Eggtimer
Registered User
Can I snag a link to a longer in-depth Slafkovsky scouting report Mr.Ives ? I can just find the short version
Prospect Info: 2022 Devils Centric Mock Draft 3.0 -- We won pick #2!!!
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Eggtimer
Registered User
I get it but I think we are at the point where we take the highest quality prospect we can instead of quantity of picks . If we are getting a mid 2nd round pick to move down , I say screw it . It’s not worth it for us . We have numerous kids in the system that are equivalent to what’s normally found in the second round . The ficus should now be getting the best quality we can . Even it is slight better quality .
I’d rather have a kid rated 85/100 than one rated 75/100 plus one 65/100 . Just for a simplistic example . Maybe when we started the rebuild and had very few prospects , But not now
Captain3rdLine
Registered User
- Sep 24, 2020
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This is from November
2022 Draft Profile
LW Juraj Slafkovsky, TPS Finland
Right away, it's important to point out that this 6'4-220 Slovakian is an absolutely rare combination of size, power, finesse and skill. Though he has more of a development curve than some of the forwards who are competing with him for the #2/#3 slots in the 2022 entry draft behind ostensible top pick Shane Wright, it is this rare combination which might give him an argument for the highest upside for any winger available in the class.
Let's start with the obvious. Before you even see him play, he's clearly towering over the competition, and we're talking about a kid who is solidly built through and through. By the time he reaches the NHL, Slafkovsky could be in the 6'4-240 range. But once the puck drops, you quickly realize we're not dealing with some north/south banger. Slafkovsky features a pair of talents which are absolutely elite -- his hands and his passing vision.
Let's start with the puckhandling ability, because it is crucial in factoring his potential dominance at an NHL level. This kid has incredibly soft hands, and he can dangle the puck like an absolute wizard. Slafkovsky is on the short list for the best stickhandler in the entire class of 2022. On its own, this is a phenomenal attribute for any hockey player to have, but when this is combined with his high hockey IQ, high-end awareness and huge physical stature? It's downright deadly. Even down low in tight spaces, Slafkovsky can be impossible to get the puck from. There are almost shades of a young Jagr, how Slafkovsky can quickly maneuver the puck to a safe spot with his huge backside shielding off the defender to gain himself time and space where seemingly there was none. He's just a beast down low, so tough to beat one on one once he gets possession that defenders are almost better off just backing off him and trying to cut off the passing lanes.
Because Slafkovsky also has elite passing vision. This cannot be understated, as well. He makes slick, soft no-look passes with the acumen and accuracy of a 5'9 skill center. Again, his ability to use his size and hands to create time and space in tight areas is unique and elite, but when combined with the high level of awareness necessary to assess the situation and lace a dart to a teammate in scoring position? Slafkovsky is simply a weapon, and when he's on his game he's quite possibly impossible to defend.
The young Slovakian is not simply a distributor -- he also possesses a very hard shot. However, this is an area which needs improvement -- primarily, he is a pass-first player who needs to utilize his shot much more. As a player with high intelligence, I feel this will be coached into him during his development. Slafkovsky also needs to work on the accuracy of his shot, which is not comparable to the accuracy of his puck distribution as of yet. Most of Slafkovsky's goals seem to come from the crease area down low, where he is an absolute beast and impossible to move. Combined with his soft hands, he is a constant danger to score from anywhere down low.
With most players of Slafkovsky's immense stature, the next question is usually concerning whether they can skate. Though Slafkovsky's skating is not on the elite level of some of the other top forwards in the class of 2022, it is very good. Slafkovsky has a long, powerful stride and can cover large amounts of ice very rapidly. I would rank Slafkovsky's skating as "good" with the potential to become "excellent" with a bit more work in that area.
I really like Slafkovsky's compete level. He's really frenetic and heady on the forecheck, and combined with his high hockey IQ, he's always in the right place. I'd like to see him be a bit more physical, especially on the defensive side of the puck, where he is adequate but not great. This would not be a deterrent in deciding whether to draft him of course, I'm perfectly fine with a high scoring winger with top line potential being far superior offensively than defensively if they are at least adequate defensively, and Slafkovsky is just that.
From a Devils perspective, Slafkovsky makes a great deal of sense, I just don't feel he will be available where they are destined to pick. I would call "top-line-caliber LW" the Devils second biggest organizational need after RD, and Slafkovsky would certainly fit the bill. The Devils also desperately need power/strength up front, as they struggle to get goals off deflections and rebounds, especially against more physical opposition. But again, I feel Slafkovsky's rare combination of size and skill make him a likely bet for the top 5, even in a stacked 2022 draft class, and the Devils are just too much better right now than too many NHL teams to finish that low in the standings. Regardless, Slafkovsky is a phenomenal prospect -- maybe the best Slovakian winger to come out of the draft since Hossa -- and certainly a guy to keep a close eye on as the season progresses.
