His questionable decisionmaking is more so whenever he's without the puck, as he's constantly making these inefficient stops and turns that kill his skating momentum and make him spend more energy to move around. He also naturally doesn't seem to have that much stamina, which only highlights this problem. I don't think there's enough movement in his game for him to be an elite player in the league. He's like the opposite of Aho or Lundell who are always gliding on the ice, scanning for the next play. Coupled with his ridiculously short stick, I think he's destined to be a complementary player who mostly sticks to the periphery of the ice.
2023 NHL Entry Draft
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WeThreeKings
Demidov is a HAB
So did I and I don't work for the team.
- Jan 18, 2022
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In terms of delta of possibilities, how would you compare Slaf to Wright (at the time of the draft)
DramaticGloveSave
Voice of Reason
- Apr 17, 2017
- 14,819
- 13,751
Lol no you didn’t
SOLR
Registered User
About similar, they both have an IQ limitation limiting their ceiling. Much will depend on who they are playing with / usage. Had them both evaluated at 50 pts to 70 pts. Wright's floor is pretty high because he grinds and position himself well, Slaf because of his size/speed/shooting combination.
Kobe Armstrong
Registered User
- Jul 26, 2011
- 16,563
- 7,806
That doesn't count for these guys, because apparently that was year 1 with no connections and anyone can get lucky and nail every pick once
Kobe Armstrong
Registered User
- Jul 26, 2011
- 16,563
- 7,806
MarkovsKnee
Global Moderator
You're definitely going to have show evidence of that.
Slafkovsky majority of people caught on to really late, but you're telling me he knew we were taking Nurmi, Davidson & Croteau too?
Montreal pretty much advertised prior to draft that they were taking Tourigny so that pick was no surprise.
And Montreal showed a ton of interest in Rohr at combine, so even I figured out they were probably taking him with our 3rd round pick if he was available.
Teams don't have time to interview all the players. Get the interview list, and you can project pretty well who a team is interested in drafting.
SOLR
Registered User
You mean the guy who can't hit the net if his life depended on it? I'll pass. He's a bottom 6 forward.
Schooner Guy
Registered User
- Jun 23, 2006
- 14,298
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River Meadow
Registered User
- Mar 29, 2016
- 7,354
- 9,915
Big Willie Style, 100%.
Bigger, and the skill and hockey IQ is high affffffffffffffffffff.
Benson's skill and IQ is also high however I like Smith's size to round out the whole package.
FrankMTL
Registered User
- Jan 6, 2005
- 12,778
- 15,415
I mean he's 2 inches bigger...Does that really change much? *resisting urge for dirty joke*
Estimated_Prophet
Registered User
- Mar 28, 2003
- 11,352
- 12,916
I disagree, it is very common for 17 year old centers to be used on the wing in the WJC and especially in the SHL, Liga, KHL etc. You shouldn't read into that at all. He is a big kid and a high IQ puck distributor who should play in the middle of the ice. He is literally a prototypical center and I am certain that he will be drafted with the hope/expectation that he will be a center.
WeThreeKings
Demidov is a HAB
When Bob's list came out that Slaf was the number 1 prospect, I bet a lot of money on that happening and cleared a good chunk of money. Bob doesn't miss on #1..
It was either Mesar or Kulich at our Calgary 1st.
Owen Beck, Firkus, Chelsey and Hutson were the natural choices at our 2nd.
Hutson still being there at 62 made it pretty obvious he'd be the selection.
Nobody nailed Engstrom.
Rohrer was someone the Habs really liked, as evidenced in the athletic article and stuff coming out pre-draft, so when he didn't go at the Engstrom pick, it was pretty obvious they would take Rohrer.
After that it's crapshoot territory and no one is nailing those picks.
There's more chances of me having a threesome with Alison Brie and Margot Robbie tonight.
