Adam Nicholas Prospect Development Update

[Goldenhands]

Never said he was the next Kucherov, never even implied it.

You were expecting him to rule the competition, it can be checked. He rather got exposed, BIG TIME!

 

[NotProkofievian]

You were expecting him to rule the competition, it can be checked. He rather got exposed, BIG TIME!

And what were you expecting Slaf to do in his rookie year with his giant hockey brain?

 

[Goldenhands]

And what were you expecting Slaf to do in his rookie year with his giant hockey brain?

To adjust and improve through the year, it was my only expectation. Never I committed to predict his points total and I was fine with either AHL or NHL.

 

[NotProkofievian]

To adjust and improve through the year, it was my only expectation. Never I committed to predict his points total and I was fine with either AHL or NHL.

Which didn't happen. Lofty expectations for a prospect who is ''better than Tkachuk in every way.''

 

[Goldenhands]

Which didn't happen. Lofty expectations for a prospect who is ''better than Tkachuk in every way.''

He got injured in a bad stretch and thats what most people recall, they dont recall his good stretch playing with Monahan or the way he looked on the PP. Overall he didnt look out of place at all, but keep shitting on our 1st OV, I will send you and a couple over here an eloquant mid finger in due time.

BTW, Who was your own 1st OV last year already? Number 51, wright?

 

[MaynardJames]

I still think he can learn when and not when in the AHL. I can't say if they did the right thing or not with Slaf as I didn't know him very well before the draft and since I still haven't had the time to really sit down and scout his games. It certainly has the look of a mistake, especially since it sounded like before the injury he was all but Laval bound, which had he been there from the start would at least have been very interesting to see.

It makes me wonder what the plan is for him next season, Laval or the Habs?

If you don't trust this organisation to develop Slaf, you must think very highly of yourself to think you know better.

The plan is to let him mature and be guided by the more knowledgeable people of this organisation and be ready to be part of a winning team when the time comes.

If Mesar was 6'5 230 he would be here too.

 

[NotProkofievian]

He got injured in a bad stretch and thats what most people recall, they dont recall his good stretch playing with Monahan or the way he looked on the PP. Overall he didnt look out of place at all, but keep shitting on our 1st OV, I will send you and a couple over here an eloquant mid finger in due time.

BTW, Who was your own 1st OV last year already? Number 51, wright?

This is all a lot more effort than just admitting that our 1st overall isn't a perfect prospect, wouldn't you agree?

 

[Goldenhands]

This is all a lot more effort than just admitting that our 1st overall isn't a perfect prospect, wouldn't you agree?

Can you name me 1 perfect hockey player? McJesuz, thats it.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Can you name me 1 perfect hockey player? McJesuz, thats it.

Drouin

 

[NotProkofievian]

Can you name me 1 perfect hockey player? McJesuz, thats it.

Oh really, what's wrong with Slafkovsky then?

 

[Goldenhands]

Oh really, what's wrong with Slafkovsky then?

His baby fat probably.

 

[NotProkofievian]

His baby fat probably.

Concession accepted.

 

[Twisted Sinister]

Oh really, what's wrong with Slafkovsky then?

Hockey sense = Very bad

 

[Jaynki]

And what were you expecting Slaf to do in his rookie year with his giant hockey brain?

To learn the NHL standard, the smaller ice, the execution of the game, the speed, the physicality. To also learn the tough schedule of a professional. The practices, travelling, etc. To assimilate his new environment. Being a dominant force in the top 6 was not expected this season.

We all know Slaf special mix of size, speed and skills. He now have to put it together in a consistent and functional way. I think from now on, being on a consistent uptrending curve is the most important thing.

Its easy to say, from our point of view, that he did not improve this season. But we don't know what was asked for him from the coaching staff and he may have improve in some areas that are subtle to us, but obvious for coaching staff. They saw him in practice everyday, which we did not.

 

[Jaynki]

This is all a lot more effort than just admitting that our 1st overall isn't a perfect prospect, wouldn't you agree?

Who is a perfect prospect from the 2022 NHL draft?

Wright would have been a f***ing catastrophe.

Nemec and Jiricek received much love but they haven't shown anything more than Slaf. I watched specifically one rocket game versus utica and i remember Nemec being toyed by f***ing Brandon Gignac.

