ahmedou
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Player Discussion Jesperi Kotkaniemi - Part 10
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WeThreeKings
Habs cup - its in the BAG
His defensive impact in year one was some of the best on the team. Crazy what's sophomore slump and low confidence can do
Sterling Archer
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- Sep 26, 2006
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I honestly don’t see how he’s not in the lineup. Especially when Julien talks about kids growth and his improved play since going to Laval and increased physical prowess.
Hacketts
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just because you put work into something, doesn't mean it's good work.
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le_sean
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- Oct 21, 2006
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Definitely. He played a lot of hockey from his draft year, to summer tournaments to rookie NHL season. There was no time to bulk up as a very young player. Still had a really good rookie season but probably needed the entire summer to rest. Comes with high expectations but is expected to carry Byron and Armia on the 3rd line and barely get PP time. Still started the season getting a couple of goals (on the road), but that was probably adrenaline. He was completely sapped of energy pretty quickly.
But his stint in Laval was very encouraging. He got positive reinforcement and icetime and was clearly better than everyone else, at just 19 years old.
calder candidate
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Confidence is the key, even if his impact was good in year 1 it definitely regressed toward the end of the year like is confidence.
WeThreeKings
Habs cup - its in the BAG
End of last year was a Julien special
ahmedou
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With our prospects, we're the only NHL team who turns up an upside into a weakness
Adam Michaels
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Adam Michaels
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If Domi isn't in, we can expect the center line to be Danault, Suzuki, Kotkaniemi & Evans.
If Domi does play. I expect Suzuki to be put on wing and the centers will be Domi, Danault, Kotkaniemi & Evans.
You can want that but, I don't think you should expect that. Suzuki was eventually groomed at C and managed to gain Julien's confidence in that role. I seriously doubt he is moved back to the wing, even if we saw that shuffle before with Drouin and Galchenyuk. They were moved back and forth because they were defensive liabilities at the time. Suzuki thinks the game properly as a C.
Deebs
There's no easy way out
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Think Suzy will go to wing...not sure about that one. He's played so well at Center and he's fresh again after talking of towards the end of the year.
OB5
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- May 2, 2015
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Le Barron de HF
Justin make me proud
So, is Domi basically confirmed as not eligible to play due to his diabetes? If so, that's very good news for Kotkaniemi who won't have to dislodge anybody in the top 9. I am optimistic that KK can gain some valuable experience and finish on a high note.
DramaticGloveSave
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- Apr 17, 2017
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Every time someone mentions Draisaitl, Barkov, or Kopitar in relation to Kotkaniemi, an angel loses its wings.
Adam Michaels
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No, it's not confirmed that Domi will be out.
But, in the RTP thread, in one of many of McKenzie's tweets in there, he says that part of the RTP protocol is if medical staff and specialists deem someone at risk of developing a serious illness if they get infected, then they will deem that player unfit to play and will not be allowed to participate.
Adam Michaels
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He didn't play that well defensively. The fact that he tries does not mean he has been super successful on D.
Deebs
There's no easy way out
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Suzuki is definitely more defensively responsible than either Domi or Kotkaniemi.
Not really. Kotkaniemi is at least as serious about it, but has trouble winning battles.
Domi's defensive game is under-rated. It actually is adequate. Suzuki had a worse defensive record than Domi by quite a bit.
I do believe both Suzuki and KK will get better with more strength and experience.
Deebs
There's no easy way out
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They may get better over time but the staff doesn't agree with you given the responsibilities placed upon Suzuki throughout this season.
ahmedou
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HallOfGreatness4
Best NHL gambler around
I have a weird feeling that KK is going to play really well offensively in a donnybrook series against Pittsburgh. Maybe some lapses defensively, but I have a feeling he will have the best few games of his career in sparing amount of time; just a total gut feeling because unexpected things like that happen in sports. Just like him getting this opportunity at all due to weird circumstances.
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