Kotkaniemi vs Whalstrom

[ACC90]

He's performing how I would expect a top center prospect should perform against AHL level talent teams.
He hasn't really had to play against a real NHL squad so far this pre-season.

Also, Montreal hasn't had a centre this talented since maybe Saku Koivu or Yannick Perrault, so it's very easy to see the skill stand out.

This coming from an overly biased Habs fan, I'm still taking Wahlstrom and even Zadina over the Eagle if I had the choice.

I agree that he is playing against AHLers and we need to evaluate him against real NHLers.
The 9 games window could be a good sample and we will see if he need to go back in Europe or maybe be used to NA rink with Laval's Rocket

[Jouko-Pouko]

Yeah it's impressive how the kid progress since August at the rookies camp.
He was one of the youngest drafted and can progress a lot.

Strengths : His IQ is impressive (good playmaker), his shot is underated
Weakness : His skating need more explosion, more weight to be stronger in NHL

Very doubtful he's actually progressed over such a short period of time, more likely he's just adjusted to the North American rink size and style of play. Players like him do progress a ton over one year but rarely you see it happening in a month.

But he was a really good player already last season, and the strengths and weaknesses you listed were obviously visible already then.

[Dover]

For now it’s too hard for me to compare these 2. We will have a better idea next year when they will both play at the pro level.

[Bazz]

Without FOW, Whalstrom

[Kabonov]

Without FOW, Whalstrom

you always stake the sniper that shoot 1st mentality