IMO no he is not .

there are only maybe 3-4 NHL ready guys
Dahlin
Svechnikov
Zadina
Dobson


the rest need atleast a couple months in the AHL adjusting to Pro Level
especially if they are coming over from Europe Development .

I wouldn't bring him right away. He's only 17 and hasn't even finished grade 11 - no way do I want him exposed to the rabid Montreal market so soon. Let him develop in SM Liiga and finish high-school first.

Ready 2019-20.

Kotkaniemi already plays pro, that's not the issue.

So what do we do for next year?who will be the number one center? Are we just accepting another hard year to and have another early first next year?

dont think he would be pro ready on Montreal, too thin at C unless they land a stastny or Tavares for him o be sheltered behind.
If Kotkaniemi , Domi, and Drouin (sometimes) are going to be the C depth to start the season, thats asking for trouble to ruin the kid by not putting him in the best position to develop and succeed

Montreal should be patient if they draft Kotkaniemi, that roster isnt one piece away from turning it around. Stay the course and get this right over time

Exact- lets get another high pick, let the kids develop and build his confidence. Also, we have 4 2nd round pick - so we just might another Subban hidden in there ect. Give it two year of fringe playoff, get more pick.

Trade Patch at TD and resign him the next summer like with Plek

last step: profit

For Kotkaniemi, lets be patient, Pierre-luc Dubois was not NHL ready when they drafted him, but look at him this year - he is doing great!

Bouchard is much more NHL ready than Dobson according to everyone I have heard talk about them.

I don't think he's quite ready for the NHL. He has 29 points over 57 games in the Liiga. If he was over a point a game, then he would be NHL ready, the Liiga is much less talented than the NHL, no offense to the Liiga players. A year or 2 in the AHL would do wonders for him though.

Haven't you seen Hughes play? That's not a bad strategy at all.

Yeah I know he is very great and he would be my main target but I don't know if Bergevin would accept to lose all year.