Injury Report: Jesperi Kotkaniemi (Part IX)

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

hahahaha, it was more to do with some of is arrogance, since I new people who dealt with him and told me he was a D. on the ice, I liked Koivu in his early days.

really? interesting. I assumed he was class embodied. too bad. as long as I don't see any Pleks>>>>Koivu posts I'll be fine.

 

[The Great Weal]

I REALLY hope Suzuki excels in preseason and plays with Kotkaniemi. You simply cannot give KK those line mates again.

 

[CheldishGamibno]

hahahaha, it was more to do with some of is arrogance, since I new people who dealt with him and told me he was a D. on the ice, I liked Koivu in his early days.

His arrogance and a D on the ice, I'd be curious to know what you heard?

 

[Kotkaniemi15]

I REALLY hope Suzuki excels in preseason and plays with Kotkaniemi. You simply cannot give KK those line mates again.

I agree. I wouldn't have a problem with KK starting the year at 3C if he played with good line mates. Armia/Lehkonen won't cut it again this year.

 

[azcanuck]

I see a surge in this kid this year. He will come to camp with the confidence of knowing he can play here. He's special.

 

[angusyoung]

I agree. I wouldn't have a problem with KK starting the year at 3C if he played with good line mates. Armia/Lehkonen won't cut it again this year.

Ya,those 3 don't compliment one another,need to be split up and put in correct role.

 

[Archijerej]

I REALLY hope Suzuki excels in preseason and plays with Kotkaniemi. You simply cannot give KK those line mates again.

Those linemates were precisely the reason he was successful last season.

 

[The Great Weal]

Those linemates were precisely the reason he was successful last season.

Those linemates were atrocious offensively and KK needs more offensively talented wingers.

 

[Archijerej]

Those linemates were atrocious offensively and KK needs more offensively talented wingers.

Without those linemates, he wouldn't even be able to spend as much time in the opponent's zone and display his skills. He'd be chasing the play in our end instead.

 

[The Great Weal]

Without those linemates, he wouldn't even be able to spend as much time in the opponent's zone and display his skills. He'd be chasing the play in our end instead.

He would also be scoring a lot more. When Byron was on his wing, he looked far more engaged offensively and was still good defensively. Armia and Lehkonen should not be his linemates again, he needs linemates that can actually produce.

 

[angusyoung]

Those linemates were precisely the reason he was successful last season.

Sorry man,but that can not be considered successful. His line mate were not the right blend.

 

[BB88]

Without those linemates, he wouldn't even be able to spend as much time in the opponent's zone and display his skills. He'd be chasing the play in our end instead.

Those 2 aren't anything special, good depth guys but nothing special.

I said last year but he should have had one of them on his wing and more offensively gifted on his other.
He set them up so many times to see them fail, and rookies/young players feed on success.

 

[Naslund]

Armia and Lehkonen were much more effective hockey players than KK last season. They spent significant amount of time shielding him, doing the dirty work, playing well defensively.

 

[Archijerej]

Those 2 aren't anything special, good depth guys but nothing special.

Neither is Kotkaniemi at this stage of his career.

 

[Kotkaniemi15]

Neither is Kotkaniemi at this stage of his career.

Not true. KK is one of the best playmakers on the team at 19.

 

[BB88]

Neither is Kotkaniemi at this stage of his career.

He was your top prospect/best bet to become the guy this franchise has needed for years and years.

His vision/playmaking are his strenghts and I'd personnally put some effort on developing him and giving him the best enviroment to develop, & for his offensive game that's not with 2 players who have limited offensive skills.

Give him Armia on his other line and more offensive guy to his other to run the offense with.

 

[flying v 604]

No not really , when a player gets drafted as high as KK was , the expections are that he's gonna play on a first line, we almost take it for granted. We are not talking about a late first round here , we are talking top 5 in a draft and yes fans can expect a top 5 to be a first line forward or top pair, in the case of a Dman.

is he a #1? People keep using his size as an excuse, but Petey is smaller and went from a winger to a centre without any safety net and was a beast with and without the puck. KK will never be a big guy, yet tons of people are saying hus size was why he wasn't better. If your a smaller player, you need an extemely hu hockey IQ.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

is he a #1? People keep using his size as an excuse, but Petey is smaller and went from a winger to a centre without any safety net and was a beast with and without the puck. KK will never be a big guy, yet tons of people are saying hus size was why he wasn't better. If your a smaller player, you need an extemely hu hockey IQ.

How can you possibly say That KK will never be a big guy????

He played as an 18 year old last season. He is 6'2" and will likely fill out closer to 210 by the time he is 23.

 

[Kriss E]

How can you possibly say That KK will never be a big guy????

He played as an 18 year old last season. He is 6'2" and will likely fill out closer to 210 by the time he is 23.

Not sure if he'll reach that weight. He has a narrow frame, he's not gonna be a really big guy imo. Could be wrong, he might have a spur of growth widening his shoulders.
But I see him staying around the 190-195 mark, slim, being agile.
He doesn't need to bulk up to 210.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

Not sure if he'll reach that weight. He has a narrow frame, he's not gonna be a really big guy imo. Could be wrong, he might have a spur of growth widening his shoulders.
But I see him staying around the 190-195 mark, slim, being agile.
He doesn't need to bulk up to 210.

He came into last training camp at 190 lbs and he is still a boy. I think he could end up north of 215 but I am not sure that is ideal. I would guess that 205 ish will be the "Goldilocks zone" for him. I wouldn't be surprised if he is already north of 195 right now and he just turned 19.

Hopefully he does put on some weight as he has a Kopitar/Barkov style of play and he will need their mass to be effective as he will never be a burner.

He doesn't have a very wide frame but there are plenty of ways to carry mass as he can carry it in his legs/butt, or through a barrel chest. You don't necessarily have to be wide to be thick.

 

[sharks9]

I REALLY hope Suzuki excels in preseason and plays with Kotkaniemi. You simply cannot give KK those line mates again.

I really wish Lehkonen would rediscover the scoring touch he had in his rookie season. The second half of that season especially he was on fire and had some absolute snipes, not sure what happened to it.

He's only 24, but I agree I'd rather see KK with someone like Suzuki

 

[azcanuck]

Those linemates were atrocious offensively and KK needs more offensively talented wingers.

I agree for his progression he needs to play with higher end guys like Domi/tatar/ gallagher.

 

[azcanuck]

I really wish Lehkonen would rediscover the scoring touch he had in his rookie season. The second half of that season especially he was on fire and had some absolute snipes, not sure what happened to it.

He's only 24, but I agree I'd rather see KK with someone like Suzuki

Lehkonen is a hard working guy. But the game does not slow down for him. He looks like he's out there like he's on Meth. I like him. I think he's better then his numbers but I dont see much higher of a ceiling for him.

 

[Conspiracy Theorist]

I would honestly be disapointed if he dosnt become more then Saku, i think Koivu was a 2C in a contending team, i hope KK will become a 1C in a contending team.

Koivu was awesome but that knee injury and cancer ruined what could have been.

 

[CristianoRonaldo]

Hes going to play with Armia and Lehkonen again isnt he?

Probably, need to learn some rispek.