26Mats
Registered User
- Jun 23, 2018
- 32,261
- 24,742
Have to see him at our camp before I get excited. Playing against finish league preseason lineups isn't enough for me yet. It's going to take more than that for to think he's the real deal.
Prospect Info: Jesperi Kotkaniemi
- Thread starter montreal
- Start date
- Status
Have to see him at our camp before I get excited. Playing against finish league preseason lineups isn't enough for me yet. It's going to take more than that for to think he's the real deal.
JohnLennon
Registered User
- Mar 26, 2011
- 5,787
- 1,558
Well I mean he played a full season in the Finnish league last year at 17 and performed very well. That doesn't convince you he has real potential?
JeffreyLFC
Registered User
- Sep 29, 2017
- 10,241
- 7,360
I'm still surprised by the uproar of the some "fans" toward this selection as it was "apparently" not the BPA as per published reports.
I get it Zadina was highly ranked in most list since the beginning of last year draft evaluation as Kotkaniemi was constantly rising in the view of many. It became apparent by the end of season that both had huge potential and flaws in their game (Zadina inconsistancies has been well documented and Kotkaniemi has skating deficiencies) what was also obvious is that 8 months difference in age at their stage of developement is massive. Also I think all the people that criticized the pick should realize that getting top centerman is almost impossible if you don't draft and develop them. I'm glad we made the selection and I hope the management and fans are patient with him he would be a good one in the future if he gets proper time to evolve as a player
I get it Zadina was highly ranked in most list since the beginning of last year draft evaluation as Kotkaniemi was constantly rising in the view of many. It became apparent by the end of season that both had huge potential and flaws in their game (Zadina inconsistancies has been well documented and Kotkaniemi has skating deficiencies) what was also obvious is that 8 months difference in age at their stage of developement is massive. Also I think all the people that criticized the pick should realize that getting top centerman is almost impossible if you don't draft and develop them. I'm glad we made the selection and I hope the management and fans are patient with him he would be a good one in the future if he gets proper time to evolve as a player
Noticed it at the showcase but he looks faster than at the U18s. Good to know the skating program Pori had for him this summer is paying off.
Last edited:
dackelljuneaubulis02
Registered User
- Oct 13, 2012
- 11,565
- 6,894
For his size, I'm tempted to say it almost looks like his skating's a strength of late. He's really moving around well it seems. Hope he can just keep getting better and better there because that and the balance is really all I see that's even close to a worry.
Mrb1p
PRICERSTOPDAPUCK
These skating "deficiencies" look more like nitpicking at this point more than anything...
I mean, OK, he's not Paul Byron...but the guy isn't Latendresse either.
I mean, OK, he's not Paul Byron...but the guy isn't Latendresse either.
The Great Weal
Phil's Pizza
- Jan 15, 2015
- 52,856
- 66,126
Mrb1p
PRICERSTOPDAPUCK
Tag me ill destroy them
dackelljuneaubulis02
Registered User
- Oct 13, 2012
- 11,565
- 6,894
I did see him on his arse again on one play. I've seen that a lot from him. I'm not worried but I don't want my potential #1 C (really hope he'll be our #2) on his can half the time.
If he can be a better skater than Galchenyuk, I'd be happy. AG just never seemed to improve enough in that area though he did get better and it wasn't exactly 'bad'. I could be exaggerating but Kotka seemed to really improve this offseason. His speed doesn't look like a weakness at the very least. Balance and being stronger on his feet is what I want to still see improve.
But man oh man he looks good. Before seeing him a lot I was a bit underwhelmed (stupidly I must say) by people going on about his IQ being one of the best parts of his game but when you see the decisions he makes and how quick he makes them, it's very impressive. That rush he made after fighting off those players and the resulting pass in the slot was just so smooth and smart.
The effort level's there. He'll be a menace once he fills out too. Nice to see him around the net on his goal. Super stoked to see what he does this year.
le_sean
Registered User
- Oct 21, 2006
- 40,169
- 40,510
Habs could have won the lottery and people would find reasons to dislike Dahlin. f*** them, it’s always been like that.
le_sean
Registered User
- Oct 21, 2006
- 40,169
- 40,510
So you saw him fall once today and that makes you afraid that he’ll spend half of a game falling?
dackelljuneaubulis02
Registered User
- Oct 13, 2012
- 11,565
- 6,894
seen it in plenty of highlights. Jeez, didn't I gush over him enough to express just one or two concerns? lol
For sure, but we also have to remember this kid was 17yrs old 1 month ago...balance & strength should come with time as his body grows and he becomes a man.
It's less of a concern for me than it was at draft day, when it seemed that's all anyone could talk about.
I can't stress enough how impressed i've been with his hockey sense, well at least in the limited amount of games i've seen him in.
And to me, when you have hockey sense, you can overcome any weakness in your game
DramaticGloveSave
Voice of Reason
- Apr 17, 2017
- 14,643
- 13,358
It's not that he doesn't move well, he's got speed and is a good athlete. But he does seem to lose his balance frequently and it's probably the thing he needs to work on most. And since he's 18, that's okay, but it is a real thing.
I don’t think anyone is going to mistaken him for McDavid, but Kotkaniemi’s skating is not going to hold him back. I think it looks awkward in part because he’s so tall and lanky. He’s quick though, and as he continues to improve his agility and strength on his skates, he’s going to be hard to contain.
The good news is that balance can easily be improved with time as he grows into his frame and appropriate training. Jets fans, who referred to Scheifele as Bambi, know all too well.
The progress he's made in his skating the last half year has been nothing short of excellent.
Many dont realise how hard it is to come back to top speed from a torn ACL
dackelljuneaubulis02
Registered User
- Oct 13, 2012
- 11,565
- 6,894
I keep forgetting about this.
I see this a lot too. I may wrongly attribute this to being a balance issue. I don't know but yeah you explained the problem well. As long as we keep seeing that improve, I won't worry but it is an issue.
CHwest
Talent sets the floor, character sets the ceiling.
- May 24, 2011
- 3,522
- 4,613
From the highlites I've seen, not just the ones on this thread but all of them, I am struck by how well he sees chances developing and how fast he makes the decision to put the puck in the right place. I guess you guys would call it vision or IQ? His passing reminds me a lot of Markov's, he lays the puck into an area and all of a sudden a team mate skates into it. That cannot be taught, it just is. I don't get to excited about prospects, but will admit this young man has me going. I wonder how long before the binman trades him. 
He is so good with his stick. What a long reach!!
This guy will be tough To play against . His iq and his anticipation help him to be a very good player offensively and defensively.
When you are smart like him you dont need To skate like the wind.
For what i have seen so far....he is a lot smarter on the ice than galchenyuk
This guy will be tough To play against . His iq and his anticipation help him to be a very good player offensively and defensively.
When you are smart like him you dont need To skate like the wind.
For what i have seen so far....he is a lot smarter on the ice than galchenyuk
WeThreeKings
Habs cup - its in the BAG
Well yes. His IQ and Anticipation would be his greatest strengths as a player. I mean if you put Kotkaniemis brain in Galchenyuks head, you'd have one of the best players in the league.
- Status
Ad
Upcoming events
-
-
-
-
THE 150th KENTUCKY DERBY ( GRADE 1 ) - NBC - YOU MAY BET ON TWO HORSESWagers: 18Staked: $9,647.00Event closes- Updated:
-
