Jesperi Kotkaniemi is the best C from the 2018 draft.

[WillTheThrill]

That doesnt mean hes any good though.

 

[SUX2BU]

 

[absolute garbage]

I wouldn't really be comfortable rating anything until this time in 2023. So two more seasons basically.

Kotkaniemi was badly rushed, he was so young and physically so unready. Whether that harmed his progress and development though, that's tough to say. He looked a lot more mature and like he belonged in the playoffs last seasons after the covid break, and has continued and built on that this season. Still lots to learn and filling out to do, but he's getting there.

I could see him ending up as the best C of the draft, but probably far from 3rd best player of the draft.

 

[GeeoffBrown]

Kotkaniemi was a +2 and won 87% of his faceoffs last night. Is he actually good now?

 

[SnowblindNYR]

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.

The Rangers too. Kravtsov, Miller, and Lundkvist is a hell of a first round.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

Incredible that difference it makes when you don’t have to play with 4th liners on your wings

 

[Fazkovsky]

He needs to fix his footspeed and overral quickness

he does remind me a lot of galchenyuk in that department

 

[Pavels Dog]

Kotkaniemi was a +2 and won 87% of his faceoffs last night. Is he actually good now?

He ranks 66th out of 87 in faceoff% among those who have taken 200+ draws.

 

[NOTENOUGHJTCGOALS]

What a shock opinion coming from an Avs fan. Let's just skip Hughes who's basically a ppg player in his first 18 playoff games and this year as well.
But let me guess plus\minus right?

You're comparing Paul Coffey to Scott Stevens.

Both are great but some prefer Montreal's generational defender.

 

[SamHabsFan]

I dont get why this thread even exist, maybe a troll?? there is polarizing opinions on habs board about KK, but majority are pretty happy to have a 20 year old in constant progression, we haven't had that in 20 years (which is sad btw).

since the coach change he has been given more opportunities and has been one of the better players on this team. But he's 20 years old ffs, I am shocked to read some of the posts in this thread...there is even one completely clueless guy saying that he'll be back in Europe in no time ?? what the hell is that??

 

[Bruce Granville]

Farabee is exceeding expectations. He's looking like a 1st line two-way winger already.

There are quite a few coming into the league this year.

 

[Habby4Life]

Honestly Montreal is way worse than Toronto when it comes to overhyping their players.

He may be the best C (which isn’t saying much) but he’d most definitely drop in a redraft.

Agree, overhyped. He’s shown some flashes but overall just MEH. He in my opinion will be a 3C, doesn’t have have offensive upside. MTL should have drafted the BPA but went for need, imo, a mistake.

 

[Habby4Life]

Laughed at this then but now I think she was right.

 

[PullHard]

BPA was Zadina and i'm happy we passed on him

I give this post 18 months or less to age like milk

 

[sansabri]

I give this post 18 months or less to age like milk

that's cute. was told Zadina was NHL ready at the draft

 

[Stive Morgan]

Kotkaniemi was a +2 and won 87% of his faceoffs last night. Is he actually good now?

He's played extremely well since the bubble, his issue is that CJ and DD have given him horrible wingers that can't finish.

 

[1909]

There was not much centerman depth in that draft ..... Barrett Hayton went 5th overall because Arizona drafted for a need too like the Habs... And where is Hayton now ?

KK will improve over the years. We have to be patient. He could become a very good, two-way #2 centerman.... He needs a skating coach, though.

 

[Cygnusx1018]

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.

Isles too. Dobson and Wahlstrom have been major contributors this year and Bode Wilde is a great prospect

 

[Stephen]

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

You could make the argument that drafting B. Tkachuk and force feeding him at center like CBJ did with Dubois would be a more worthwhile project than Kotkaniemi.

 

[nturn06]

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

Isn't that like saying that Nail Yakupov was one of the best 5 RW picked in 2012?

 

[Canadienna]

Kotkaniemi will be great and this thread will be funny

 

[Saxon]

Kotkaniemi will be great and this thread will be funny

I think that's the OP's point for making this thread......

 

[Halakitlikethat]

He’s been pretty good this year

 

[Sam of Montreal]

It's probably a poor choice of a thread title, but KK has been doing very well in the short sample size that is the coaching change to Ducharme.

I think, more than wingers, it was Julien's defensive system and lack of creativity that was suffocating KK, Drouin and others.

We will see if it lasts, but it was great to see KK being the center of attention on his PP unit. I thought he was very good at distributing from the half-wall. Points will come.

 

[HabsForHire]

KK will be legit, but this is a dumb post. Your just asking for other fans to rag on our players..