Rumor: Eric Engel: "Mtl is locked on Kotkaniemi"

[BB88]

I really think they should not be drafting that high for need and take the best player available.

If he's getting top5 hype by multiple teams is it really that?

I don't personnally think it makes sense to trade down if they are locked on in Kotkaniemi, risk it all just to get another 2nd. That C problem has been there for years and years.

hahahaha. Montreal and Ottawa are really going all in on the biggest tire fire this year. Good Lord do I feel for Habs fans if they take him at 3.

There's lot to laugh, but picking Kotkaniemi at 3 isn't one of the reasons today.

 

[HockeyDBspecialist]

5OA +55oa and another small add for 3ao?

Seeing how Coyotes robbed Mtl in the last trade I'm pretty sure MB gonna get robbed again if we trade with you haha.

 

[tucker3434]

Seems counterproductive for this to be public knowledge.

 

[irunthepeg]

The guy isn’t really ready for the nhl so drafting him for need doesn’t make much sense. Zadina, Tkachuk and Quinn would all make more sense to me but who knows.


Probably all smoke anyways. The amount of garbage news we get just before the draft is always amusing. Gotta create some excitement for an event that’s always a bit anti climactic.

Reminds me of the CBJ taking Johansen at 4. Not a bad pick, but likely won't be playing in the NHL for a year at least.

Wasn't there speculation that Bergevin was told to rebuild? In that case it makes perfect sense to draft a guy who won't be on roster yet. Tank again, draft Hughes, let Plekanec enjoy a sunset tour.

 

[SR]

Make another trade with the Coyotes to swap 3/5 picks. Deal is the Coyotes take Zadina at 3rd and screw over the Sens. Then the Habs take either Kotkaniemi or Dobson with the 5th pick. Habs get a 2019 2nd for moving down.

Agreed on the Wings... they might take Kotkaniemi

As a Arizona fan, id be happy to add our 19’ 2nd to the 5OA and the 55OA for Montreal’s 3OA

 

[Habs Halifax]

Take best player available and worry about your weaknesses with your strengths. Unfortunately their GM uses the few assets he has for more wingers... I think you only go for positional if two players are fairly even. Remember when everyone laughed at Columbus?

So the Blue Jackets screwed up in 2016. Should of took Pool Party instead of PLD. Boy, where they every stupid

 

[SR]

Seeing how Coyotes robbed Mtl in the last trade I'm pretty sure MB gonna get robbed again if we trade with you haha.

Eh, can go either way on the trade. What would you consider fair value for 3?

 

[Juxtaposer]

I don’t understand how far Kotkaniemi has risen in the past month and how far Zadina has fallen, given that not much has happened. I always liked Kotkaniemi and thought he was massively underrated when people had him in the mid-teens, but 3rd overall is ridiculous. I feel like the Habs (and Habs fans to an extent) are talking themselves into this pick just because Kotkaniemi is supposedly a center.

Comparing Kotkaniemi and Zadina to Dubois and Puljujarvi is silly. Dubois was the consensus 4th overall pick going into the draft and went 3rd, which isn’t a reach. Kotkaniemi is ranked 8th-10th. Completely different story. Also, using Puljujarvi as a cautionary tale when he’s 20 years old and has plenty of time to figure it out seems silly.

 

[Filthy Dangles]

To the people who are perpetrating that FZ is objectively the BPA and Montreal is drafting an inferior prospect because of team need...

 

[Mickey Marner]

Maybe they believe he is BPA. It's not like players past the top-2 ever end up being taken in the right order anyhow.

 

[Habs Halifax]

As a Arizona fan, id be happy to add our 19’ 2nd to the 5OA and the 55OA for Montreal’s 3OA

Seems to be mutual interest here on working our a swap. I won't be surprised it if it happens. However, you guys are interested in Zadina right? That would be part of the deal.

 

[General Disarray]

So the Blue Jackets screwed up in 2016. Should of took Pool Party instead of PLD. Boy, where they every stupid

I thought they weren't far apart. I thought most ranked them as #3 and #4. Whereas many are saying Kotkanieme should be #6-10

 

[Habs Halifax]

Maybe they believe he is BPA. It's not like players past the top-2 ever end up being taken in the right order anyhow.

