1. Jesperi Kotkaniemi, C [18] (1-3, 2018)
Stats (Assat, Liiga): 57 gp, 10 g, 19 a, 29 p, 2 PPG, 3 GWG (7 pgp, 0 g, 1 a, 1 p).
Jesperi Kotkaniemi was the third overall pick in the 2018 entry draft and the first center taken off the board. He was projected lower in the first round at the beginning of the year and steadily rose while putting up an impressive campaign in the Liiga, Finland’s top league. Kotkaniemi has an excellent shot and a fast release and has great hockey IQ and vision. That’s why teams fell in love with him and might be why the Montreal Canadiens fell head over heels.
Kotkaniemi is not fast, however, but he is agile. He’s better on his edges and skating side to side than he is skating in a line. He also played time on the wing and avoided the penalty kill this past season, which could spell trouble for a developing center. He’ll need time on both special teams units wherever he heads next and needs to work on both sides of his game. While he transitions to North America, he’ll need to figure out how to muscle past opponents and play a more reliable game.
Kotkaniemi could be on the Laval Rocket this coming season, or he could be back with Assat in the Liiga. The Canadiens may want him ready to make the transition as soon as possible, and putting him the AHL while he continues to learn and grow could be a good thing. They need better wings in the AHL for Kotkaniemi to play with, however, and many of them are still a year away. Giving him a final season in Finland could be just as good, but not if he continues to play on the wing and off the penalty kill.