SlafySZN
Registered User
- May 21, 2022
- 8,207
- 18,048
No one knows how he’ll develop. It’s not like guys like Ritchie, Musty, Honzek are sure bet top 6 players.
River Meadow
Registered User
- Mar 29, 2016
- 7,354
- 9,915
He's be honest,
Smith is probably 5ft10-5ft11 and Benson is 5ft8-5ft9, in the best case scenario (I hope I am wrong).
On our already small team, yes it matters.
SOLR
Registered User
Musty and Ritchie MUCH better bets, like no comparison. I don't like Honzek either.
Now you are talking.
What did you say before?
SlafySZN
Registered User
- May 21, 2022
- 8,207
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Mrb1p
PRICERSTOPDAPUCK
Kakko doesn't have the stickhandling and smooth skating that Carlsson has. They're not really comparable. Carlsson is very creative too, Kakko was mostly a one trick pony. His failures stem from the small stick he has, mostly. Carlsson has a long one.
Why does everything turn sus when I quote you ? Geez.
But is a 2nd round bet, at best. He doesn't flash any skills that makes you think he's gonna be a top 6 player, let alone an elite one. His size and stickhandling combo is great, but then you look at others who might be there like Honzek and Wood, who respectively combine size, stickhandling with very good passing ability and a deadly shot and you see he's very overhyped.
I'm not sure that's much of an argument. Patrice Bergeron also played wing in his draft year and in his rookie season. The way he uses ice and how he handles the middle of the ice should make it evident that he's a center. He's legit the perfect center prototype, why would you think he's best suited at wing ? Especially when his long range shooting is probably his only "weakness" (It's not actually weak.)
It's tough. I won't be mad with either (and Reinbacher and Cristall.).
I have Benson ahead of Smith, mainly because Smith's skating is the true albatross, to me. He generates absolutely no power in his stride, he's always winded because of it, he has poor mechanics and he's a bit of a coaster. He's Suzuki skating wise, without the great lower body strength and fast feet. I think he's hands down the worst skater in the top 10. As for Benson, his weakness don't exist IMO. His shot isn't great but it's more than enough, his size isn't great but he's 5'10, his speed isn't great but he's fast enough and has good edges.
For that, I would go Benson. Benson is fantastic in the same way Hutson is, he's so elusive when he has the puck and he's always opening up space with small moves, that are not super impressive at first glance but do so, so much. Smith is much more of a junior player in that way, he dangles for twenty minutes straigth to open space...A bit like... I won't make the comparison.
No they're not, but they have much better tools than But. Especially Ritchie and Musty who are basically a whole truck of tools, the problem seems to be the truck doesn't start, sometimes.
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BergevinBurner
Registered User
- Sep 27, 2019
- 2,082
- 4,930
I was sorta 50/50 on them until I watched an interview with Will Smith yesterday.
He's from Massachusetts(red flag 1), when asked which player in the NHL he most looks forward to playing against he said Matthews(red flag 2), and his face just gives me a bad vibe(physiognomy is real dammit
).So I'm now leaning towards Benson
KevSkillz4
Registered User
- Apr 11, 2016
- 8,494
- 14,672
They are both very very good. But Will Smith will be the logical choice for Habs. He have insane skillset, talented C, he is the Logan Cooley of this draft. But... if Habs prefer to pick Zach Benson, thats a really good choice aswell. I really like him and one of both will be a great consolation prize to dont pick top 4.
Vachon23
Registered User
Ontario Hockey League
The OHL consists of 20 member teams, including 17 in the province of Ontario as well as three in the United States, with two in the state of Michigan and one in the state of Pennsylvania.
ontariohockeyleague.com
Mrb1p
PRICERSTOPDAPUCK
Not much love for the draft eligibles.Ontario Hockey League
The OHL consists of 20 member teams, including 17 in the province of Ontario as well as three in the United States, with two in the state of Michigan and one in the state of Pennsylvania.
Barlow twice, Rehkopf and Lardis once.
Vachon23
Registered User
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