Player Discussion Jesperi Kotkaniemi Part 15

[Mrb1p]

he's been playing with Byron, Anderson, Lehkonen ... they're all good skaters.

in any event, let's say the winger isn't there, or is too slow ... that's part of his read, his progression. Like a quarterback - the X is covered, Y is covered, check down! The internal clock has to speed up a bit.

Anderson is great with Kotkaniemi, last game one of the only chance the Habs got came from exactly this, though KK was in the neutral zone. KK draws 3 defender in the NZ and Anderson gets an open lane to the net, sadly he missed the net.

Lekhonens last goal is also the same type of play.

andersons fine, but Byron and Lekhonen dont have the IQ to do it often enough and to actually finish.

He does hold the puck, but killing that ability isnt the way to go, let him test the limits of his talent and how far he can take it instead. This is a formative year.

That's why he's looked his best with Byron and Lekonen. They make space and give KK time by making the opposition have gaps.

Not really as those guys dont have the IQ, hands or finishing abilities. They only have wheels.

Anderson always has a few dangerous chances because of Jesperis vision, they should be stapled to each other.

 

[HuGo Burner Acc]

This goes for KK, NS, and most offensive players... If you constantly have to start offensive pushes from your own zone with possession while starting the breakout as a forward group you'll never put up big points. The defence is the reason why this team isnt proficient offensively. Even when they do proper breakouts, it's the forward group initiating it. And by that time the forward group (after gaining possession from the opposition in their own zone and breaking through their own and the neutral zone) does not have enough to create properly. It isn't just a random coincidence that this team scores more with price in net. Think about why that could be, it's not hard to find the answer

 

[Mrb1p]

This goes for KK, NS, and most offensive players... If you constantly have to start offensive pushes from your own zone with possession while starting the breakout as a forward group you'll never put up big points. The defence is the reason why this team isnt proficient offensively. Even when they do proper breakouts, it's the forward group initiating it. And by that time the forward group (after gaining possession from the opposition in their own zone and breaking through their own and the neutral zone) does not have enough to create properly. It isn't just a random coincidence that this team scores more with price in net. Think about why that could be, it's not hard to find the answer

The bigger problem is the cycle... they suck so hard on defense, they have to rely on the 3 forwards and Petry, all the rest kill offense.

 

[morhilane]

If it's problem for KK then it's a problem for Suzuki. I don't hear anyone whining about Suzuki's linemates.

Suzuki have only played with a combination of these players: Toffoli, Drouin, Perry, Armia and Anderson. He has some TOI with Gallagher too.

The only forwards KK haven't played with are Evans, Frolik and Suzuki.

 

[Miller Time]

Suzuki have only played with a combination of these players: Toffoli, Drouin, Perry, Armia and Anderson. He has some TOI with Gallagher too.

The only forwards KK haven't played with are Evans, Frolik and Suzuki.

Shhh... why burst the bubble of such an otherwise compelling narrative


it's hilarious how far some want to go to completely ignore context, facts, and even simple common sense to prop up an otherwise empty take.... even moreso because JKO doesn't have any real noticeably dislikable traits that otherwise might explain this hysterical criticism. Works hard, pretty vanilla in the media, competes consistently... not the usual candidate for the emotionally-driven negativity

 

[Habs Icing]

Suzuki have only played with a combination of these players: Toffoli, Drouin, Perry, Armia and Anderson. He has some TOI with Gallagher too.

The only forwards KK haven't played with are Evans, Frolik and Suzuki.

You're wrong and if you want to check.
Line Combinations - Frozen Tools

Dom Dom doesn't play favorites. Everyone goes into the blender.

 

[Habs Icing]

Shhh... why burst the bubble of such an otherwise compelling narrative


it's hilarious how far some want to go to completely ignore context, facts, and even simple common sense to prop up an otherwise empty take.... even moreso because JKO doesn't have any real noticeably dislikable traits that otherwise might explain this hysterical criticism. Works hard, pretty vanilla in the media, competes consistently... not the usual candidate for the emotionally-driven negativity

The criticism has nothing to do with the player. It has to do with the fanboys who are claiming a flawed player is a top 6 center if only reality didn't exist. Magic only happens in fairy tales and KK is no fairy tale character.

