Jesperi Kotkaniemi is the best C from the 2018 draft.

[The Price is Right]

I hate seeing people complain about this pick especially Habs fans. Sure Tkachuck and Hughes are probably better picks for now but Kotkaniemi is certainly the best C from the draft. What do you guys think

Click to read more...

 

[Llamamoto]

Not much of a compliment tbh, that was a very weak draft for centers.

 

[stl76]

I mean, he's played the most games in the NHL...

As others have stated, 2018 was a relatively weak draft for centers. It's also really early to be accurately evaluating 2018 draftees. I think Hayton and Dellandrea will all be very good Cs, very possibly better than Kotka when all is said and done.

 

[CallMeShaft]

Well I'd hope so. He and Hayton were the only two to go top 10 and Hayton was a reach.

If Kotkaniemi wasn't the best center this soon after that draft, then that'd look pretty bad for Montreal.

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

Well I certainly hope so... he was taken so damn high and the center depth was pretty weak...

there are quite a few deadly players that were taken after him tho that aren't centers that would have looked good on the Habs right now

Kinda seems like an odd thread to make.

I know Habs needed a center man real bad but I wish they woulda drafted the BPA and not positional need

 

[HolyGhost]

when you factor in how BAD the C draft was for that draft, it is not a hard argument to make and defend. HOWEVER, in a redraft of the ENTIRE draft? He might go as low as 8th

 

[Advanced stats]

And Alex Galchenyuk was the best center from the 2012 draft.

...that doesn't necessarily make them good players.

 

[DingDongCharlie]

I’m surprised that this statement is true. At first I was like there’s zero chance he is.

 

[smokes lets go]

And Alex Galchenyuk was the best center from the 2012 draft.

...that doesn't necessarily make them good players.

I'd take Faksa over him and probably a few others but i see your point.

 

[Rpenny]

Here is the VERY long list of players from that draft, who have played in the NHL. 28 players Shaping up to be another great draft for the D but bad for all other positions

1	2	Carolina	Andrei Svechnikov	R	Barrie Colts [OHL]	173	52	65	117	136	2020-21
1	4	Ottawa	Brady Tkachuk	L	Boston University [H-East]	168	52	54	106	215	2020-21
1	1	Buffalo	Rasmus Dahlin	D	Frolunda HC [SweHL]	162	14	79	93	78	2020-21
1	7	Vancouver	Quinn Hughes	D	U. of Michigan [Big-10]	100	10	68	78	32	2020-21
1	3	Montreal	Jesperi Kotkaniemi	C	Assat Pori [SM-liiga]	137	19	33	52	55	2020-21
1	14	Philadelphia	Joel Farabee	L	U.S. National Under-18 Team [USHL]	71	18	22	40	49	2020-21
1	6	Detroit	Filip Zadina	R	Halifax Mooseheads [QMJHL]	56	12	14	26	2	2020-21
1	8	Chicago	Adam Boqvist	D	Brynas IF Gavle [SweHL]	55	5	18	23	16	2020-21
1	12	NY Islanders	Noah Dobson	D	Acadie-Bathurst Titan [QMJHL]	57	3	13	16	12	2020-21
1	23	Anaheim	Isac Lundestrom	C	Lulea HF [SweHL]	47	5	6	11	8	2020-21
1	17	New Jersey	Ty Smith	D	Spokane Chiefs [WHL]	19	2	9	11	10	2020-21
4	120	Chicago	Philipp Kurashev	C	Quebec Remparts [QMJHL]	24	5	4	9	6	2020-21
1	29	Toronto	Rasmus Sandin	D	Soo Greyhounds [OHL]	29	1	8	9	10	2020-21
1	11	NY Islanders	Oliver Wahlstrom	R	U.S. National Under-18 Team [USHL]	25	4	4	8	8	2020-21
1	5	Arizona	Barrett Hayton	C	Soo Greyhounds [OHL]	34	3	4	7	14	2020-21
6	182	San Jose	John Leonard	L	UMass-Amherst [H-East]	16	3	3	6	2	2020-21
5	141	New Jersey	Yegor Sharangovich	C	Minsk Dynamo [KHL]	17	3	2	5	0	2020-21
2	38	Montreal	Alexander Romanov	D	CSKA-2 (Russia Jrs.)	21	1	4	5	8	2020-21
1	27	Chicago	Nicolas Beaudin	D	Drummondville Voltigeurs [QMJHL]	12	2	3	5	2	2020-21
1	22	NY Rangers	K'Andre Miller	D	U.S. National Under-18 Team [USHL]	18	1	4	5	6	2020-21
1	10	Edmonton	Evan Bouchard	D	London Knights [OHL]	19	2	3	5	4	2020-21
1	18	Columbus	Liam Foudy	C	London Knights [OHL]	14	0	4	4	2	2020-21
1	16	Colorado	Martin Kaut	R	Pardubice HC [Czech]	10	2	1	3	4	2020-21
1	13	Dallas	Ty Dellandrea	C	Flint Firebirds [OHL]	11	1	1	2	10	2020-21
2	60	Winnipeg	David Gustafsson	C	HV71 Jonkoping [SweHL]	26	1	0	1	0	2020-21
2	46	Washington	Martin Fehervary	D	Oskarshamn IK [Swe-1]	6	0	1	1	6	2019-20

