Many people are worried about Jesperi Kotkaniemi's development. The young man's play has been very inconsistent since the beginning of his career, which makes some fans sow doubt in their minds. The Montreal Canadiens have high hopes for him, considering his third-place selection in the 2018 NHL draft.
However, we must be patient with KK, who is only 21 years old. He had a good first NHL campaign with 34 points in 79 games, which created a lot of expectations for the future. After that, it was much more difficult for KK to find stability in the lineup, as he lacks consistency in his game. This is legitimate, as Kotkaniemi was obviously not ready to make the jump to the NHL at 18. He should have returned to Finland to develop physically and build his game.
If you look into it, you can be very happy. Some stars in the NHL have had slower starts, before exploding offensively. I'm not saying that KK will blow up the score sheet, but there is a strong possibility that KK will become a good top-6 center, just like these ones.
I remind you that Kotkaniemi may not become a player of their caliber, but the Habs must do everything in their power to help him develop. The Montreal organization must start by providing him with quality wingers and considerable ice time.
