Last night was the celebrations for the Montreal Canadiens' 110th anniversary at Bell Center. Several former captains were on site, to the delight of the crowd. The interviews were numerous, but there was one that caught our attention more than the others.
Saku Koivu is the player who has had the difficult task of being captain of the Montreal Canadiens the longest in the history of the franchise. When he gives his point of view, it should not be taken lightly. He allowed himself to comment on Jesperi Kotkaniemi devrlopment who, according to him, should not have started his career in the NHL at 18:
"You also have to know your own potential. I imagine he felt ready for the NHL at age 18 and was ready to leave home. It's not just hockey that has to be considered when talking about an 18-year-old. It's quite a shock to leave the house and change countries. Personally, I always like to see a player spend one more season in the junior ranks or in his home country. It is often better to wear the colors of the national team and to play an important role as being the number one center of your club. You have to gain experience. That way, you become a more complete player in your NHL debut. "
In comparison, Koivu mentioned being in the NHL at age 20, Teemu Selanne at 21. Both of them played in Finland before that time, which helped their development:
"I came to the NHL at 20 years old and Teemu (Selanne) at 21 years old. In short, Jesperi continues to learn. He needs time to assimilate an 82 games season. "
The former Habs' captain then alluded to his excellent rookie season, jokingly saying he may be wrong and he should shut up. Even though the KK points are respectable for such a young player, it is not the aspect of the young man's game that impresses the most Saku:
"It's only his second season, it takes time to become a good player. When I was 18, I would never have played in the NHL. I enjoyed two more years in Finland before coming to Montreal. There are times when we forget how young he is. When you have talent, you can do things offensively. But I am especially surprised by his defensive play, he is responsible for a young player. "
What is important to remember is that Kotkaniemi is still very young. He has a lot of talent, but a lot to learn. We must be patient with him because he certainly has all it needs to become a key part of the Canadiens' offense.
Source : RDS