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[The Price is Right]

Here is the VERY long list of players from that draft, who have played in the NHL. 28 players Shaping up to be another great draft for the D but bad for all other positions

1	2	Carolina	Andrei Svechnikov	R	Barrie Colts [OHL]	173	52	65	117	136	2020-21
1	4	Ottawa	Brady Tkachuk	L	Boston University [H-East]	168	52	54	106	215	2020-21
1	1	Buffalo	Rasmus Dahlin	D	Frolunda HC [SweHL]	162	14	79	93	78	2020-21
1	7	Vancouver	Quinn Hughes	D	U. of Michigan [Big-10]	100	10	68	78	32	2020-21
1	3	Montreal	Jesperi Kotkaniemi	C	Assat Pori [SM-liiga]	137	19	33	52	55	2020-21
1	14	Philadelphia	Joel Farabee	L	U.S. National Under-18 Team [USHL]	71	18	22	40	49	2020-21
1	6	Detroit	Filip Zadina	R	Halifax Mooseheads [QMJHL]	56	12	14	26	2	2020-21
1	8	Chicago	Adam Boqvist	D	Brynas IF Gavle [SweHL]	55	5	18	23	16	2020-21
1	12	NY Islanders	Noah Dobson	D	Acadie-Bathurst Titan [QMJHL]	57	3	13	16	12	2020-21
1	23	Anaheim	Isac Lundestrom	C	Lulea HF [SweHL]	47	5	6	11	8	2020-21
1	17	New Jersey	Ty Smith	D	Spokane Chiefs [WHL]	19	2	9	11	10	2020-21
4	120	Chicago	Philipp Kurashev	C	Quebec Remparts [QMJHL]	24	5	4	9	6	2020-21
1	29	Toronto	Rasmus Sandin	D	Soo Greyhounds [OHL]	29	1	8	9	10	2020-21
1	11	NY Islanders	Oliver Wahlstrom	R	U.S. National Under-18 Team [USHL]	25	4	4	8	8	2020-21
1	5	Arizona	Barrett Hayton	C	Soo Greyhounds [OHL]	34	3	4	7	14	2020-21
6	182	San Jose	John Leonard	L	UMass-Amherst [H-East]	16	3	3	6	2	2020-21
5	141	New Jersey	Yegor Sharangovich	C	Minsk Dynamo [KHL]	17	3	2	5	0	2020-21
2	38	Montreal	Alexander Romanov	D	CSKA-2 (Russia Jrs.)	21	1	4	5	8	2020-21
1	27	Chicago	Nicolas Beaudin	D	Drummondville Voltigeurs [QMJHL]	12	2	3	5	2	2020-21
1	22	NY Rangers	K'Andre Miller	D	U.S. National Under-18 Team [USHL]	18	1	4	5	6	2020-21
1	10	Edmonton	Evan Bouchard	D	London Knights [OHL]	19	2	3	5	4	2020-21
1	18	Columbus	Liam Foudy	C	London Knights [OHL]	14	0	4	4	2	2020-21
1	16	Colorado	Martin Kaut	R	Pardubice HC [Czech]	10	2	1	3	4	2020-21
1	13	Dallas	Ty Dellandrea	C	Flint Firebirds [OHL]	11	1	1	2	10	2020-21
2	60	Winnipeg	David Gustafsson	C	HV71 Jonkoping [SweHL]	26	1	0	1	0	2020-21
2	46	Washington	Martin Fehervary	D	Oskarshamn IK [Swe-1]	6	0	1	1	6	2019-20

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Yup pretty rare to not see more impact players. We have Romanov might be the best D in the draft some day

 

[wahsnairb]

Here is the VERY long list of players from that draft, who have played in the NHL. 28 players Shaping up to be another great draft for the D but bad for all other positions

