. Just watching the Sweden Finland u18 game and Button keeps comparing him to Kopitar.
Haha. I just rewatched the first period of that one too.
I have not seen any tape on Kotkaniemi yet. For those who have, how does he compare to say Cody Glass (who I was pretty high on last year)?
I’ve watched nearly all of the U18s twice now. Kotkaniemi is another guy (like Dellandrea) who is very young for his draft class (July bday). He was Finland’s #1C at the tourney and played all the important minutes in both specialty teams, and at both ends of the ice. Kakko is a top five pick next year and Nordgren came up big in the goals department (might sneak into the 1st this year).
He’s a surprisingly effective skater for how ugly s skater he is. He’s got that weird hunched over, lurching around thing going on. Whoever is responsible for fixing Boone Jenner should be hired to fix this kid. Difference is Boone was a terrible skater due to the same issue, whereas Kotkaniemi is still pretty darn good at getting around. Kind of a miracle. When he gets that stride fixed, he could end up a really special skater.
He thinks quick and has quick hands. He’s good with the puck in tight and while moving quickly. Makes good passes and gets good shots off in a hurry. Smart defensively. Good two way player. Good on face-offs. Pretty scrawny but seems pretty strong. Could end up quite powerful, given his frame.
You have to like the upside when a skinny kid is already able to handle himself, and such a mechanically rotten skater is already able to zip around and make plays at high speeds. You have to ask where is his ceiling when he fills out and fixes the skating?
He was a ppg last year at the U18 and won a silver. He won a gold this year and was over a ppg. He’s stats in the Liiga were very, very impressive for a young 17 year old. Third in team scoring for a middle of the road Assat team (8/15) with a middle of the road offense (7/15). The next youngest player on the team is five years older than him.
He’s already very accomplished with a great resume, and he’s already a very effective, talented, well rounded center but he’s also got this incredible untapped potential that he could achieve with simple physical maturation and work inthe gym and with a skating coach.
Quintessential dark horse.
