Prospect Info: Current #2 overall poll and discussion

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

This is what I said before, no one seems to think it's an issue, but I do (as in, it can be an issue). Hopefully the team got this covered to make sure it won't be an issue with Wright.



oof, and yet both times the 2nd team got the worst player lol

having too many good centers has never been a problem for any team in the history of the sport

if they do end up with Wright and he hits his potential and only wants to play C, they can always make a trade. Its a good problem to have.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

My goodness I would not want to be a #1 overall going to Montreal. You know that is going to be a pressure cooker.

Honestly, the 2nd overall pick could have it so much nicer than the 1st pick in this draft.

The 1st overall pick will be going into an extremely high pressure fanbase and situation on a team that’s at the start of their rebuild and likely isn’t very close to being good. They’re gonna be expected to be the guy to lead the charge and turn things around. The flip-side to that is that they will get a ton of opportunity and continuously be put into positions to succeed and turn into a star.

The 2nd pick will come in with not nearly as much pressure on a team that is much further along in their rebuild and has a bunch of good young players to play with and realistically shouldn’t be far off becoming a winning team.

 

[Goptor]

Having the draft in Montreal is a big deal. There is no way Mtl management goes up to the podium and picks Slafkovsky without a long PR/Media stream going out that they are taking him. That PR push would have to start with MacKenzie so there may be some weight to it.

The problem is that there are less than 10 days until the draft and this is the first big sign. Maybe they think they can get to all the fans in the next few days (bad management) or maybe they are still undecided (even worse management).

Otherwise its still probably going to be Wright.

 

[MakoSlade]

The amusing thing is most of their fans wanted Zadina: HF Habs: - Final Team Board Draft Poll - Pick #3

I just cast my vote for Ty Smith. Anyone care to join me?

 

[Hockey Sports Fan]

Cliff notes? It's 53 minutes long.

Basically, the three players could not be more different despite all having similar upside. Slafkovsky is a special player with his potential as a playdriving 200 ft winger with size who competes hard and also has exceptional skill. He really lfkes the way he wears down teams with his ability to draw your attention and dish to make goalies and defenders have to constantly shift to keep up. Says that's one of the big things that gets talked about in front offices that doesn't get a lot of public attention.

He thinks Cooley's biggest drawback is hockey sense, and that he's not the cerebral players that Slaf and Wright are, which will ultimately limit his ceiling. He relies on his individual skill, whereas Wright and Slaf can play well in a structure and work with their teammates more. Also points out that Cooley was playing in a system that's basically Harlem Globetrotters on ice, which makes it difficult to compare him to other players.

He spends a lot of time breaking down what exactly was so worrisome about Wright's most recent season, and offers a very interesting caveat about recent #1 draft picks and how the social media microscope is worse than it's ever been. But he pretty much says to not count him out because he's such a technically gifted passer and shooter.

 

[Lou is God]

Basically, the three players could not be more different despite all having similar upside. Slafkovsky is a special player with his potential as a playdriving 200 ft winger with size who competes hard and also has exceptional skill. He really lfkes the way he wears down teams with his ability to draw your attention and dish to make goalies and defenders have to constantly shift to keep up. Says that's one of the big things that gets talked about in front offices that doesn't get a lot of public attention.

He thinks Cooley's biggest drawback is hockey sense, and that he's not the cerebral players that Slaf and Wright are, which will ultimately limit his ceiling. He relies on his individual skill, whereas Wright and Slaf can play well in a structure and work with their teammates more. Also points out that Cooley was playing in a system that's basically Harlem Globetrotters on ice, which makes it difficult to compare him to other players.

He spends a lot of timing breaking down what exactly was so worrisome about Wright's most recent season, and offers a very interesting caveat about recent #1 draft picks and how the social media microscope is worse than it's ever been. But he pretty much says to not count him out because he's such a technically gifted passer and shooter.

Thanks for that!

 

[Emperoreddy]

MTL media is going to microscope that pick no matter who they take.

I would wager they have more pressure in getting the pick right then picking a Canadian over a Euro player.

 

[Team Concept]

The Devils can not mess up this pick. I only wish Slaf had put up some decent numbers this past season in the Finnish league. I still can't wrap my head around that he was outproduced by Kakko, Rantanen, Puljujarvi, and Kotkaniemi in Liiga league play and its not even close. TPS Turku finished 8th in offense out of 15 teams. Maybe Slaf didn't have too much support. I also think he got decent ice time throughout the season. Someone had mentioned earlier today that he got 14 minutes and change this past season. Where were the goals and assists throughout the regular season?

More importantly does anyone have his shots on goal stat for the this past season? Shane Wright had 260 shots on goal in 63 games for Kingston this past season. As StevenToddlves pointed out Slaf would have put up similar number if he had played in the OHL this past season, but please tell be he got at least lets say 75 shots in goal in the 31 regular season games that he played this season.