That's why this BPA is BS. It don't exist with the 3rd pick in this draft. Take your pick from a few guys. However, Zadina would be the "safe" pick at 3rd though

 

[HockeyDBspecialist]

Eh, can go either way on the trade. What would you consider fair value for 3?

Coyotes know Mtl wants Kotka so the value will be down. Im guessing your 55th is the best option. POJ would be ideal + a add from Mtl but I really doubt we will do that trade.

 

[bleedgreen]

Zadina falling sounds like a made up narrative to make the draft interesting. He did nothing to fall.

 

[steveat]

Zadina could easily turn out to be another Filatov. Kotka can also easily turn into a bust. I think this is a wait and see, but Kotka has been likened to Anze Kopitar...I think it's worth the pick.

 

[SR]

Seems to be mutual interest here on working our a swap. I won't be surprised it if it happens. However, you guys are interested in Zadina right? That would be part of the deal.

Correct, Zadina would be the target on our end.

 

[BB88]

The guy isn’t really ready for the nhl so drafting him for need doesn’t make much sense. Zadina, Tkachuk and Quinn would all make more sense to me but who knows.


Probably all smoke anyways. The amount of garbage news we get just before the draft is always amusing. Gotta create some excitement for an event that’s always a bit anti climactic.

Who's NHL ready next year should have zero weight for a team like Montreal. Montreal has the worst C depth now and longterm, they need to find answers somehow, and like lot of posters have already said you have to draft these guys.

It's about longterm value to a team.

I don’t understand how far Kotkaniemi has risen in the past month and how far Zadina has fallen, given that not much has happened. I always liked Kotkaniemi and thought he was massively underrated when people had him in the mid-teens, but 3rd overall is ridiculous. I feel like the Habs (and Habs fans to an extent) are talking themselves into this pick just because Kotkaniemi is supposedly a center.

Comparing Kotkaniemi and Zadina to Dubois and Puljujarvi is silly. Dubois was the consensus 4th overall pick going into the draft and went 3rd, which isn’t a reach. Kotkaniemi is ranked 8th-10th. Completely different story. Also, using Puljujarvi as a cautionary tale when he’s 20 years old and has plenty of time to figure it out seems silly.

Sir Bob has said multiple teams have him in the top5, and 3-9 is a mystery.

 

[Agalloch]

Who's NHL ready next year should have zero weight for a team like Montreal. Montreal has the worst C depth now and longterm, they need to find answers somehow, and like lot of posters have already said you have to draft these guys.

It's about longterm value to a team.

Agree. The only C prospect Canadiens have, it's Poehling and he's more a 3rd line C but of lack of offense.

 

[SR]

Coyotes know Mtl wants Kotka so the value will be down. Im guessing your 55th is the best option. POJ would be ideal + a add from Mtl but I really doubt we will do that trade.

Whatever the better trade would be between Montreal and Ottawa. I think Montreal would be a lot easier since it’s somewhat known they’re going after kotka, Ottawa would have more leverage if that’s the case.

 

[Iceman]

They have to trade down... they need to get some value for not taking Zadina.

Although it would be very Habs-like for them to draft him at #3 and most importantly, put him in the #1 Center position in his rookie season.

 

[HockeyDBspecialist]

Zadina falling sounds like a made up narrative to make the draft interesting. He did nothing to fall.

Speculation can be a bigger help than real statistics sometimes.
Look at the stock exchange for example.

 

[Habs Halifax]

I thought they weren't far apart. I thought most ranked them as #3 and #4. Whereas many are saying Kotkanieme should be #6-10

Most had PLD at a top 5 pick and Puljujarvi at 3rd. JP was the popular #3 pick in 2016 just like Zadina is in this next draft. Now, I'm not saying Zadina turns into Puljujarvi but the pre-draft talk is the same. Zadina is the more safe pick IMO but he is not the undisputed BPA at 3rd. Take your pick from Zadina, Tkachuck, Dobson, Wahlstrom, Kotkaniemi. Value is very similar with these guys IMO and it's anybodies guess at who TURNS into the best player down the road.

 

[BusQuets]

Kotkaniemi is relatively safe bet 2nd line center and it's good money in this year's weak draft. Outside of the top-2 this year's top-15 is whole lot of meh. I think 3rd best player of this draft comes outside top-10.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Correct, Zadina would be the target on our end.

Will be interesting to watch if we swing a deal. I'm game for it!