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There are many reasons to feel optimistic about Jesperi Kotkaniemi’s rookie year with the Canadiens.

On the surface, he’s enjoying a good year in terms of offensive production. He’s on pace for a 39-point season, which is exactly the same point total Mario Tremblay had in 1975 as one of the rare 18-year-old rookies to have secured a spot in the Canadiens’ lineup.

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Tremblay finished with 39 points in 63 games while playing with Yvon Lambert and Doug Risebrough, a very impressive feat for a youngster. However, unlike Kotkaniemi, Tremblay was playing on a team that happened to be the greatest dynasty in hockey history.

Kotkaniemi, on the other hand, is playing in an era where parity is the norm. The talent gap has shrunk to the point that, on any given night, any player might score a highlight-reel goal that seemingly comes out of the blue.

Photo by John Mahoney / Montreal Gazette

Lately, Kotkaniemi has been the one delivering footage for the highlight reel, though he’s done so with a little help from his friends.