1	2	Carolina	Andrei Svechnikov	R	Barrie Colts [OHL]	173	52	65	117	136	2020-21
1	4	Ottawa	Brady Tkachuk	L	Boston University [H-East]	168	52	54	106	215	2020-21
1	1	Buffalo	Rasmus Dahlin	D	Frolunda HC [SweHL]	162	14	79	93	78	2020-21
1	7	Vancouver	Quinn Hughes	D	U. of Michigan [Big-10]	100	10	68	78	32	2020-21
1	3	Montreal	Jesperi Kotkaniemi	C	Assat Pori [SM-liiga]	137	19	33	52	55	2020-21
1	14	Philadelphia	Joel Farabee	L	U.S. National Under-18 Team [USHL]	71	18	22	40	49	2020-21
1	6	Detroit	Filip Zadina	R	Halifax Mooseheads [QMJHL]	56	12	14	26	2	2020-21
1	8	Chicago	Adam Boqvist	D	Brynas IF Gavle [SweHL]	55	5	18	23	16	2020-21
1	12	NY Islanders	Noah Dobson	D	Acadie-Bathurst Titan [QMJHL]	57	3	13	16	12	2020-21
1	23	Anaheim	Isac Lundestrom	C	Lulea HF [SweHL]	47	5	6	11	8	2020-21
1	17	New Jersey	Ty Smith	D	Spokane Chiefs [WHL]	19	2	9	11	10	2020-21
4	120	Chicago	Philipp Kurashev	C	Quebec Remparts [QMJHL]	24	5	4	9	6	2020-21
1	29	Toronto	Rasmus Sandin	D	Soo Greyhounds [OHL]	29	1	8	9	10	2020-21
1	11	NY Islanders	Oliver Wahlstrom	R	U.S. National Under-18 Team [USHL]	25	4	4	8	8	2020-21
1	5	Arizona	Barrett Hayton	C	Soo Greyhounds [OHL]	34	3	4	7	14	2020-21
6	182	San Jose	John Leonard	L	UMass-Amherst [H-East]	16	3	3	6	2	2020-21
5	141	New Jersey	Yegor Sharangovich	C	Minsk Dynamo [KHL]	17	3	2	5	0	2020-21
2	38	Montreal	Alexander Romanov	D	CSKA-2 (Russia Jrs.)	21	1	4	5	8	2020-21
1	27	Chicago	Nicolas Beaudin	D	Drummondville Voltigeurs [QMJHL]	12	2	3	5	2	2020-21
1	22	NY Rangers	K'Andre Miller	D	U.S. National Under-18 Team [USHL]	18	1	4	5	6	2020-21
1	10	Edmonton	Evan Bouchard	D	London Knights [OHL]	19	2	3	5	4	2020-21
1	18	Columbus	Liam Foudy	C	London Knights [OHL]	14	0	4	4	2	2020-21
1	16	Colorado	Martin Kaut	R	Pardubice HC [Czech]	10	2	1	3	4	2020-21
1	13	Dallas	Ty Dellandrea	C	Flint Firebirds [OHL]	11	1	1	2	10	2020-21
2	60	Winnipeg	David Gustafsson	C	HV71 Jonkoping [SweHL]	26	1	0	1	0	2020-21
2	46	Washington	Martin Fehervary	D	Oskarshamn IK [Swe-1]	6	0	1	1	6	2019-20

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

That is shaping up to be an unreal draft for Chicago.

Ashamed of myself for clicking on this thread to read more than the title.

 

[Bruce Granville]

Only Svechnikov, Tkachuk and Hughes are living up to their expectations.
But quite a few are more or less coming to the league in this season.
Dahlin and Kotkaniemi were put in a difficult situation.
Maybe we need just a couple of seasons before judging who sucks and who doesn‘t.

 

[aufheben]

I don’t think I can name another center from that draft.

 

[nowhereman]

It's between him, Hayton, Dellandrea, and Foudy, which is a who's who of "who?".

It's still early but this could be one of the worst drafts in decades for centers. So, yeah, I guess Kotkaniemi can take a bow?

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

For now, until Kravtsov shifts to C

 

[Rude Dog]

Never agreed with the hype. He simply isn’t that good. Habs do a terrible job developing their young guys. He should have been in Laval all of last year.

 

[1dreamof1cup]

Haven't looked but if it's true, that's one hell of a weak draft for Cs jesus.

 

[TheDoldrums]

It was a horrible draft for centres and the Habs reached for one out of desperation, costing them the chance at a better player. I can understand why some people are upset.

 

[hockeeyyy]

What a low hanging fruit.

 

[Critical13]

I’ll never understand why they reached and passed on Tkachuk.

 

[FractionTwo]

I hate seeing people complain about this pick especially Habs fans. Sure Tkachuck and Hughes are probably better picks for now but Kotkaniemi is certainly the best C from the draft. What do you guys think

lmfao what? KK is still very young. 2018 draft is ridiculously young to judge yet, and centers in that draft are awful. Wait another few years and then we can judge that

 

[Tetsuo]

Veleno is starting to come into his own in the SHL season too. I wouldn't be surprised if ends up as good as Kotkaniemi when all is said and done. It's going to be awhile though, Veleno tends to take a bit to find his bearings every time he jumps a league. I don't think either will be a star, but both could end up a solid top 6 Cs in their prime.

 

[Snippit]

You could have just made the title "Kotkaniemi is a better player than Barrett Hayton and Liam Foudy"

 

[Contenderorpretender]

This is the reason you take bpa.