Jesperi Kotkaniemi is about to shatter his career high totals in his 5th season.

[Mr Kot]

Remember, he was projected around 10th. That production along with some good defensive play is pretty good for that pick and he's still young enough to improve. May have gave up on him too early.

 

[HanSolo]

BRB. Gonna start a thread about how Will Carrier has shattered his previous goal scoring high (16>9)

 

[Chips]

14 goals 33 points in 66 games = 17 goal 41 point pace while playing excellent two way hockey and providing a physical edge. He's already worth his cap hit.

He's 5th on the team in scoring and 3rd in hits with 87 despite only averaging 14:34 TOI.

Canes leading scorers since Dec 20th:
View attachment 669412

What’s his scoring this calendar year? Didn’t he actually have a cold streak but he’s fairly hot recently? Might be a different Canes player I’m thinking of but he’s been pretty noticeable the last few games I watched

 

[bleedgreen]

What’s his scoring this calendar year? Didn’t he actually have a cold streak but he’s fairly hot recently? Might be a different Canes player I’m thinking of but he’s been pretty noticeable the last few games I watched

He’s definitely had two halves this season. Rough start and when they dropped him to the fourth line he handled it right and started turning it around slowly.

He’s noticeable now in a good way. He’s hard on the puck in the corners, less risky passes, wants the shot more. No idea what the guys true ceiling is but I’m more of a believer that he’s an everyday player in the top nine than I was. If Staal wasn’t here he’d belong at least at 3C.

 

[PensandCaps]

It just took the Canes some time to undo the Habs "development" work they did with him. There is a reason every high end player they pick fails to live up to the hype.

Caufield is certainly living up to the hype.

 

[2014nyr]

its almost like 20-21 year olds arent done developing...

 

[PromisedLand]

somebody gotta offersheet that dude

 

[Theodore450]

Beating his rookie season totals and we get a thread. Happy for him I guess lol

 

[nturn06]

Shatter?

He may hit 16, which is a 33% increase... I think "shatter" does apply.

 

[Bounces R Way]

Those are almost Dillon Dube numbers

 

[Zalos]

Still a bust.

 

[tarheelhockey]

What’s his scoring this calendar year? Didn’t he actually have a cold streak but he’s fairly hot recently? Might be a different Canes player I’m thinking of but he’s been pretty noticeable the last few games I watched

If you’re just thinking calendar year, you may be thinking of Svechnikov who had a long goalless streak in January and February.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Still a bust.

He leads all centers from his draft year in scoring since being traded to Carolina, while bringing a lot to the table besides offense.

To my recollection, he wasn't ever expected to become an elite #1C. The thought was that he was best available center in the draft, and that's appearing like it might be true. He's very much on pace to be the well rounded #2C that he was projected to become.

That's far from a bust, and a completely fine outcome for a 3rd overall pick in what was considered a weaker draft for forwards. Heck, he'd probably be the third forward selected in a redraft after Tkachuk and Svechnikov.

 

[Musampa]

I see him to become a regular 50+ points 2-way #2C as soon as next season. It was a very smart move to sign him to this contract.

 

[Pierre Larouche]

Kirby Dach is doing fine. Maybe just a change of scenary was needed in both case.

Dachshund has looked great to me.

Dachshund has looked great to me.

Dash

 

[jfhabs]

Montreals draft picks in the 1st half of the 1st round over the last 20 years:

Slafkovsky
Guhle
Caufield
Sergachev
Kotkoneimi
Galchenyuk
McDonagh
Price

Kk and galchenyuk are the only 'busts' and two of only 3 top 5 picks, so I don't know where all these bust you're talking about are. And both those players are 5th in their draft in career points so they're only slightly behind their peers. They got unlucky and had high picks in weak drafts.

And I already know what your rebuttal is. They had terrible development. Sergachev and others excelled on better organized teams while Drouin failed. Well if you're.going to take that approach then you.have to give Montreal credit for the high.picks like Suzuki and dach they developed that worked out.

Dude stop it with your facts!!!

 

[didimentionlarseller]

I like Kotka but this is sadness

its unreal to me that the Habs passed on Tkachuk (in hindsight)

 

[Zalos]

He leads all centers from his draft year in scoring since being traded to Carolina, while bringing a lot to the table besides offense.

To my recollection, he wasn't ever expected to become an elite #1C. The thought was that he was best available center in the draft, and that's appearing like it might be true. He's very much on pace to be the well rounded #2C that he was projected to become.

That's far from a bust, and a completely fine outcome for a 3rd overall pick in what was considered a weaker draft for forwards. Heck, he'd probably be the third forward selected in a redraft after Tkachuk and Svechnikov.

This is just a hot streak. He will be back to normal soon enough. He's had plenty of time to bloom, but he's simply not that good.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

This is just a hot streak. He will be back to normal soon enough. He's had plenty of time to bloom, but he's simply not that good.

Naah, you're in denial. He's a 22 year old who's well on his way to being a solid #2C. It's too bad Montreal wasn't more patient with him. Pretty funny how fans and management wrote him off a 20 year old center.

 

[Daz28]

It’s to bad the NHL put in rules against it. I think the Canes should’ve extended KK 15 years if they had the foresight that he could be a 40 point superstar. He’s almost on pace for as many points as Drouin this year.

Who exactly is Drouin battling for those top-line minutes with? I'm not trying to dis him necessarily, but when the coach looks down the bench, there's not many guys to tap.

 

[Fantomas]

Naah, you're in denial. He's a 22 year old who's well on his way to being a solid #2C. It's too bad Montreal wasn't more patient with him. Pretty funny how fans and management wrote him off a 20 year old center.

He's the same age as promising prospect Shane Pinto.

 

[tarheelhockey]

This is just a hot streak. He will be back to normal soon enough. He's had plenty of time to bloom, but he's simply not that good.

Just one guy’s opinion, but I think his overall 0.5 PPG pace this season is a fair representation of his ability. It has come in starts and stops, with this being one of the better stretches, but those hot streaks are part of what he brings to the table. A guy that goes to the net as hard as he does, with a decent set of puck skills, is going to pick up his points along the way.

 

[Johniac]

I would agree that "shatter" is probably an overstatement. I would go more with 'he's coming to burn down your village." And by "village" there is a specific one in mind that goes by the name of Montreal.

Citation: JKs last shootout win

 

[traffic cone]

3rd overall, he better shatter some point totals

The Habs management picked him 3rd, yes.

It doesn’t concern Jesperi Kotkaniemi or Carolina Hurricans at all, however. Have a good day!

 

[MadeUpName]

Fixed

Calm down now. Slafkovsky was pacing 20 points per 82 games this year before he got injured. That is pretty good for a #1 overall.