Jesperi Kotkaniemi

Kotkaniemi enjoyed a relatively successful rookie campaign in 2018-19, posting 11 goals and 23 assists while firing 134 shots on net in 79 games. Along with rookie camp and preseason action, that sounds like a lot of hockey for an 18-year-old, and it was. He tired over the course of the year, and as a result, his playing time dipped below 13 minutes per contest over the final five weeks of the season. Coach Claude Julien definitely gave the young Finn a chance to succeed, gifting him offensive zone starts 61.9 percent of the time, but it's hardly surprising that the teenager wasn't able to produce eye-popping offensive totals in his first season as a pro. With a full year in the NHL now under his belt, fantasy owners can expect Kotkaniemi to receive increased playing time in 2019-20, which should allow the third overall pick from the 2018 draft to improve his production across the board. The 6-foot-2 forward underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in April, but he should be ready to go for training camp.

Kotkaniemi spent 2017-18 playing for Assat Pori of SM-liiga -- the top Finnish hockey league -- posting 29 points over 57 games. It wasn't until a strong showing at U18s in April that the 18-year-old shot up draft boards, eventually being taken third overall in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft by the Canadiens. He possesses an elite mind for the game and formidable size at 6-foot-2 but may need to improve his skating to contribute at the highest level. He impressed the brass enough in rookie camp that they wouldn't rule him out for the Opening Night roster, but the most likely scenario involves him beginning the campaign in the AHL and potentially debuting at some point later in the season.