 

[Spearmint Rhino]

If it's problem for KK then it's a problem for Suzuki. I don't hear anyone whining about Suzuki's linemates.

Not sure why I’d complain about Suzuki’s linemates in the KK thread but nice try at deflecting Still would like to know his production on each line as that is the point of the argument

 

[cphabs]

He’s a 20 year old, large, skilled, 40 point center... let’s trade him to Tampa to get Sergachev back. I f***ing dare our franchise.

 

[Captain Mountain]

You're wrong and if you want to check.
Line Combinations - Frozen Tools

Dom Dom doesn't play favorites. Everyone goes into the blender.

Did you do any digging on that page you linked? Suzuki's most common ES most common line is with Drouin and Anderson. He played with them more than three times as much as his next most frequent line, Toffoli and Armia.

Line Combinations - Frozen Tools

Kotkaniemi's most common ES line is with... also Drouin and Anderson. He's played with them only slightly more than with... Corey Perry and Tyler Toffoli. Which is slightly more than with... Armia and Lehkonen? Wow, a lot of completely different lines.

Ducharme likes his blender, but it effects some (Kotkaniemi) more than others (Suzuki).

 

[Ozmodiar]

He does hold the puck, but killing that ability isnt the way to go, let him test the limits of his talent and how far he can take it instead. This is a formative year.

That’s right. I’d hope they wouldn’t give him firm orders to dump and chase. Hopefully just a reminder that a simple option is available if he doesn’t see a play developing.

 

[Mrb1p]

That’s right. I’d hope they wouldn’t give him firm orders to dump and chase. Hopefully just a reminder that a simple option is available if he doesn’t see a play developing.

I think this will come with experience and after he has learned the limits to his game. Trying to box out a creative player never works.

 

[CAUFIELD]

Kk is only 20. We haven’t seen the best of Kk yet. Let’s be positive and not crush the player confidence like we often do here. Kk was drafted as a long term project and still is. Don’t be fool by the fact that Bergevin took the (wrong) decision of playing him st 18 y.o. while he had obvious important weaknesses (strength, speed, agility). This year should of been Kk 1st in the NHL. Patience

 

[Zorba]

Anderson is great with Kotkaniemi, last game one of the only chance the Habs got came from exactly this, though KK was in the neutral zone. KK draws 3 defender in the NZ and Anderson gets an open lane to the net, sadly he missed the net.

Lekhonens last goal is also the same type of play.

andersons fine, but Byron and Lekhonen dont have the IQ to do it often enough and to actually finish.

He does hold the puck, but killing that ability isnt the way to go, let him test the limits of his talent and how far he can take it instead. This is a formative year.



Not really as those guys dont have the IQ, hands or finishing abilities. They only have wheels.

Anderson always has a few dangerous chances because of Jesperis vision, they should be stapled to each other.

Lol. GREAT!!! Let’s throw adjectives out there used to describe players that get it done a consistent basis year after year. Great. Lol
They didn’t even get a point. Amazing !!!

 

[Supersonic]

Seriously don’t know what people expect, KK is still only 20 years old and was a known project - who our incompetent GM rushed into the league at 18. Not sure what i’m missing here

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

Armia and Perry tonight

wow...

 

[MarkovsKnee]

Loved his dash in front of our net with puck vs Calgary. Damn near gave me a heart attack, but it was great.

He had a Flame on his back, so was heading behind his net, but suddenly saw another Flame coming around the net at him. Trapped and with no outlet does he wring it hard around the boards?

Nope.

He sizes up the situation, turns and skates right through our net crease and up the middle of the ice. It created a 3 on 2 for us with BOTH D part of the transition. The 2 forwards chasing him were trapped behind the net. Lol

Loved it. Didn't lead to a goal, but it was a quick & decisive play. It was also the right play.

The D can't transition at all, so our centers have to do it. Forcing them to go 200 feet to create scoring chances does not create offense.

