When the Montreal Canadiens went on stage in Dallas and selected Jesperi Kotkaniemi third-overall, the first question asked was, is he ready? The 18-year-old was one of the better players at development camp and played very well over the summer for Finland (U20s) and Ässät (Liiga), and we asked the same question. Now with two preseason games left against the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators, we may be getting closer to that answer.
Kotkaniemi has made it to the final waves of training camp. And although it may appear at first that his draft position has a lot to do with it, he’s earned the right to remain.