We now know the real reason why the CH drafted Jesperi Kotkaniemi instead of Brady Tkachuk

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MarcO
February 24, 2023 (8:12)

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A very interesting piece of information just surfaced, as former Montreal Canadiens scout Grant McCagg revealed the real reasons behind the Tricolore's selection at third overall in the 2018 NHL Draft.

Before getting into the nitty gritty, McCagg wanted to clarify a few details:

"I'm amazed at how many scouting experts knew that Brady Tkachuk would go from 8 goals in college, to 22 goals in the NHL the following season. NHL teams are lacking in great scouting talent. They should add a 33rd club called the Hindsighters and hire them. They would never lose.

The funny thing is that the majority of Tricolore fans who wanted to pass on Kotkaniemi preferred Zadina. But today... everyone who complains about missing out on Tkachuk is acting like he was the guy they all wanted back then." - Grant McCagg

He adds this about the CH's thinking about the pick with the third overall selection:

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"The Canadiens' scouting staff thought long and hard about this pick. It came down to Tkachuk or KK. (The final choice came down to Tkachuk and Kotkaniemi).

Brady's lack of goals, his rather weak defensive play and his minor skating issues pushed them towards KK. Tkachuk exceeded expectations, not KK. That happens a lot with young players." - Grant McCagg

The season just before the draft, Tkachuk had scored eight goals in 40 games in the NCAA, while KK had 10 goals in 57 games in Europe in a professional league.

However, it must be said that even though the Senators' captain had only scored eight goals, he still had 31 points in 40 games at the age of 18. That's excellent production for a first-year player.

Anyway, we know the rest, and we have to admit that barely five years later, the Montreal Canadiens' mistake is indisputable. They totally missed their chance with this selection.

Kotkaniemi is 22 years old and has 115 points, including 44 goals, in 293 career NHL games.

Tkachuk has 252 points in 333 games with the Ottawa Senators.

Credit: HabsetLNH.com

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POLL
24 FEVRIER \| 80 ANSWERS We now know the real reason why the CH drafted Jesperi Kotkaniemi instead of Brady Tkachuk If the pick was up for grabs again for the Habs in 2018, who would be your pick today?
Brady Tkachuk	48	60 %
Quinn Hughes	26	32.5 %
Noah Dobson	3	3.8 %
Evan Bouchard	3	3.8 %
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