Player Discussion Suzuki vs Kotkaniemi

[SakuKoivu11]

Suzuki currently has 20 points 7 are goals with -2. His ice time average this year is 18:41 per game. Faceoff percentage is 44.1%. Suzuki is 21. He spent most of the year playing with the default first line Anderson and Drouin.

Kotkaniemi currently has 15 points 4 are goals with +6. His ice time average is 14:40. His faceoff percentage is 48.2%. He is 20 years old. He spent most of they year playing with Toffoli who is currently leading the team in goals.

Comparing the two players. Suzuki is definitely got the harder matchup than Kotkaniemi. They producing at the same rate but Suzuki averages 4 more minutes per game than Kotkaniemi. That over 31 games means Suzuki has been on the ice for 124 more minutes or 2 full NHL games than Kotkaniemi while producing 5 more points than Kotkaniemi.

I’m glad we have both young stars. I like Suzuki he’s going to be a very good two way player. I don’t think Kotkaniemi has reach his peak yet. If he improves his skating he’s going to be a high point producer. If you consider Kotkaniemi being 1 year younger than Suzuki and if he gets the same amount of ice time as Suzuki. He will be producing around the same rate as Suzuki.

basically what I’m saying is both players have very high ceiling and we are just seeing a glimp.

but I think when Kotkaniemi is 25 he would out produce Suzuki. I see Kotkaniemi as potential 70 points player 20 goals 50 assists. I see Suzuki being 60 points player 30 goals 30 assists.

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[Lafleurs Guy]

It's going to be fun to watch both of them develop in the coming years. Excited about both. I don't think either will be a top 10 NHL player but I think both have legit 1st line potential. Would be great if we have 1A and 1B centers.

There will be growing pains though and I hope people are patient with them.

 

[Mrb1p]

KKs a third liner, havent you heard?

 

[Big Empty]

Whoever plays with Caufield will put up the most points

 

[CheldishGamibno]

Whoever plays with Caufield will put up the most points

So, both? Lines blender is powerful here

 

[Mrb1p]

So, both? Lines blender is powerful here

DDs blender could blend bricks...

Fkn hate that guy

 

[26Mats]

It's going to be fun to watch both of them develop in the coming years. Excited about both. I don't think either will be a top 10 NHL player but I think both have legit 1st line potential. Would be great if we have 1A and 1B centers.

There will be growing pains though and I hope people are patient with them.

It will be fun if both become 1A and 1b centers, but not so much if both plateau in their development. It's way too early to tell what each will become. And we have to be patient with them. But there's no guarantees they'll succeed.

Ideally, we get a #1 center, and they fill the 2 and 3 holes until one of them is ready to be a #1. But we know how hard it is to get a #1 center.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

It will be fun if both become 1A and 1b centers, but not so much if both plateau in their development. It's way too early to tell what each will become. And we have to be patient with them. But there's no guarantees they'll succeed.

Ideally, we get a #1 center, and they fill the 2 and 3 holes until one of them is ready to be a #1. But we know how hard it is to get a #1 center.

I have faith in both players. At worst case I think we'll wind up with two excellent number two centers who can share roles.

 

[26Mats]

I have faith in both players. At worst case I think we'll wind up with two excellent number two centers who can share roles.

Because neither is a #1 yet, anything can happen: an injury or a flattening of their development curve. Imo, we won't know until each is 25.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Because neither is a #1 yet, anything can happen: an injury or a flattening of the err or development curve. Imo, we eon't know until each is 25.

That's true of any player or prospect. They can get hit by a bus... sure. But based on what we see from them now, there's good reason to be excited. Both are going to be solid two way players.

 

[the]

Solid 2nd line centers

Suzuki with better upside.

 

[Big Empty]

Solid third liners

Massive regression incoming for KK and Suzuki at 20 years old

 

[26Mats]

That's true of any player or prospect. They can get hit by a bus... sure. But based on what we see from them now, there's good reason to be excited. Both are going to be solid two way players.

I'm excited by them.

But if I were MB, I would still be trying to add a number 1 center. As I said, it could take 4 and 5 years for each to become number 1 centers, which is fine for them. It took Hertl and Couturier until 25 to breakout offensively.

But the team definitely needs a #1 center in the meantime.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Solid 2nd line centers

Suzuki with better upside.

Not sure about that. I think KK will be the more rounded player, simply because he has size and strenght that Suzuki doesn't have.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I'm excited by them.

But if I were MB, I would still be trying to add a number 1 center. As I said, it could take 4 and 5 years for each to become number 1 centers, which is fine for them. It took Hertl and Couturier until 25 to breakout offensively.

But the team definitely needs a #1 center in the meantime.

If I were MB, I'd look to add a legit #1 LD. That would give us so much bang for the buck. THAT is what we really need right now.

 

[Cookie007]

That TOI is a bit skewed. Remember we’re one of the highest penalized team cause of all the delay of game penalties. Suzuki plays PK. KK doesn’t even get a sniff.

I think KK has the higher ceiling. Tho that ceiling is inching closer to collapsing.

Suzuki we know what we’ll get. A 55-70 pt solid 2 way center. I know he was solid in the playoffs last year but apparently teams like Winnipeg is questioning his toughness with Dubois and everyone going after him. Let’s see if he can pick it up physically.

KK 2 in 10 games he shows he can be a dominant C that controls the play (last year playoffs). He can show his physical side as well. Then you get 8 in 10 games he looks lost in his own zone.

 

[le_sean]

It’s about time to start using them as 1-2 centres. Not sure why Suzuki is getting 4 mins more of TOI a game. KK has looked significantly better than him 5 on 5.

 

[Mrb1p]

It’s about time to start using them as 1-2 centres. Not sure why Suzuki is getting 4 mins more of TOI a game. KK has looked significantly better than him 5 on 5.

On the PP too, even if suzuki scored on two lasers, hes looked like shit for 20 games there, two goals dont change that.

 

[Simarino]

I love both, even if Suzuki makes me want to throw my TV remote very often lately but i just think KK got even more room to grow, a faster release could make him a 25+ goals scorer, he's already showed he can score from in tight, he just need to be more efficient with his shooting. He improved his skating alot and i think the general speed is fine but the edge work still needs alot of work but im really confident that he'll get there, he has improve tremendously in many weak areas in the last year(Faceoff,Speed, forecheck,defensive play) so that makes me very optimistic about things to come for KK.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

If KK could deliver passes with accuracy and timing, that would be great.

 

[salbutera]

I wish KK would shoot more instead of looking for at pass first option

 

[Ozmodiar]

It’s about time to start using them as 1-2 centres. Not sure why Suzuki is getting 4 mins more of TOI a game. KK has looked significantly better than him 5 on 5.

People don’t understand the TOI diff because they don’t understand defensive coverage and positioning.

Suzuki is already very solid in this area. Less to coach/teach in-game. KK is learning more on the fly. As he’s learning, he’s getting more TOI. It will probably be even by season’s end.

 

[Habby4Life]

NS is & will be by far the better of the two. On this team NS will always be the 1c. NS has higher hockey IQ & is better in both ends of the ice.

 

[Bouboumaster]

Like them both, hope we get a 1/A and 1/B situation but if I had to keep only one of them, as of right now, it would have to be Suzuki.

Better 200ft game, best passer on the team by far IMO, less prone to brain farts and as good offensively.

KK brings an edge and is almost as good as Suzuki IMO offensively but his defense game needs a bit of work

 

[David Suzuki]

Whoever plays with Caufield will put up the most points

Suzuki - KK - Caufield

jokes on you