Watch Oilers/Leafs. D gets THE FORWARDS the puck in the neutral zone with speed.

We don't. Forwards are forced to transition. It's backwards & it's awful.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Loved his dash in front of our net with puck vs Calgary. Damn near gave me a heart attack, but it was great.

He had a Flame on his back, so was heading behind his net, but suddenly saw another Flame coming around the net at him. Trapped and with no outlet does he wring it hard around the boards?

Nope.

He sizes up the situation, turns and skates right through our net crease and up the middle of the ice. It created a 3 on 2 for us with BOTH D part of the transition. The 2 forwards chasing him were trapped behind the net. Lol

Loved it. Didn't lead to a goal, but it was a quick & decisive play. It was also the right play.

The D can't transition at all, so our centers have to do it. Forcing them to go 200 feet to create scoring chances does not create offense.

Watch Oilers/Leafs. D gets THE FORWARDS the puck in the neutral zone with speed.

We don't. Forwards are forced to transition. It's backwards & it's awful.

I really like his game. I'm hoping the points will come as he matures. I think he's going to be a beast when he's in his prime.

 

[habsfan891]

Armia and Perry tonight

wow...

Not sure why he cant be sucessful with such incredible linemates

 

[Mrb1p]

Armia and Perry tonight

wow...

Im fine with Perry, hes a big body, crafty around the net and i love his edge.

Armia though... makes this line a negative.

Its like Ducharme doesnt realize how slow these guys are

 

[Miller Time]

The criticism has nothing to do with the player. It has to do with the fanboys who are claiming a flawed player is a top 6 center if only reality didn't exist. Magic only happens in fairy tales and KK is no fairy tale character.

It is truly amazing how flawed your takes are. Incoherence is one thing, but, to watch a sport & be so incapable of contextualizing what you see... impressive!

20 year old professional athlete has "flaws" in his game... In other news, water is wet and the earth is round.

 

[HuGo Sham]

It is truly amazing how flawed your takes are. Incoherence is one thing, but, to watch a sport & be so incapable of contextualizing what you see... impressive!

20 year old professional athlete has "flaws" in his game... In other news, water is wet and the earth is round.

lol ...in the top 10 youngest players in the league despite being in year 3, where in year 2 he was literally injured the entire year (groin, concussion, spleen)

 

[morhilane]

You're wrong and if you want to check.
Line Combinations - Frozen Tools

Dom Dom doesn't play favorites. Everyone goes into the blender.

Frozen Tools doesn't list game day line combination. It list shared TOI which include the time where lines change happens where players of different line are on the ice at the same time. The last entry for Suzuki lasted 3 seconds, barely enough to jump off/on the ice.

Anything below Suzuki's average game TOI (~18 minutes) has never been a line.

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

Im fine with Perry, hes a big body, crafty around the net and i love his edge.

Armia though... makes this line a negative.

Its like Ducharme doesnt realize how slow these guys are

I would like to swap Armia with Anderson

A playmaker
a goal scorer
a veteran in front of the net.

Armia just sucks

 

[Captain Mountain]

Loved his dash in front of our net with puck vs Calgary. Damn near gave me a heart attack, but it was great.

He had a Flame on his back, so was heading behind his net, but suddenly saw another Flame coming around the net at him. Trapped and with no outlet does he wring it hard around the boards?

Nope.

He sizes up the situation, turns and skates right through our net crease and up the middle of the ice. It created a 3 on 2 for us with BOTH D part of the transition. The 2 forwards chasing him were trapped behind the net. Lol

Loved it. Didn't lead to a goal, but it was a quick & decisive play. It was also the right play.

The D can't transition at all, so our centers have to do it. Forcing them to go 200 feet to create scoring chances does not create offense.

Watch Oilers/Leafs. D gets THE FORWARDS the puck in the neutral zone with speed.

We don't. Forwards are forced to transition. It's backwards & it's awful.

In case anyone was wondering, WaveIntel tracks zone exits and entries for the Habs. Good follow.

Montreal also hates stretching the ice. For example, how often do you see a Habs D score a goal the way Mete just did: