The Montreal Canadiens have struggled to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs
in two of their last three seasons. Each of these years, the team has relied
too much on goaltender Carey Price, and they keep forgetting to address their
biggest need. Their lack of depth down the middle of the ice has always been a
 problem and is something Montreal needs to rectify in order to compete with
the rest of the league.Number one overall pick Rasmus Dahlin (left) , second
overall pick Andrei Svechnikov (middle) and third overall pick Jesperi
Kotkaniemi (right) pose for a photo during the first round of the 2018 NHL
Draft at American Airlines Center. (Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports)

When the Canadiens won the third overall pick, there was a ton of speculation
with what direction the organization was going to go in. Rasmus Dahlin was the
clear-cut number one pick going to the Buffalo Sabres and Andrei Svechnikov was
 to follow and go to the Carolina Hurricanes. After coming off another
miserable season, management knew they had to draft a big body down the middle
of the ice. They did exactly that, drafting centreman Jesperi Kotkaniemi out of
 the Finnish Elite League (Liiga).The Canadiens Finnish Connection

Kotkaniemi was very thrilled with where he ended up in the draft. Not just
because Montreal is the centre of the hockey world, but because of the
connection that the Canadiens have with Finland. Kotkaniemi';s childhood heroes
 were Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu, the latter of which served as captain for
the Canadiens for 14 seasons. Koivu watched his younger countryman contribute
on a massive scale, as Kotkaniemi helped the Finns take home gold at the U-18
World Junior Championship earlier this year.

A first meeting. They hadn't even spoken yet. The ghosts of Canadiens past and
future. pic.twitter.com/PzcIwIeybn

- Аrpon Basu (@ArponBasu) August 17, 2018

Kotkaniemi and Koivu were teammates in the West Coast Alumni Game in Finland
this summer, which allowed the two to connect for the first time since
Kotkaniemi was drafted. There are a lot of expectations with being a top pick,
and the pressure magnifies in a hockey-crazed city like Montreal.

It could be overwhelming for Kotkaniemi, but it';s invaluable to have someone
like Koivu in his corner. Koivu has played in that city and could help with the
 transition from playing in Finland to playing in North America. "I think he
will give me good advice about Montreal, I hope someday I will be as good as
him, that';s my mission," Kotkaniemi said about Koivu after being drafted by
Montreal.

Kotkaniemi will also have Finnish forward Artturi Lehkonen on the current
roster that will help ease his transition.Kotkaniemi - A Boy Among Men

At 6-foot-2, Kotkaniemi stands out from the 2018 draft class literally and
figuratively. He is described by most scouts as a smart forward with a
dangerous shot, great size and strong skating abilities. He always positions
himself well, and utilizes his size and speed to gain a step on defenders.

What Kotkaniemi does not get enough credit for is his IQ and knowledge of the
game of hockey, something he credits his father for. The 18-year-old is coming
off a campaign where he put up 10 goals and 29 points in 57 games while playing
 for the team his father coaches - the Pori Aces in Liiga. The numbers are not
 something that jumps out on paper, but when you put it into perspective that
he was playing with guys twice his age, the maturity level is high and
something that the Canadiens scouts fell in love with.Jesperi Kotkaniemi,
Montreal Canadiens, 2018 NHL Draft, Dallas, TX, June 22, 2018 (Amy Irvin / The
Hockey Writers)

Since leaving development camp, the young centerman has focused his efforts on
improving his skating. The NHL is a much faster league than Kotkaniemi is
accustomed to, and he is hoping that his training throughout the summer will
pay dividends by the start of rookie camp in early September.Big Expectations

There has not been a decision made yet on whether Kotkaniemi will play for
Montreal next season or return back to Finland, but he is doing whatever it
takes to crack the team this year. Following the draft, the youngster announced
 that he would play preseason games for his home team back in Finland before
heading to Montreal for camp. Jesperi already has scored five points in four
preseason games to lead all scorers.Jesperi Kotkaniemi of the Finland Nationals
 (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images)

Being soft-spoken might work well in other markets, but Kotkaniemi will be
expected to deliver as soon as he hits the ice in Montreal. After the failed
Alex Galchenyuk experiment, this team cannot afford another mistake at centre.
The hype surrounding Kotkaniemi is real and something that he relishes in.
Ultimately, it will be up to Kotkaniemi and the Canadiens organization to see
how far they want to push their young talent this year. All things considered,
he looks and acts like the guy the Canadiens desperately needs him to be.

The post Jesperi Kotkaniemi - The Hype and Expectations appeared first on The
Hockey Writers.

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