Injury Report: Jesperi Kotkaniemi (Part IX)

[Andrei79]

Kotkaniemi is a nice player but not an outstanding first line center. Suzuki or Peehling may supersede him. Anyway, the Habs have sufficient depth at that position.

He was 18. Poehling wasn't even a top 6 center in the NCAA at that age.

 

[M.C.G. 31]

Kotkaniemi is a nice player but not an outstanding first line center. Suzuki or Peehling may supersede him. Anyway, the Habs have sufficient depth at that position.

This is based off of what?

Suzuki is probably going to wing.

Poehling will likely be a 3C, I’d be ecstatic if he turns into more.

Kotkaniemi possesses insane hockey IQ and stick work, and for someone who needs to gain mass, he protected the puck well enough at 18 and was super smart and slick with it. He was great at stick checking. He shows good vision and a strong two-way game. No one even thought he was going to be in the NHL last season. When he adds mass to his frame he’s going to be a beast. It’s not hard to see why he got Barkov comparisons (not saying he WILL turn into a Barkov, but they’re definitely similar stylistically).

 

[Belial]

He was 18. Poehling wasn't even a top 6 center in the NCAA at that age.

Poehling is already a man while Kotka is still growing, I wouldn't be surprised if Ryan has more success than him next season...

 

[Tyson]

Poehling is already a man while Kotka is still growing, I wouldn't be surprised if Ryan has more success than him next season...

A very fair point

 

[Fixxer]

Yeah, thats a great quote from a great article
I gotta say I agree Julien doesnt come off too great in there lol..

Kotkaniemi actually told the reporters, at training camp, that Julien didn't know who KK was and asked him who he is.
Julien had been asked about this incident and while surprised, he said something as if obviously he knew who the kid was. Kotkaniemi mentioning that again makes me believe Julien tried to save his face in front of the media. lol

 

[angusyoung]

This is based off of what?

Suzuki is probably going to wing.

Poehling will likely be a 3C, I’d be ecstatic if he turns into more.

Kotkaniemi possesses insane hockey IQ and stick work, and for someone who needs to gain mass, he protected the puck well enough at 18 and was super smart and slick with it. He was great at stick checking. He shows good vision and a strong two-way game. No one even thought he was going to be in the NHL last season. When he adds mass to his frame he’s going to be a beast. It’s not hard to see why he got Barkov comparisons (not saying he WILL turn into a Barkov, but they’re definitely similar stylistically).

Suzuki is more of a center on this team than winger,but to by his time might end up playing some RW. No offense to him,just not tenacious enough,but playing with the right line-mates could solve that issue.

 

[Mrb1p]

Poehling is already a man while Kotka is still growing, I wouldn't be surprised if Ryan has more success than him next season...

Luckily a career is more than a season.

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

Kotkaniemi actually told the reporters, at training camp, that Julien didn't know who KK was and asked him who he is.
Julien had been asked about this incident and while surprised, he said something as if obviously he knew who the kid was. Kotkaniemi mentioning that again makes me believe Julien tried to save his face in front of the media. lol

Sweet Locke avatar mate, you know your old school rpgs

 

[Belial]

Luckily a career is more than a season.

I guess... Are you happy?

 

[M.C.G. 31]

Poehling is already a man while Kotka is still growing, I wouldn't be surprised if Ryan has more success than him next season...

But who’s to say Poehling is even on the opening night roster? Kotkaniemi’s spit is pretty much locked in in the middle-6, and with a summer of training and knowing what to expect in the NHL now, I don’t see why he doesn’t progress further and become more productive.

Poehling may start in the AHL for all we know and our opening night centre line is Domi-Danault-Kotkaniemi-Thompson.

 

[montreal]

He was 18. Poehling wasn't even a top 6 center in the NCAA at that age.

Poehling was the top line center in his age 18 season, it was his age 17 season that he was on the 3rd line.

 

[angusyoung]

But who’s to say Poehling is even on the opening night roster? Kotkaniemi’s spit is pretty much locked in in the middle-6, and with a summer of training and knowing what to expect in the NHL now, I don’t see why he doesn’t progress further and become more productive.

Poehling may start in the AHL for all we know and our opening night centre line is Domi-Danault-Kotkaniemi-Thompson.

Not sure if it's carved in stone that KK starts for the Habs,so many intangibles before preseason even begins. Poehling looks like another PD, with more offensive upside,so playing wing is more suitable for him more so than KK.

 

[Belial]

But who’s to say Poehling is even on the opening night roster? Kotkaniemi’s spit is pretty much locked in in the middle-6, and with a summer of training and knowing what to expect in the NHL now, I don’t see why he doesn’t progress further and become more productive.

Poehling may start in the AHL for all we know and our opening night centre line is Domi-Danault-Kotkaniemi-Thompson.

Yes, that is what will probably happen to be honest. but that doesn't change the fact that Poehling is much more physically developed than Kotka.

 

[Andrei79]

Poehling was the top line center in his age 18 season, it was his age 17 season that he was on the 3rd line.

Youre right. For some reason I thought he was a November birthday. My bad.

 

[Guns n Roses]

Poehling is already a man while Kotka is still growing, I wouldn't be surprised if Ryan has more success than him next season...

I hope he gets a fair chance.

 

[Belial]

I hope he gets a fair chance.

Training camp baby! Can't wait lol

 

[Guns n Roses]

It’s Kotkamania!

 

[Brownies]

Kotkaniemi is a nice player but not an outstanding first line center. Suzuki or Peehling may supersede him. Anyway, the Habs have sufficient depth at that position.

I’d be really really really surprised if Suzuki ends up better than Kotkaniemi. Kotkaniemi’s got so much tools and the right attitude to get better, IMO.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

I’d be really really really surprised if Suzuki ends up better than Kotkaniemi. Kotkaniemi’s got so much tools and the right attitude to get better, IMO.

so does Suzuki though. I think Suzuki might have better raw offensive tools than KK but I'd be surprised if he became the better player. It's possible imo.

 

[cphabs]

Any word on how his knee is doing after surgery?

 

[ottawa]

Is it just me or does he look taller on insta?

 

[ForeverHabs97]

So pumped watching him this season. At times during last season watching him play the 3C was a huge breath of fresh air; finally a real 2-way talented player at the C position. After the DD 5' era, the Chucky Offensive Dangling era, The Gomez era, finally some hope. Really hope he can continue to grow, or maybe even explode. Here's to optimisim.

 

[ForeverHabs97]

Kotkaniemi actually told the reporters, at training camp, that Julien didn't know who KK was and asked him who he is.
Julien had been asked about this incident and while surprised, he said something as if obviously he knew who the kid was. Kotkaniemi mentioning that again makes me believe Julien tried to save his face in front of the media. lol

I think it was a tactic; trying to make KK realize he's no one special just because he was 3OV until he actually made the team and proved it.

 

[Garbageyuk]

Poehling is already a man while Kotka is still growing, I wouldn't be surprised if Ryan has more success than him next season...

It's starting to look like Poehling has more upside than we thought. Big, strong, and fast. Not great, but decent at pretty much everything. The projection has been 3C, but he's looking like more to me now. I wasn't really excited about him at first, but his development has been a pleasant surprise lately.

 

[Belial]

It's starting to look like Poehling has more upside than we thought. Big, strong, and fast. Not great, but decent at pretty much everything. The projection has been 3C, but he's looking like more to me now. I wasn't really excited about him at first, but his development has been a pleasant surprise lately.

Just a solid 2 way center, if he can do what Plekanec did during his career for this franchise it's gonna be an amazing pick.