Cooley would be another smallish player in our top 9. He does a lot of dipsy doodle. He had a terrific season tho and i would be thrilled if i were a coyotes fan.

Honestly, Slafkovsky, despite everything, still look like the right pick. The jury is still out against him versus the two defenseman and Cooley.

 

[NotProkofievian]

Who is a perfect prospect from the 2022 NHL draft?

Wright would have been a f***ing catastrophe.

Nemec and Jiricek received much love but they haven't shown anything more than Slaf. I watched specifically one rocket game versus utica and i remember Nemec being toyed by f***ing Brandon Gignac.

Cooley would be another smallish player in our top 9. He does a lot of dipsy doodle. He had a terrific season tho and i would be thrilled if i were a coyotes fan.

Honestly, Slafkovsky, despite everything, still look like the right pick. The jury is still out against him versus the two defenseman and Cooley.

I wouldn't disagree with any of that. But why is it so difficult for some people to honestly assess our prospects? It's really dumb, and it dumbs down the level of conversation we have on this board, when you can't even agree that Slaf maybe doesn't see the ice that well.

I never said that it was a fatal flaw, I never said he was Puljujärvi, I never said that he was a bust in the making because of it. But reading some people's reactions to what is a pretty fair assessment, you might think I had said all that. For reference, I originally said that he doesn't understand the game as well as Tkachuk does, and that's what caused all this. Imagine.

 

[Jaynki]

I wouldn't disagree with any of that. But why is it so difficult for some people to honestly assess our prospects? It's really dumb, and it dumbs down the level of conversation we have on this board, when you can't even agree that Slaf maybe doesn't see the ice that well.

I never said that it was a fatal flaw, I never said he was Puljujärvi, I never said that he was a bust in the making because of it. But reading some people's reactions to what is a pretty fair assessment, you might think I had said all that. For reference, I originally said that he doesn't understand the game as well as Tkachuk does, and that's what caused all this. Imagine.

Well.

May i just refer to McKenzie final report were he said that it was a toss between Slaf and Wright for the 1st ov, and that we were looking at 2nd line player. I think Slaf has a chance to be more than a "2nd liner" but yeah he will have to put things together.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

Who is a perfect prospect from the 2022 NHL draft?

Wright would have been a f***ing catastrophe.

Nemec and Jiricek received much love but they haven't shown anything more than Slaf. I watched specifically one rocket game versus utica and i remember Nemec being toyed by f***ing Brandon Gignac.

Cooley would be another smallish player in our top 9. He does a lot of dipsy doodle. He had a terrific season tho and i would be thrilled if i were a coyotes fan.

Honestly, Slafkovsky, despite everything, still look like the right pick. The jury is still out against him versus the two defenseman and Cooley.

Nemec and Jiricek were great in the AHL this season and Nemec in particular is far more advanced than Slaf with regards to hockey IQ.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

Who is a perfect prospect from the 2022 NHL draft?

Wright would have been a f***ing catastrophe.

Nemec and Jiricek received much love but they haven't shown anything more than Slaf. I watched specifically one rocket game versus utica and i remember Nemec being toyed by f***ing Brandon Gignac.

Cooley would be another smallish player in our top 9. He does a lot of dipsy doodle. He had a terrific season tho and i would be thrilled if i were a coyotes fan.

Honestly, Slafkovsky, despite everything, still look like the right pick. The jury is still out against him versus the two defenseman and Cooley.

All 3 of Cooley, Nemec and Jiricek looked much better than Slaf did this season and you are being way too critical of Wright who definitely would have been the wrong pick for this organization but is better than Slafkovsky in more ways than Slaf is better than him at this point in their development.

Slafkovsky is a unicorn and his entire career will depend on what is going on between his ears (same as Wright but for very different reasons). His hockey IQ was and still is very poor but there is no way for us to know if that is because he has a hardware or software issue. In Wright's case I think it is closer to a mental health issue than it is a cognitive issue like Slaf is dealing with.

 

[Jaynki]

Nemec and Jiricek were great in the AHL this season and Nemec in particular is far more advanced than Slaf with regards to hockey IQ.

They were great but its a league where a plethora of legit stars players down there can't even hold their asses on a 4th line in the NHL.

