Guns n Roses
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Injury Report: Jesperi Kotkaniemi (Part IX)
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Habs Halifax
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I like his potential but it will take time for him to get to where we think he will be.
He exceeded expectations for everyone and then didn't play as good the last quarter of the season because of an injury and people still are worried? Some even are blatantly hating on this kid here i don't understand.. He showed everyone glimpses that he can play. He got 11? Goals and they were all different and beauties. It also caught my eye how smart his passes were. He is going to be a future superstar and i'm sure of it.
montreal
Go Habs Go
He already said that the knee injury had no impact on him and if you recall he said he was thinking about playing for Team Finland at the WC's but then a week later goes under the knife in what sounds like just minor clean up from his previous injury I believe.
Ok then maybe he just slumped i guess. But ain't that more than normal for such a young 18yo? I still think the guy proved that his skills will get concistent it really shows. I don't get why some worry so much. To me there is nothing to worry about at all.
montreal
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I'm not worried about him at all, once he gets stronger, fills out his frame the sky is the limit for him as he's smart and skilled. I'd like to see him shoot more and I really, really hope they move Armia to another line, give him a scoring RWer.
angusyoung
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Habs Halifax
Loyal Habs Fan
He didn't slump, the competition got tougher the closer the playoffs came and the 18 year old Kotkaniemi didn't have another gear.
I think the coach played him wrongly maybe somehow? I mean i watched some games at the end of the season and was abit frustrated. He clearly was played with the wrong players too imo. I dunno man i just know Kotka is going to be a superstar. He has shown more than enough glimpses of elite passing and vision. Not to mention his IQ. He also has a monster wrister and slapper. His skating is his only weakness atm perhaps.
montreal
Go Habs Go
It's impossible to know what happened to him, he could have hit a wall mentally, he could have hit a wall physically, he never had to do that much travel while playing so many games against the best players in the world.
From the start of the season to March his lowest TOI was 11:51, in the final 10 games he played, 4 of them were below that. He had 27 pts in the first 55 games for a .49 ppg, in the final 24 he had 7 pts for a .29 ppg but only 13 of those 24 games were against playoff bound teams.
Estimated_Prophet
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He definitely had his confidence shook and struggled mightily at the end of the season. Not worried about him at all though.
Habs Halifax
Loyal Habs Fan
We all share the same hope that he turns into at least a top 2C. It will take time IMO and lets see what step forward he makes this next season.
Archijerej
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I think it's a pretty safe bet that he's going to repeat the season he's had, but I'd be surprised if he improves significantly.
Habs Halifax
Loyal Habs Fan
Agreed. We have to remember that we drafted him as a longer type prospect in terms of reaching his ceiling potential. We have to ease off the pressure and expectation on this kid.
26Mats
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Me neither. I also have no problem with him developing in Laval if need be or we're able to land Duchene and Domi proves to be better at center. Let KK learn all aspects of the center position in the A for a year playing 20 mintues a night. He'll be a force when he matures physically.
PavelBrendl
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Why play him in the A? I think 3C was the perfect spot for him to play this year. It’s not like he’s a pure offensive talent who isn’t suited to the bottom 6 grind. He plays such a mature game that he can be trusted defensively while learning what it takes to score against the best players in the world. His game is already evolved beyond the AHL level. I see so much young Kopitar in this kid, it’s just a matter of time, work and experience.
Habs
We should have drafted Michkov
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Guns n Roses
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Habs
We should have drafted Michkov
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Strange take to be honest, why exactly he will not improve significantly next season?
I mean you could be right but I just don't get the logic behind the opinion.
Guns n Roses
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It’s a horrible opinion with no logic behind it. How could he not improve significantly? He’s 1 year older, he knows what to expect from the NHL and he’s fully rested. As opposed to last season when he was the youngest player in the world and one of or the player in the world who had played the most hockey... Ridiculous.
I feel like he is going to be able to use his skill way more consistently and break out next season. Depending on his linemates also ofc but either way i have a feeling he will be much much better already knowing how well kotkaniemi adapts. Also guys remember that the guy is 18yo you can't simply expect his first season to be like Matthews or Pettersson..
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