KK
Suzuki
Drouin
Brook
Romanov
Juulsen
Primeau

Bonus

Teasdale
Lehkonen
Vejdemo
Ikonen
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Weal
Reilly

I think I'd take Poehling over Suzuki if I had to choose honestly. No doubt Zukes is the more talented player, but Poehling offers a more complete package that would complement KK better. Everything else i'm on the same page as you

Poehling at best a 2C, Suzuki at best a mitch marner

If Poehling were to exceed expectations and play like a ROR type player (because lets agree he does play a similar 2-way style). I would take that over a Marner. I also think chances that Poehling reaches ROR level potential are higher than Suzuki reaching Marner potential. Let's be real though! the odds for both Suzuki or Poehling becoming any of those guys are still low. I just don't think Suzuki has the speed Marner has. Vision and Hands yes, but not speed.

In the description you said meet or exceeds the expectations. I totally agree Poehling have way more chance to be a ROR than Suzuki a Marner, but I rather have a Marner than ROR. That’s my opinion, but I prefer Poehling than Suzuki

Caufield tied a 16 year record Ovechkin set in 2002 while playing beside Poehling
Caufield played beside Jack Hughes the year before and didnt even have half the success he did with Poehling.

KK is great but he's used in a lesser role in Finland representing his country as a 3rd line Center compared to Poehling who's been 2nd Center for the past 3 team USA rosters he's been on. Poehling is a Centerman's Center and anyone who thinks 2nd Center at best just learned who he was December 2018 and have not watched him develop into the stud he is today .

Poehlings told he wasnt strong enough in year 1 and puts on 40 lbs of pure muscle since , year 2 challenge on offense and stood out over Jack Hughes an uncontested future #1 Center by anyone with a pulse on hockey's beat. Told he wasnt fast enough so he worked all summer in Minnisotta on that and his conditioning . Koivu is the last rookie i remember putting in this much work .

Kotkanemi's awesome but he's not a #1 Center he was just the #1 Center available at the time
99% of all fans didnt know who he was until a day after he was drafted expecting Tkachuk ,Zadina ,Hughes or Boqvist
no one expected Kotkanemi or Hayton to go #8-18 as ranked in the final draft projections because they were not true #1 Centers

Tkachuk , Zadina , Boqvist and Hughes are all set to be top line players in their organization in the coming years but Kotkanemi is not if we're being honest. Kotkanemi is great but if he's our top line Center its like picking over Koivu to promote Plekanec all over again .

i get you dont follow hockey outside the NHL but i'm someone who does and i can see clearly Poehlings extreme work ethic and his ability to go above /beyond is why he's the #1 guy . Factor in Caufields had more success in less time playing with Poehling then he did Hughes shows me that however close KK and RP are as prospects that Poehlings Chemistry with a dominant Goal Scorer like Caufield will give him the edge. KK is a player who plays 2nd/3rd Center until he's 25-26 at which point he'll either break out or like Eller own his Niche role.

Kotkaniemi > Poehling
Poehling won’t be a #1 centerman, but maybe an excellent #2. The only reason he might exceeds the expectation it’s because of is breathing problems they solved recently.

But Kotkaniemi have everything ( ok need more speed ) to become a #1 centerman

KK
Suzuki
Domi
Brook
Romanov
Juulsen
Primeau

Evans
Lehkonen
Vejdemo
Ikonen
Norlinder
Weal
Reilly

Poehling will be number 1 as its Caufield who is undoubtably going to be our #1 RW in the Future
i see KK settling in with Gallaghers more then i ever would him fitting in with Caufield .

Poehling has the Work Ethic you rarely see from guys like Rod Brind'amour , Brendan Gallagher or Jerome Iginla with that never say die attitude and extreme conditioning . Kotkanemi will be great in time but it will take time . if Poehling wasnt someone who take criticism constructively using it as fuel to power him then i'd total agree but he is .

Kotkanemi's got a lot of heart but he's not particularly great at any 1 thing but really good in a lot of area's and players like that take time just look at Patrice Bergeron under the same coach .

i get why fans NEED Kotkanemi the be Finnish Jesus however Poehlings done things the right way regardless of what MTL management wanted
Kotkanemi rolled the dice like Leblanc and Mccarron before him leaving their development in order to help with MTL's 10 year problem with Center depth since Koivu left .In the end i think this will have a negative effect him coming over to early and i think he's most likely going to get his shoulder seperated like Mccarron .(mccarron said post surgery it happened in 2014-15 and never set back in right.)

I saw this with Galchenyuk to, rushed into the NHL and 23 games i believe it was into the first season after his first 30 goal season he goes knee on knee with Kopitar and has never been the same . guys like Poehling are built like a brick **** house and they'll man handle you like Shane Doan made a name doing .

No trades, what is your line up for next year ?