Kotkaniemi: Eyeing roster spot with the Canadiens

BROSSARD - After spending some quality time back home in Finland, Jesperi Kotkaniemi returned to Canada recently with one objective in mind.

"My main goal is to play with the Canadiens," affirmed the 18-year-old forward following the first day of Rookie Camp at the Bell Sports Complex on Thursday. "I think it's a big point in my career and I want to get to the big stage."
Kotkaniemi will have a prime opportunity to impress the Habs' brass beginning on Friday night when the NHL Rookie Showdown starts at Place Bell in Laval.

The Canadiens' youngsters will square off against the best and brightest in the Ottawa Senators' system to begin the tournament, which also includes the Toronto Maple Leafs' top prospects.
"I played a few games [in Finland] before I came here, so that was a good thing. I think I'm ready now," mentioned Kotkaniemi, who will be featured at center for the tilt against Ottawa. "I'm pretty excited. It's great to be here again and see the boys. It's been a while."
If Kotkaniemi doesn't manage to crack the Canadiens' roster out of training camp, playing for the AHL's Laval Rocket or returning to his Finnish Elite League club are primary options, of course.
He isn't thinking that far ahead, though.
"I'm just trying to go day by day," said the third-overall selection in the 2018 NHL Draft. "I think the best thing I can do is give what I have."
The man charged with handling the coaching responsibilities for games and practices at Rookie Camp this time around - Rocket bench boss, Joël Bouchard - is eager to see Kotkaniemi at work in the coming days.
"You're not drafted third overall because you won a Cracker Jack contest. It's because you do something well on the ice, or you have the potential to do something good on the ice, which is very exciting for the organization, the Montreal fans and even the coaching staff," praised Bouchard. "He's evasive for a big guy. He's fun to watch. You could tell that he's a hockey player."

Like Kotkaniemi, forward Will Bitten also has high hopes as he begins his freshman campaign in the pros following a stellar four-year OHL career.
"My objective has always been to make the big club," explained Bitten, who is making his third appearance at Rookie Camp after being selected in the third round, 70th overall in 2016. "I play an aggressive brand of hockey and I can put the puck in the net, so I think I'll be ready and I'm pretty excited to make the jump."
Victor Mete is a source of inspiration for the 20-year-old Gloucester, ON native in his quest to make his NHL dreams come true. The two go way back, and Bitten would very much like to follow in Mete's footsteps.
"He's one of my good friends. I text him all the time. He had a good camp [last year] and made the most of his opportunity. Now, he's in the NHL," said Bitten, who models his game after Brendan Gallagher, Paul Byron and Travis Konecny. "I'd like to do that, too. I'll do my best and take it from there."

No doubt centerman Jake Evans has a roster spot with the Habs on his mind as well now that his tenure with the University of Notre Dame in the NCAA ranks has come to an end.
"I always kept note of this tournament and always wanted to put on that Habs uniform and that Habs gear," shared Evans, the seventh-round selection of the Canadiens - 207th overall - back in 2014. "It's definitely exciting now and just fun to get back and start competing again."
The 22-year-old Toronto native is back at full-strength after undergoing surgery to repair a sports hernia in early May.