|
|||
|
|||
|
 |
|
|
NHL DRAFTJune 22, 2018Jesperi KotkaniemiDallas, Texas Q. How are you? JESPERI KOTKANIEMI: Yeah, I'm happy at the moment. I was a little surprised but I heard that they are looking for center, so I hope that they choose me and they choose. So I'm so excited at the moment. Q. Did you meet them often? JESPERI KOTKANIEMI: Last time we were in Combine. Q. Inaudible. JESPERI KOTKANIEMI: No. Q. Inaudible. JESPERI KOTKANIEMI: Yeah, it's a great feeling. I think the biggest thing that I get in a great team. So I'm very excited to go there. Q. Did your performance at the championship change expectations? JESPERI KOTKANIEMI: Of course, I think that helps. I think that's the only good thing. I think if the team plays well, players are better, yeah. Q. How would you describe yourself? JESPERI KOTKANIEMI: I'm mostly a play maker I think. I love to find the passing lanes. That's my thing but I also have a good shot. I need to use it a little bit more I think but yeah, I'm a big guy. I love to go in the corners and battle hard. That's my thing, yeah. Q. When do you see yourself playing with this team? JESPERI KOTKANIEMI: That's hard to say. I just go day by day. Q. Most people think it's two or three years. Would you agree? JESPERI KOTKANIEMI: It can be. What I say, day by day. Q. What's your contract status? JESPERI KOTKANIEMI: I have two more years. Q. And your father is the coach? JESPERI KOTKANIEMI: Yeah. Q. How is that being coached by your own dad? JESPERI KOTKANIEMI: Sometimes we have fun moments but (laughter) I think we are doing really well. Q. Do you go to the games together and drive home together? JESPERI KOTKANIEMI: Yeah. Q. What's the drive home like when you don't play well? JESPERI KOTKANIEMI: That's not nice. Q. What's his influence been on you as a player, growing up, former player, someone involved in professional hockey? JESPERI KOTKANIEMI: Of course this helps a lot. I get good advices every day. That's big thing to me. Q. Do you know Zach? Have you ever met him? JESPERI KOTKANIEMI: I know him but I haven't met him. Q. Did you follow -- you're pretty young but did you follow his career at all? JESPERI KOTKANIEMI: Yeah, some games, but I was so young. Q. You obviously know what his history is with this organization? JESPERI KOTKANIEMI: Yeah, I know. Q. Do you hope to have the same impact he had on the Montréal Canadiens some day? JESPERI KOTKANIEMI: Yeah, I hope some day I will be as good as him. That's my mission. Q. What have these last couple days been like for you? JESPERI KOTKANIEMI: Excited. I'm a little nervous at this moment. I think I'm doing really well at the moment. (Laughter). Q. Did you have any expectations before the draft? JESPERI KOTKANIEMI: Wasn't any special interest to me I think. We were just in the pool, in the hotel with my friends and I think wherever I go is a good place to me. Q. Inaudible. JESPERI KOTKANIEMI: My family and my agents, so there's ten or something. Q. This is an organization that's had a gaping hole at center for quite some time and has always been -- they need to fill it. I know it's a long-term thing but are you feeling any pressure to be that guy? JESPERI KOTKANIEMI: I think I'm the cool guy. I don't take pressures. I think everywhere I go, it's just hockey. Q. Do you think your value over the last few years -- JESPERI KOTKANIEMI: If the team plays well, then better -- playing better. We win gold, so I think that was the big thing. Q. Have you spoken English for a long time? JESPERI KOTKANIEMI: It helps me a lot, last year we had a few USA players on our team. I spoke with them and that's helped me. Q. Will you start playing at center full-time to prepare for the NHL? JESPERI KOTKANIEMI: That's why I played winter last year because I was the youngest center in our team and we had many centers in there. So they put me in the wing. But I think that was good thing, too. It's good if you can play many positions -- yeah, if I want to play center, we speak that at the breakfast table (laughter). Q. Did you have any conversation with Artturi Lehkonen? JESPERI KOTKANIEMI: No, actually I haven't met him but I hope I will. Q. Inaudible. JESPERI KOTKANIEMI: I think that's possible to play. FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports   |
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
About ASAP Sports •
FastScripts Archive •
Recent Interviews •
Captioning •
Upcoming Events •
Contact Us
FastScripts | Events Covered | Our Clients | Other Services | ASAP in the News | Site Map | Job Opportunities | Links |
|
ASAP Sports, Inc. | T: 1.212 385 0297
|