Forge
Blissfully Mediocre
What if you do not view there as being a difference in quality between the picks? You're talking about having a difference in quality which is basically the opposite of what I said. That's why I said that it depends on how you evaluate the players. Right now, I really don't have a preference between these three guys. Wright goes 1...If Seattle calls and says hey, we will offer you two seconds to move up from 4 to 2, why would I not take that if I don't have a preference between Slaf, Nemec or Jiricek? That's just stupid. I don't view there as being a difference between the three, I'm guaranteed one, this is ostensibly free second round picks.
If you do view there as being a preference between these guys that's not what I'm talking about.
Forge
Blissfully Mediocre
Exactly. I mean, if you have a guy you really want at 2, or a guy that you think is clearly better than the guys at 3 / 4 / 5, then you take that guy.
If you view them largely all the same and don't have a major preference of variance in evaluation then it doesn't much matter. We can rank guys line by line, but I'd also say that I like tiers even more. So for me, it may be that my top tier is Wright, Slaf, Jiricek, and Nemec and I see no real difference between the quality of player between those 4 (this is a hypothetical) so what does it matter if I have pick 1 or pick 4? The difference is that I basically lose the power of choice to some degree, but if I view them all the same, then it really doesn't matter if I have that choice or not.
If I remember correctly they were afraid of the competition morrow played against while at SSMs and that it may have been a stretch to grab him.
beekay414
Registered User
It was a stretch to grab Stillman there as well. I had Stillman locked into the end of the 2nd, early 3rd round range. He had no business being that high on our board. Nothing about his game nor talent level said "take him in the 1st."
At least Morrow had upside. Stillman is a JAG.
It doesn’t look like a great pick but Stillman had multiple injuries a concussion and Covid from what I recall. He showed up injured to Utica after playing in his junior season. Maybe he needs a full summer to rehab and get in shape and next season we can see if there is a player there I just a future fourth liner.
beekay414
Registered User
I mean, I'm going to root for him to succeed because he's a Devil but that was my take BEFORE we drafted him. He wasn't even on my radar as a potential option if we had traded back from that pick. That's how baffled I was when we took him.
nugg
NJ Hammerhead Bats!
These are far more important than people understand.
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Billdo
Registered User
I think Pav is a perfect example. All the tools but absolutely no consistently high compete level. So frustrating even as one of his biggest fans. When he's engaged he can be so good but that's like two weeks out of the year. Need guys who motor doesn't shut down.
Eggtimer
Registered User
Yes. Exhibit A - Toronto Mapleafa and Rangers. They may have talent out the ass but they haven’t won shit for decades.
I just got through watching a lot of video on Wright, and yeah, it's a win-win for us. Wright has decent size, incredible skill, very high hockey IQ and just a knack for putting pucks in the net. I want Slafkovsky, but at this point if Montreal takes him I don't even bother calling Arizona. I just take Wright and don't look back. This draft is gravy for us.
Billdo
Registered User
I don't think that either are because of IQ or compete though, at least not exclusively
I had Stillman at #44 overall. I feel he's going to be a heck of a third line RW. The pick would have been far better if the Devils had traded back and gained more assets.
In retrospect, Scott Morrow should have been the pick at #29 overall. My pick in that situation would have been Aatu Raty, though.
This isn't a video game. They're not going to trade Nico.
Who said he'll get top line minutes over there though? Devils would have 0 control over that.
Yeah Slaf would have to start producing like he deserves those minutes in order to get them.
It's not even that simple, although the SHL is probably different. Raymond got shafted up the ass. It's looking silly now isn't it? I don't want a situation like that with Slaf if he's the pick.
If the Devils draft Slafkovsky, I feel the best move would be to sign him and bring him over to the AHL for next season.
Captain3rdLine
Registered User
- Sep 24, 2020
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Ya makes way more sense for so many reasons
I'm pretty confident Slafkovsky will be the pick for the Devils at #2, and I'm pretty confident they'll get him to North America as quickly as possible.
I wouldn't be surprised if they try and put him in the league right away but then pull back as he won't end up being ready
Eggtimer
Registered User
I would think so. The league he is currently in isn’t really good at all playing a style amd system that allows for good offensive development from what I gather. A lot of trap style hockey and stifling defence over free wheeling offence.
