2) Besides Jesperi Kotkaniemi, which prospect from the Habs 2018 Draft Class has caught your attention the most?
ZC: I don’t think this is going to be a common choice for this question, but my answer is Cole Fonstad. I’ve been breaking down some of Cole’s film for a while now after the Habs selected him, and it’s easy to see why they were so thrilled with the pick. He already thinks the game really well and has the skill to go along with it, and if he can touch up on his skating, don’t be shocked if he’s making swift plays for the Habs in 3-4 years.
NL: The guy I’m most excited from the 2018 NHL draft aside from Kotkaniemi has to be Jesse Ylonen. I see him becoming a great player with his speed and could make a great duo with Kotkaniemi.
WS: Jacob Olofsson is the player outside of Kotkaniemi I’m most excited to see develop into an NHLer. Olofsson is a 6’2″ center with a heavy shot. He’s scored everywhere he’s gone and even when he wasn’t relied upon for Sweden in the World Juniors, he owned his role and played a significant part in arguably the best defensive team in the tournament. He was drafted 56th overall and could very well end up being a solid two-way forward (probably second or third liner) for a lengthy time in the NHL. This will likely see him turn out to be a good player.
MK: Alexander Romanov. He’s not huge but, not tiny at 5’11” and 185 lbs, yet still able to play physical. A left-handed offensive defenseman with a great shot and the potential to develop his passing into something much better is just what we need. Montreal must have seen something in him to draft him so much earlier than any draft rankings had him at.
KR: I haven’t seen much, but I did like the limited amount I saw from Jesse Ylonen. I like that he’s fast and creative. Good assets to have for the new, faster, and skilled NHL. Might he be a future winger for Kotkaniemi?
OW: Definitely Oloffson as I had him circled on my list of potential second-round picks headed into the draft. I liked what I saw from the videos of him playing with Filip Hallander in Timrå. He sees the ice very well and his ability to skate with the puck and make a move in-stride was something that stood out for him. He surely has NHL potential and should be a player for Habs fans to pay attention to at the World Juniors.