Bergevin: Kotkaniemi a 'natural center' that was 'ideal choice'

DALLAS - In Jesperi Kotkaniemi, general manager Marc Bergevin sees a young player with long-term potential.

The 17-year-old Finn also just happens to play center, a position Bergevin and his staff are focused on improving.
By selecting Kotkaniemi in the No. 3 spot on Friday night, he believes he certainly took another step towards achieving that objective.
"I'm really happy for the Montreal Canadiens moving forward with [Ryan] Poehling coming and Jesperi. I think we'll have a solid down-the-middle line for years to come," said Bergevin, following the conclusion of Round 1 of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft at American Airlines Center. "The future of that position, which is a very important position, I think it's bright."

There were many things that sold Bergevin on Kotkaniemi, especially the way he performed during the second half of the 2017-18 campaign both in the Finnish Elite League and on the international scene as well.
"He really upped his level of play. He was showing more and more potential. For us, it was the ideal choice," explained Bergevin, who made Kotkaniemi the first of eight centermen selected on the night. "Young centers with a lot of potential don't just come around. You have to draft them. We had a chance to take one with our third pick. It was something we couldn't pass up."
In Bergevin's eyes, Kotkaniemi brings plenty to the table in the way of positive attributes.
"I see him as a player that will play 200 feet. He's a natural center. He's good offensively and responsible defensively. If you're up by a goal, he's on the ice. If you're down by a goal, he's on the ice. He's a player that can eventually become a complete centerman and play in all types of situations," praised Bergevin, who most recently met with Kotkaniemi at the 2018 NHL Scouting Combine in Buffalo. "He plays the right way. He's got a flair around the net. He moves the puck well... You can see his frame, he's not a big guy right now, but he's got a frame where he can fill in."
The question now is when Kotkaniemi might be ready to make the jump to the NHL ranks. In that regard, one thing is certain - Bergevin isn't going to rush him.

"He's coming to Montreal next week for our Development Camp. We'll look at him closely and we'll go from there," indicated Bergevin. "We'll do what's best for him in the long run, but we also have to look at the big picture and his future."
Bergevin isn't ruling anything out, though, in terms of Kotkaniemi being given every opportunity to showcase his skills to the Canadiens' brass and prove that he might just be ready to take another step forward.
"Did I think Victor Mete would make the NHL last season? Sometimes, players make decisions for us with their performance," explained Bergevin. "It won't change with Jesperi."
The bottom line is that Bergevin firmly believes he secured the services of the "best player available" at a position the Canadiens were hoping to address with their highest pick since 2012.
It shouldn't come as a surprise then that Bergevin was "extremely happy" with the way things played out in the opening round.
"The way we evaluate him, he's getting more mature, he's got more confidence and he's going to get stronger," said Bergevin. "I saw him in Plymouth. I saw tape on him. He had a good [U18] tournament in Russia in April. Shane Churla and Trevor Timmins were there and our European scouts were there. He was one the best players in his age group. Everyone in the NHL saw that."