|
Who Is The “Best Player Available” At #3? Bob MacKenzie Has Spoken… |
|
|
|
|
|
With all the major player ranking lists on this years draft crop out in the wild one thing is certain: No one knows for certain who becomes the newest Canadiens player at #3.
I have speculated about who I believe the Canadiens will, and should, take in my previous blog about Brady Tkachuk so I’ll leave that for you to read in my archives. But, it seems that the 6’2”, 182 lbs C (or is he a Winger?) Jesperi Kotkaniemi has rocketed up the charts after his performance at the World Under-18 Championships in April and is making a case to be selected at 3rd overall.
Now, it appears Kotkaniemi played more on the Wing than at Center this past season so those clamoring for this pick due to him being the coveted C may want to just wait before really hitching their wagon to him and his 29 points in 57 games with Assat in Liiga (Finnish professional men’s league). The point totals don’t wow, but he was a boy playing with men so when you look at that angle you can see there appears to be a solid foundation with which to grow. Speaking of growing, Kotkaniemi is one of the younger players available this Draft while Tkachuk is literally the oldest (I think).
His play at international tournaments (U18/U20) paints him in a much better light with a combined 13 G and 18 A in 28 games to go with 2 G and 2 A in 4 games at the Hlinka Mem Tourney. The kid can clearly play amongst his peers and held his own as a 17 year old in a Men’s league.
But is he a Center? Lord Master Bob Mackenzie released his final draft rankings and Kotkaniemi was launched into the 5th best available prospect position. He also is listed as a C on Bob’s list so while I do trust MacKenzie (as we all should) I still wonder if this is a slam dunk C pick or if the lack of top end C’s propped J Kotkaniemi to this position due to circumstances of positional players available.
Consider also that as a younger add there is no possibility of the Canadiens using him this season and isn’t a sure thing for the following season either. A knock on him is his skating and while some scouts/management will say they can fix the skating, it’s not entirely guaranteed that will happen either (see: Strome, Dylan. Arizona). If Kotkaniemi is rising due to one tournament and a lack of available talent at his position, I think it’s fair to ask if he really is a top 5 pick or if he’s being propped up by the Draft Hype Train.
Oh, Bob also listed Brady Tkachuk at 3rd overall. Don’t mind me while I pat myself on the back for that call…. Awesome.
One scouting service states they may consider Kotkaniemi a late top 10 pick as of today. It’s actually a scouting service who’s opinion I value in McKeen’s Hockey and it’s provided by one of their top scouts, Ryan Wagman. The final McKeen’s list has the Finnish Center at 13th overall, but in the Twitter comments Wagman did say that as of today it’s possible he should go in the 8-10 range. He also states in the comments that he believes Montreal will select Tkachuk as well.
So I’ve mentioned J Kotkaniemi and B Tkachuk but what about the player who was thought to be a lock for 3rd or 4th overall most of the season in RW Filip Zadina?
Zadina seems to be a victim of being quietly consistent and Draft hype. Zadina threw together a fantastic rookie campaign with the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL putting up 44 G and 38 A in 57 games. He also was dominant at this seasons World Junior competition scoring 7 G and 1 A in 7 games for the Czech Republic. A smooth skater with a wicked release sure would look good with Drouin…
So how could the Canadiens pass on the sniping RW? Good question. The problem the Canadiens, and us fans, are having is we are spoilt for choice.
Who do you take? Talented, NHL ready LW or RW in Tkachuk or Zadina? Or the best available (hopeful) C that is 1-3 years away in Kotkaniemi? All these players have size, skill, and impact potential. Whoever Montreal takes will be a fantastic addition to the organization but it will be upsetting to see the Senators take one of those forwards right after…
I will stand behind my call for Tkachuk at #3 because I feel this is a player who has so much room to grow and is already built like a lumberjack. The talk around Tkachuk is that he may end up being as good or better than his older brother Matthew Tkachuk of the Calgary Flames (and my favorite Flame as a newly relocated Calgarian/Albertan). If this speculation is more foreshadowing than wishful thinking then I would hate to see the Canadiens pass on him. Tkachuk showed us all at the World Juniors that he is an impact player amongst his peers and thrives under pressure.
To pass on adding a player like this to a core that includes Price, Weber, Drouin, Domi and Gallagher would be a mistake. Add to that Tkachuk could also be tried at C if he returns to Boston U next season and Bergevin could come out smelling like roses for that pick. The Habs get better really quickly without having to empty the wallet to another GM who will make Bergevin pay out the nose for C help.
Bottom line, no matter if it’s Tkachuk, Zadina, Kotkaniemi, or one of the few elite D prospects available the Habs will land someone who immediately will make the organization better.
In fact, the more I think about who to pick the more I realize the notion of trading down a few spots could be on the horizon as well. If there is a GM that believes there is only one consensus #3 pick and they want him badly enough it could end up being a mini payday for the Canadiens if they can remain in the top 8 and still land one of the three forwards discussed here.
#ExpectTheUnexpected
Go Habs Go!
Oh, also…. I’m liking this Domi kid already!
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»