 

[Devs3cups]

The Devils can not mess up this pick. I only wish Slaf had put up some decent numbers this past season in the Finnish league. I still can't wrap my head around that he was outproduced by Kakko, Rantanen, Puljujarvi, and Kotkaniemi in Liiga league play and its not even close. TPS Turku finished 8th in offense out of 15 teams. Maybe Slaf didn't have too much support. I also think he got decent ice time throughout the season. Someone had mentioned earlier today that he got 14 minutes and change this past season. Where were the goals and assists throughout the regular season?

More importantly does anyone have his shots on goal stat for the this past season? Shane Wright had 260 shots on goal in 63 games for Kingston this past season. As StevenToddlves pointed out Slaf would have put up similar number if he had played in the OHL this past season, but please tell be he got at least lets say 75 shots in goal in the 31 regular season games that he played this season.

From what I’ve read, he got his ice-time, but he was still playing bottom-6. Getting ice-time is fine, but if his linemates aren’t top-6 quality and his role is more “shut down”, it’s gonna affect his stats. I think that’s mostly what people say when they say bottom-6.

Edit: For your information, he got 89 shots. In the playoffs, he got 46 shots in 18 games.

 

[Xirik]

The Draft simulator site updated and now have Mckenzies rankings selectable so have at it guys!

Draft Simulator

Ran one as NJ with Habs still selecting Wright and

2OA-Slafkovsky

37OA somehow Gaucher fell and the only other player that was tempting was RD Noah Warren. I picked Gaucher and hope to get an RD later on!

70OA- Lots of the Big named RD are gone. Decide to pick RD Artyom Barabosha early

102OA I go RD again and pick Mastrodomenico

110OA- Go entirely off of StevenToddIves list and pick LW Hejduk

126OA do the same as last time and pick C/LW Ilya Kvochko

141OA doing a StevenToddIves again and picking RD Ryan Healey

166OA Picked Goalie Nicolas Kokko because the thought of fans chanting the name makes me happy

I have decided to stop there as I now see I'm out of my depth in later picks.

Decided to run it again just to see if the 37OA pick was just very luck and got LW Perevalov instead. According to Ive's rankings I got...Luckier?

 

[Team Concept]

From what I’ve read, he got his ice-time, but he was still playing bottom-6. Getting ice-time is fine, but if his linemates aren’t top-6 quality and his role is more “shut down”, it’s gonna affect his stats. I think that’s mostly what people say when they say bottom-6.

Edit: For your information, he got 89 shots. In the playoffs, he got 46 shots in 18 games.

Okay 89 shots isn't a bad number based on 31 games played that would project to 235 shots over a 82 game season so that is fantastic for an 18 year old.

 

[Saint Beaurivage]

Having the draft in Montreal is a big deal. There is no way Mtl management goes up to the podium and picks Slafkovsky without a long PR/Media stream going out that they are taking him. That PR push would have to start with MacKenzie so there may be some weight to it.

The problem is that there are less than 10 days until the draft and this is the first big sign. Maybe they think they can get to all the fans in the next few days (bad management) or maybe they are still undecided (even worse management).

Otherwise its still probably going to be Wright.

Never thought of this but you are 100% WRIGHT!

 

[Hockey Sports Fan]

The Devils can not mess up this pick. I only wish Slaf had put up some decent numbers this past season in the Finnish league. I still can't wrap my head around that he was outproduced by Kakko, Rantanen, Puljujarvi, and Kotkaniemi in Liiga league play and its not even close. TPS Turku finished 8th in offense out of 15 teams. Maybe Slaf didn't have too much support. I also think he got decent ice time throughout the season. Someone had mentioned earlier today that he got 14 minutes and change this past season. Where were the goals and assists throughout the regular season?

More importantly does anyone have his shots on goal stat for the this past season? Shane Wright had 260 shots on goal in 63 games for Kingston this past season. As StevenToddlves pointed out Slaf would have put up similar number if he had played in the OHL this past season, but please tell be he got at least lets say 75 shots in goal in the 31 regular season games that he played this season.

The Devils can absolutely mess up this pick. They shouldn't even be picking in the top 10 this year. This is a bonus pick and they're lucky that they could walk away with any of Wright, Slaf, or Cooley and it'll look defensible 5 or 10 years from now.

 

[Saugus]

Seems like Slafkovsky is only on top of the rankings by the slimmest of margins, and it's encouraging that we're almost guaranteed to get one of the consensus top tier guys.

I'm also intrigued that one dissenting scout ranked Cooley #1, which reminds me of the same thing happening with Makar in that draft year.

 

[Hisch13r]

Okay 89 shots isn't a bad number based on 31 games played that would project to 235 shots over a 82 game season so that is fantastic for an 18 year old.

