Thread on Suzuki and Kotkaniemi & what is ticking me off with how #Habs are approaching their development

On NS : He started off the season as the number 1ish C, getting Drouin & shiny new toy Anderson. Throughout the season he has stayed up in the lineup with consistent wingers

NS has gone through 3 separate slumps (1point in 7, 1 in 6, 2 in 6), but they stuck with him throughout the yr, consistently giving him the same linemates and using him >18mins. Now he is lighting it up and it looks like it's the right approach w a young talented player (it is)

On Kotkaniemi : started the yr as the clear 3C (which is fine), playing w TT which was very satisfying. His line murdered Vancouver, he had a 7pts in 7gp stretch

I was actually ok with his deployment and 34 games in he was trailing NS by only 5pts while playing 3.5minues less/GP

I chose the 34 gm mark because to me thats where things changed for KK. After the coaching change, his minutes went up a bit, and he was playing his best hockey of the yr. But game 35 is where Eric Staal comes into the equation. Although KK was playing better than NS at the time,

Staal comes in and for no apparent reason other than pleasing the new vet, Kotkaniemi loses his spot to him. Since then, Kotkaniemi has 3pts (19gp). He was already getting different wingers often before, but after that, DD took that to another level.

Not gonna lie, KK needs to be better right now, but I truly think he is being failed by the org.

The way they have handled NS compared to him is mind boggling to me. I absolutely love how they stuck w Nick as the 2C all yr, and I just wish they had stuck w KK as the 3C

The End.