Kotkaniemi's much better for the age and he projects better also. Borgström is more of a junior player. Kotkaniemi plays an NHL game.
While i don’t disagree who was better at same age because Borgström wasn’t even drafted but Borgström plays like junior player? He plays really mature game and was really smart and defensively sound at his short stint in NHL. Kotkaniemi in the other hand was frustrating to watch because he looked like junior player in Liiga making junior mistakes by forcing bad plays when there was better options. Well he was 17 year old this year and it got better by the season progressed.
To me Kotkaniemi is mystery because he has alot of potential but has low floor too. He should be more aware about his options and not to tunnelvision because he is smart guy but seems to have too much confidence at times to force bad plays. Good player know his weaknesses and limitations. I see little bit of Kopitar in him at his draft year. Played similar game pre NHL. Kopitar developed two way game after playing couple seasons in NHL.
Borgström has more unique skill set. Speed, hands, smarts and is more dynamic. So i pick him. He lacked offensive confidence in his first games which is wierd to me but he played really sound defensive game.
Positive thing to have alot of elite talents in finnish pipeline but i think Kotkaniemi is slightly overrated right now. He has alot of potential but has some major holes in his game too. I hope he proves me wrong though.