If the Montreal Canadiens choose to select Jesperi Kotkaniemi third-overall at the NHL Draft, it wouldn’t be seen as an ‘off the board’ pick anymore.
Ever since the 2017-18 regular season ended, Montreal Canadiens fans were focused on the NHL Draft lottery. The event saw the Habs move up a single spot from four to three, the first time that’s happened since 2005 when Carey Price was the organization’s first-round pick. That third-overall pick has generated a lot of buzz and discussion, predominantly surrounding who’s name Trevor Timmins will call out for in Dallas.
Filip Zadina was the consensus third pick on most draft rankings. However, there were a lot of things to like about Brady Tkachuk and the type of play he brings to the ice. The positional need angle was focused on as well, which had fans point to Jesperi Kotkaniemi.
Kotkaniemi was projected to go in the latter half of the top ten but has seen his worth rise. Many believe him to be the best centre going into this year’s draft. With the Montreal Canadiens in dire need to add top-level talent at that position, it seemed like a no-brainer.
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That triggered the possibility of Bergevin possibly trading down to where Kotkaniemi will be. On the other hand, many believed the Habs GM would take him at three regardless of what the draft board says. NHL teams have gone against the grain as far as player selection in the past before. It’s worked for them, why couldn’t it work for the Habs?
With the draft set for next week, Kotkaniemi may not be considered an ‘off the board’ selection anymore. Bob McKenzie has been an excellent source of information ahead of the event in Dallas. His latest episode of the Bobcast saw him discuss the event in which the Montreal Canadiens take Kotkaniemi third-overall.
According to McKenzie, several scouts have valued Kotkaniemi above both Zadina and Tkachuk. If the Finnish centre is the Habs choice, no one would bat an eye. He’s earned the right to be taken that high based on his level of play and potential ceiling as a centre.
Craig Button has been one of the main draft analysts to say that the Habs should take Kotkaniemi. His rankings had him fifth, but his opinion on the matter hasn’t changed.
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With the amount of discussion around it, it’s starting to look more and more that the Montreal Canadiens will be drafting Kotkaniemi next week. And it fits the statement that Zadina made at the combine earlier this month. There’s still time for that to change, but that looks to be on the cusp of reality at the moment.