That’s not the actual number though. Liiga stats counts shots as all shot attempts and not shots on goal.

 

[SKNJD9]

Wright's ceiling seems to be a Bergeron type...what's the floor ? I doubt he becomes the next Nolan Patrick if he flares out ...trying to find someone to compare him too if he does top out as a good 3rd line C

 

[Hisch13r]

Wright's ceiling seems to be a Bergeron type...what's the floor ? I doubt he becomes the next Nolan Patrick if he flares out ...trying to find someone to compare him too if he does top out as a good 3rd line C

The Bergeron ceiling stuff is complete nonsense to me. Bergeron’s arguably the greatest defensive center ever and is arguably the best two way center of his generation. I think the people saying that are underrating Bergeron.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Wright's ceiling seems to be a Bergeron type...what's the floor ? I doubt he becomes the next Nolan Patrick if he flares out ...trying to find someone to compare him too if he does top out as a good 3rd line C

I highly doubt Wright turns into anything less than a decent second-line center. It’s really all about how high his offensive ceiling will be.

 

[Xirik]

Wright's ceiling seems to be a Bergeron type...what's the floor ? I doubt he becomes the next Nolan Patrick if he flares out ...trying to find someone to compare him too if he does top out as a good 3rd line C

I see Wrights Ceiling to be Hischier personally.

Hard to put a Floor(basically what he is right now) for Wright but basically a high end 3C? Perhaps Better Shooter but less playmaking Zajac?

 

[Hisch13r]

I see Wrights Ceiling to be Hischier personally.

Hard to put a Floor(basically what he is right now) for Wright but basically a high end 3C? Perhaps Better Shooter but less playmaking Zajac?

I think the ceiling’s higher than Nico. Maybe it’s not all that likely he hits it but his 15 year old year was so impressive that I have to believe the ceiling is higher than Nico and the year off contributed to this underwhelming year. Last tears U18 was crazy good too as well. I also think he’d probably be as good or a better playmaker than Zajac still

 

[Saugus]

I see Wrights Ceiling to be Hischier personally.

Hard to put a Floor(basically what he is right now) for Wright but basically a high end 3C? Perhaps Better Shooter but less playmaking Zajac?

I think we'd be pretty happy with having 2 Hischiers and Hughes as our center depth chart for the foreseeable future.

Even if he does turn into a Zajac clone, that is still absurd center depth.

 

[Xirik]

I think we'd be pretty happy with having 2 Hischiers and Hughes as our center depth chart for the foreseeable future.

Even if he does turn into a Zajac clone, that is still absurd center depth.

The question then becomes Does the guy playing 3C want to stay long term when his contract is up and if he doesn't can we get good trade value for them. If the guy thinks he is worth more then 3C money and think his roles is harming his value he will want to bolt.

If we knew Wright was the ultimate team player then I'm all for picking Wright if he's available.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

I see Wrights Ceiling to be Hischier personally.

Hard to put a Floor(basically what he is right now) for Wright but basically a high end 3C? Perhaps Better Shooter but less playmaking Zajac?

I think Wright’s ceiling is definitely better than Hischier (doesn’t mean he’ll be better).
His IQ is great and his shot gives him scoring potential Nico doesn’t have.

 

[Nubmer6]

I will say that from what I've seen his shot is "just" above average for the NHL and that might hold him back as far as being a consistent 40 goal threat. But then again if he had an elite shot we would probably be talking about him as a Kovalchuk or Stamkos level prospect. I keep saying I wouldn't be surprised if Cooley ends up the best offensive player, but I also wouldn't be surprised if that's Slafkovsky. Concerns about his floor or ceiling are unwarranted unless you're of the mind that anything less than a 100pt player is a disappointment.

Maybe his shot isn't exceptionally hard, but what I like about his shot is that it comes off quick, and he gets it off in ridiculously tight spaces. It's like he can get a decent shot off even if the puck is between his feet. He also seems to have great hand-eye coordination that I haven't seen in our players since Parise (who who was able to tip more shots than any other Devil in recent memory).

I think these are skills that our team has been lacking, and makes for a good interior player, even if he doesn't use his size to bully people off the puck.

 

[Hisch13r]

The question then becomes Does the guy playing 3C want to stay long term when his contract is up and if he doesn't can we get good trade value for them. If the guy thinks he is worth more then 3C money and think his roles is harming his value he will want to bolt.

If we knew Wright was the ultimate team player then I'm all for picking Wright if he's available.

Unless he just outright opposes playing wing I’d likely place him there eventually. The way he played this year wasn’t puck dominant at all. He was off puck a lot and used a lot of give and gos. I think he could be a great fit with a puck dominant center like Jack. Wright could be like a 30-40 goal two way wing. Then Mercer as the 3C