It wouldn't be a Montreal post without a McCarron trade (for whatever reason). You realize that Gauthier has scored as many NHL goals in his last two games as McCarron has in his entire career.

“Kotkaniemi Is GoInG tO bE tHe NeXt BaRkOv.”

Barkov had 24 and 36 points in his first 2 seasons

never had over a PPG until last season

Don't see a point in making that Reilly trade, he's a solid #6/#7 guy. He proved it last night by playing great!

Montreal easily accepts the Goat trade. McCarron has went back to his goon ways this season after his breakout last season. If we can get value for him, I'd accept.

What in the **** is this trade? Montreal wouldn't trade KK for these 2 straight up.

Value wise, Montreal would be crazy not to accept that Cousin's trade. However, CJ loves him so I'm not sure they accept.

Maybe I am missing something here, are you saying that Montreal wouldn't trade a 19 year old for Claude Giroux AND Ghost?

I know you are just busting ballz more then anything but since posts like this cause impressionable posters on here to mimic this BS, I'm gonna set things straight.

Is it too late for him to still be the next Barkov? Its not like Barkov was lighting it up at 18-19 years old either. 28 and 36 points respectively. KK actually produced higher than Barkov did in his first year and this year isn't even half way through yet....

Seems MTL fans on here are already crapping on KK after 20 games in his second season as a teenager...

Kotkaniemi hasn't been great this year I agree but he's still only NINETEEN years old. I think people forget that Tkachuk/Zadina/Hughes etc, drafted in the same year as KK, are all 3/4 to a FULL year older than KK is... and If we're comparing KK to Svechnikov and Dahlin well that's simply not fair.

KK isn't getting the time necessary to show he can blow up offensively. Too much at stake for the Habs this year and too good of players ahead of him in the roster. (Danault is 5v5 stud with defensive acumen and Domi 72 point season last year)

Kotkaniemi will still be a stud one day. A sophomore slump won't change that.

- Huberdeau put up 28 points in his second season.
- Barkov put up 36 points in his second season.
- Scheifele only played 4 games in his second season.
- O'Reilly put up 26 points in his second season.
- Couturier put up 15 points in 46 games in his second season.
- Johansen put up 12 points in 40 games in his second season.

Even if KK isn't BaRkOv, he's on the same path as he was. Doesn't mean he has to score identically 90+ points to be considered "good". Even 60+ point centers are all stars in today's NHL.

Would be a 20 YO for 32 YO Claude Giroux and Ghost. Yes.

Giroux will retire a flyer stop trying to "french connection" him. Hes not even from Quebec

Flyers decline.

The post was bc hab fans are comparing him to barkov bc that’s the best case scenario for his ceiling. Would the barkov comparison happen if barkov was a 40 point great 2 way center? Absolutely not. I just think it’s silly to expect him to become the next Barkov. He’s a very solid young player. I wouldn’t say he’s elite yet. I wouldn’t even say he’s great yet. He’s just a young player trying to figure himself out. Should they trade him? Probably not but the real question is what are the habs actually doing? Are they trying to win now or finish up a rebuild? If they want to win now it’s not a terrible idea to get an elite center if not just be patient

I think you may be overthinking the "he's the next Barkov" claims some fans are saying. What they truthfully really are saying is:

Kotkaniemi from Finland - Barkov from Finland.
Kotkaniemi big center - Barkov big center.
Kotkaniemi drafted top 3 overall - Barkov drafted top 3 overall.
Kotkaniemi 18 year old rookie - Barkov 18 year old rookie.

That's it. Rudimentary comparisons by people who only know how to look up either players stats on HockeyDB.

Kotkaniemi doesn't have the pure skill Barkov has. He'll never score between the legs goals and put up 90+ point seasons. By that same token, KK plays nastier and shoots more than Barkov who tends to lean towards passing or deking.

With all that said, KK doesn't need to = Barkov exactly to be "the next Barkov". He just needs to be the Habs #1 center who can put up 60+ on the regular during his prime. Thats's all most Habs fans are asking for.

I can get on board with that logic but it’s asking a lot for this kid to be a 80-90 points center that also has a selke type defense ability. If he can be what Danault was last year i think that would be a pretty solid player.

The same country same position thing would be like me comparing a young Kuznetsov to becoming the next malkin. Kuznetsov is obviously a tier or 2 lower but still an amazing player.

I agree that's why I think its important to clarify what I believe some Habs fans truly meant with "the next Barkov" thing.

As for Malkin and Kuznetsov, I think you are missing the point a little but it doesn't really matter. If someone said Kuznetsov will be the next Malkin prior to him coming to the NHL and he only became what he ended up being now, would you really hold it against them? I mean Kuznetsov isn't Malkin calibre I understand but he is still a stupidly good player. It wasn't just KK and Barkov were both Finnish it was every other similarity combined that stemmed the thought. Country, size, position, draft status, rookie age, etc