C/W Jesperi Kotkaniemi - Ässät, Liiga (2018, 3rd, MTL) Part II

[Scuba-Steve]

Just watched the Canes game tonight and Kotkaniemi is much more impressive than Svechnikov. I know it's only one regular season game, but I would've give my left nut for the Habs to find a way to draft Svechnikov last june. Never I, in my wildest dream, would have imagine that I would be saying this after 1 regular season game.

Things can change and Svechnikov is a stud, but man it feels good.

 

[Antropovsky]

I know there's no count but I imagine most blueline plays don't result in breakaways considering there are nights when the entire league doesn't see a breakaway as a result of a pokecheck/giveaway

You can convince me of a lot of things... but not that blueline miscues do not result in a lot of odd man rushes in the game of hockey.


Also... Not sure how his peripherals can focus on desperately saving the puck from going past the blue line, avoiding his oncoming Montreal player and being aware of where Kapanen is (especially considering Kapanen is almost directly behind him for most of the play)... all at the same time and all in a matter of 3 seconds from time video starts to him pivoting corralling the puck.

....this is without even addressing you calling it a basic 4th liner play.

 

[montreal]

He was ok? I have to disagree here....

18 year old Kotkaniemi had a 68.8 CF% against Matthews and Tavares all night.
That is insane. @BWildeGlobal
— Patrick Tallon (@PatrickTallon81) October 4, 2018

do you think the leafs played a good game? do you think that's what their offense is going to look like? It's not like Kokta was all over the ice shutting them down or making great plays in his own end. I'm not a fan of advanced stats, I watched the game and thought he was ok.

 

[jfhabs]

do you think the leafs played a good game? do you think that's what their offense is going to look like? It's not like Kokta was all over the ice shutting them down or making great plays in his own end. I'm not a fan of advanced stats, I watched the game and thought he was ok.

Toronto didn't look good 5 on 5 for most of the game. Maybe they didn't give all they had to give, maybe Kotka and Montreal played well, maybe a little bit of both?
One thing is sure, Kotka once again showed he's capable at the nhl level! I'm really curious to see what they do with him after 9 games tho. Even if he looks good, I personnally think it could be better to send him back.

 

[BB88]

A benefit of developing in the NHL: Canadiens veterans take...

Can it really get more difficult than this to start your NHL career?

On the road, as a C game 1 Matthews/Tavares, game 2 Crosby/Malkin?

 

[Conspiracy Theorist]

A benefit of developing in the NHL: Canadiens veterans take...

Can it really get more difficult than this to start your NHL career?

On the road, as a C game 1 Matthews/Tavares, game 2 Crosby/Malkin?

Sometimes you learn the most in NHL You learn more playing against better players.

 

[Montreal Impact FC]

do you think the leafs played a good game? do you think that's what their offense is going to look like? It's not like Kokta was all over the ice shutting them down or making great plays in his own end. I'm not a fan of advanced stats, I watched the game and thought he was ok.

he was ok but was incridible in some actions and THAT level of quality and vision combined with elite positioning and anticipation he doesnt need to flash often to proove many expert of the not very distant dominance he could do.

he doesnt need to be skating like hell, cause for him its useless. it will be interesting to see to what level he can bring his game. I truly havent seem such a skillset in montreal in the last 25 years. he has some kind of control on the puck its something to see... dispite how raw and refined his stickhandling is at the same time. so weird to explain I not used to elite talent obviously (at Center at least) in Montreal lol.

Kotkaniemi is really like and eagle out in the sky making circles lurking for the puck and when it is within his reach he will dive and without you knowing it its been taken away..

that's Kotka (Eagle) right there.

i am exited.. thats doesnt mean he should stay all year tough.

 

[Fazkovsky]

Just watched the Canes game tonight and Kotkaniemi is much more impressive than Svechnikov. I know it's only one regular season game, but I would've give my left nut for the Habs to find a way to draft Svechnikov last june. Never I, in my wildest dream, would have imagine that I would be saying this after 1 regular season game.

Things can change and Svechnikov is a stud, but man it feels good.

Thats hfboards

Svechnikov had an assist

He was just as good as kotka

 

[Kaako Kappo]

Thats hfboards

Svechnikov had an assist

He was just as good as kotka

Svech has a LOT easier job than Kotka does. I'm not saying he's not the better prospect, but Kotkaniemi has some challenges when you look at Montreal's forward group.

 

[Mrb1p]

Svech is getting easy matchups on the 4th line

 

[FinPanda]

I just hope he doesn't return to Finland. His team is terrible. If he doesn't play full season in the NHL, I hope he'll go to the AHL.

 

[JJTT]

Ässät is a complete mess right now, no way Habs should sent him back to Liiga.

edit too slow

 

[Ippenator]

I just hope he doesn't return to Finland. His team is terrible. If he doesn't play full season in the NHL, I hope he'll go to the AHL.

No way he isn’t going to want to go and try save his daddy, if he will be dropped from the NHL lineup. And I’m pretty sure that Montreal will respect his will if that will be the situation. There are still that many positives for the Habs, if he goes to play in Finland. Anyway, he will for sure get loads of ice time and responsibility playing for Ässät.

 

[FinPanda]

No way he isn’t going to want to go and try save his daddy, if he will be dropped from the NHL lineup. And I’m pretty sure that Montreal will respect his will if that will be the situation. There are still that many positives for the Habs, if he goes to play in Finland. Anyway, he will for sure get loads of ice time and responsibility playing for Ässät.

Yeah, it makes sense but I don't know how long his father can keep his job anyway. Maybe he will be fired before Jesperi even can come back. Still I don't like the idea for him to play for absolutely terrible team. Ok, it didn't hurt Rantanen so maybe it would be good.

 

[Mrb1p]

Any team would struggle without his best player, thats what Jesperi is.

 

[LAINEC]

If Habs is tanking mode let this kid go AHL or Liiga.

 

[1909]

If Habs is tanking mode let this kid go AHL or Liiga.

Only the Leafs can do that properly....

 

[Scuba-Steve]

Thats hfboards

Svechnikov had an assist

He was just as good as kotka

Don't care about the assists really. I said that based on how they played respectively. Watched both Svech games, and so far Kotkaniemi is a lot better. It can change and there's good chance it will, but right now Kotka is outplaying Svechnikov.

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

almost

 

[theVladiator]

I would send him down. He doesn't look out of place and is contributing, which is amazing for an 18yo. But he is not driving the line. I think he could stand to gain strength and offensive confidence, get to handle the puck and drive the play more. Unless Habs are not trying to develop his offensive game.

 

[Mrb1p]

I would send him down. He doesn't look out of place and is contributing, which is amazing for an 18yo. But he is not driving the line. I think he could stand to gain strength and offensive confidence, get to handle the puck and drive the play more. Unless Habs are not trying to develop his offensive game.

He is driving his line though.

 

[sharks9]

Wasn't as good as his first game, but did much better in the faceoff circle!

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

6/9 on the faceoffs against the pens

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

 

[Kaako Kappo]

I would send him down. He doesn't look out of place and is contributing, which is amazing for an 18yo. But he is not driving the line. I think he could stand to gain strength and offensive confidence, get to handle the puck and drive the play more. Unless Habs are not trying to develop his offensive game.

So literally no reason to send him down, really. Let him develop in the NHL if he can handle it.