Again, like i said, the jury is still out.

I think you are also underestimating Slafkovsky. We are entitled to our opinion after all.

I don't think we will have an answer until they all play on the same stages. Jiricek struggled in his 4 NHL games. We don't know how Slaf would have done in the AHL or the NCAA. Maybe his IQ would have seemed better in a way slower league.

 

[Andrei79]

I wouldn't disagree with any of that. But why is it so difficult for some people to honestly assess our prospects? It's really dumb, and it dumbs down the level of conversation we have on this board, when you can't even agree that Slaf maybe doesn't see the ice that well.

I never said that it was a fatal flaw, I never said he was Puljujärvi, I never said that he was a bust in the making because of it. But reading some people's reactions to what is a pretty fair assessment, you might think I had said all that. For reference, I originally said that he doesn't understand the game as well as Tkachuk does, and that's what caused all this. Imagine.

He doesn't understand the game as well as Tkachuk does though. Heck, it's an inarguable fact as they're sending him videos of how Tkachuk plays.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

They were great but its a league where a plethora of legit stars players down there can't even hold their asses on a 4th line in the NHL.

Again, like i said, the jury is still out.

I think you are also underestimating Slafkovsky. We are entitled to our opinion after all.

I don't think we will have an answer until they all play on the same stages. Jiricek struggled in his 4 NHL games. We don't know how Slaf would have done in the AHL or the NCAA. Maybe his IQ would have seemed better in a way slower league.

Agreed on some points, it does need to be pointed out that defence, by an order of magnitude is more difficult to play in the NHL than wing as 19 year old defenders almost never play in the NHL and the ones that do tend to struggle mightily. Slaf was playing the easiest position with sheltered minutes and struggled immensely.

Slafkovsky has huge IQ issues as he is entirely unable to map the ice which is why he struggled to play in the NHL despite being bigger and stronger than the majority of opponents and it is why he continually got crushed and his season ended prematurely. Maybe things just click one day in his mind and he dominates but there is just no way to assess the probability of that happening from our vantage point.

Just want to point out that pre-draft and especially pre Wright's bizarre post draft antics I preferred Wright but in hindsight I take Slafkovsky over him because it is obvious what Huges saw in their personalities and ability to play in this market. I would still take all three of Cooley, Nemec and Jiricek ahead of Juraj as I had Slaf at 4th/5th with Jiricek.

I am still glad to have him as his upside is really special, hopefully Marty and Adam can find the keys to this muscle car.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

Agreed on some points, it does need to be pointed out that defence, by an order of magnitude is more difficult to play in the NHL than wing as 19 year old defenders almost never play in the NHL and the ones that do tend to struggle mightily. Slaf was playing the easiest position with sheltered minutes and struggled immensely.

Slafkovsky has huge IQ issues as he is entirely unable to map the ice which is why he struggled to play in the NHL despite being bigger and stronger than the majority of opponents and it is why he continually got crushed and his season ended prematurely. Maybe things just click one day in his mind and he dominates but there is just no way to assess the probability of that happening from our vantage point.

Just want to point out that pre-draft and especially pre Wright's bizarre post draft antics I preferred Wright but in hindsight I take Slafkovsky over him because it is obvious what Huges saw in their personalities and ability to play in this market. I would still take all three of Cooley, Nemec and Jiricek ahead of Juraj as I had Slaf at 4th/5th with Jiricek.

I am still glad to have him as his upside is really special, hopefully Marty and Adam can find the keys to this muscle car.

If he has a huge IQ issues then there is no point wasting time watching the Habs because management is unable to evaluate prospects. There is very little you can do to improve IQ.

 

[Sorinth]

There is very little you can do to improve IQ.

Well one of the highest IQ players of all time MSL disagrees with that.

 

[NotProkofievian]

If he has a huge IQ issues then there is no point wasting time watching the Habs because management is unable to evaluate prospects. There is very little you can do to improve IQ.

I've come to disagree with this. It's either that what we call hockey IQ doesn't matter as much as is usually claimed, or it can improve. I've seen a lot of prospects with questionable decision making go on to be very good players. You really do have to be a goddamn idiot to bust because you don't have high enough hockey IQ. Puljujärvi levels of durr.