Prospect Info: Current #2 overall poll and discussion

[Forge]

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

I am in line with this as well. I think that upside that everyone saw when he was 15 didn't just evaporate. I think it's still there. Sure, maybe I'm a little less bullish that he reaches it, but I there's still some real upside there.

 

[Xirik]

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 way

Definitely works too, Though Centers usually make more $$$ then Wingers so he might not like it.

 

[Xirik]

I am in line with this as well. I think that upside that everyone saw when he was 15 didn't just evaporate. I think it's still there. Sure, maybe I'm a little less bullish that he reaches it, but I there's still some real upside there.

I guess I'm not as confident because I believe Getting rid of the bad habits he gained this year from his horrible coach will be difficult. Fixing skating is easy, Habits that are mental are definitely harder to fix.

 

[Hisch13r]

Definitely works too, Though Centers usually make more $$$ then Wingers so he might not like it.

That’s true but I imagine racking up the goals on Jack’s wing is a great way for him to make money

 

[JrFischer54]

I’ve been on team trade pick since I found out before everyone else we had the 2nd pick. I’m still on team trade the pick with the latest projection of wright going second. The devils can not afford to leave this draft without a legit nhl talent that plays like the second player taken not the 6th best not the 10th best but the second best.


Trade the pick for proven nhl talent. Otherwise for those of you who actually think the devils would trade down a few spots your absolutely insane if you think they would do that.

 

[Hisch13r]

I guess I'm not as confident because I believe Getting rid of the bad habits he gained this year from his horrible coach will be difficult. Fixing skating is easy, Habits that are mental are definitely harder to fix.

He did get better as the year progressed. I also don’t really know if they were “bad” habits. It seems like he simplified his game to play a more NHL style. I think that’s a bad thing in the sense that you’d like to see young players push the boundaries of their games and be risky and try stuff. On the other hand I don’t think that leads to bad habits moving forward. The lack of engagement and effort at time is an interesting question to me. Is that something that also existed in his game in his 15 year old year? Or did he take his foot off the gas at times this year because he felt like he was too good for the junior level and against better competition he’ll kick it back into high gear? Did his effort level improve as the season went on and is that the reason his production improved as tbs year dragged on?

 

[Lou is God]

I am in line with this as well. I think that upside that everyone saw when he was 15 didn't just evaporate. I think it's still there. Sure, maybe I'm a little less bullish that he reaches it, but I there's still some real upside there.

It makes sense that this might be the draft class that covid did it's most damage with, most of these kids were 15-16 when the pandemic started and those are very formative years for an young athlete to develop.

 

[Richer's Ghost]

 

[Hisch13r]

People bring this up and while sure it’s interesing it’s also pretty useless information. Most people don’t get the #1 wrong because it’s generally clear cut. 2017 is the only other year in a long time that it’s been legitimately close.

 

[Nubmer6]

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?

Just for giggles, I ran a 4 rounder.

Habs took Slaf.

I traded #2 to Columbus for #6 and #12.
Traded #12, #37 and a 4th rounder to Buffalo for #16 and #28.

Picked Jiricek at 6.
Picked Miroshnichenko at 16
Picked Chesley at 28
Picked Mastrodomenico at 110
Picked Barabosha at 126

I'd be pretty damned happy if we actually got the first three, but of course, it's just fantasy.

 

[Xirik]

Just for giggles, I ran a 4 rounder.

Habs took Slaf.

I traded #2 to Columbus for #6 and #12.
Traded #12, #37 and a 4th rounder to Buffalo for #16 and #28.

Picked Jiricek at 6.
Picked Miroshnichenko at 16
Picked Chesley at 28
Picked Mastrodomenico at 110
Picked Barabosha at 126

I'd be pretty damned happy if we actually got the first three, but of course, it's just fantasy.

You get an RD! YOU GET AN RD! EVERYONE GETS AN RD!

 

[Nubmer6]

You get an RD! YOU GET AN RD! EVERYONE GETS AN RD!

Not just an RD... a HUGE RD

 

[Guttersniped]

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

“Why doesn’t Zadina produce?” is a bit of a mystery, it was very reasonable to want him.

 

[Richer's Ghost]

People bring this up and while sure it’s interesing it’s also pretty useless information. Most people don’t get the #1 wrong because it’s generally clear cut. 2017 is the only other year in a long time that it’s been legitimately close.

Given the shift in the ranks the past 3 weeks this close to the draft, this is significant imo. It changes who we expect the Habs to take potentially. We're in a no lose situation imo but I certainly liked the idea of size that can score.

 

[Guttersniped]

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.

Every two-way center with defensive up is compared to Bergeron, it’s the one comparison people are seemingly capable of making there.

Bergeron on a shitty team isn’t the same player, he’s helped make the Bruins a defensive juggernaut but he’s benefited from their team defense too.



This a poll of NHL scouts, it’s a basically a tie and he literally says he’s not trying to predict the picks here. And most of the 1OA were uncontested 1OA that anyone could predict. Who ever made that graphic should stop making dumb graphics.

this “consensus” ranking has nothing to do with the preference of the team — the Montreal Canadiens — that is picking first overall. Club order of draft selection is not a factor in our survey of scouts and TSN’s ranking of players.

Bob does have the best insider contacts, before the 2021 draft on Twitter the dude was just pouring out tons of insider info.

He also correctly called the first 16 picks on Twitter as well, which both impressed & slightly freaked people out, as it felt like a magic trick after a while.

He should be a good source for info closer to the draft.

Slafkovsky edges Wright for top spot in McKenzie’s final draft ranking - TSN.ca

 

[Hisch13r]

Given the shift in the ranks the past 3 weeks this close to the draft, this is significant imo. It changes who we expect the Habs to take potentially. We're in a no lose situation imo but I certainly liked the idea of size that can score.

The outcome itself is decently significant. The fact that Bob’s list hasn’t ended up being wrong since it was back to back in 02 and 03 isn’t really significant though. It’s not like just because it ended up being right for all of those others it’ll be right again this time. It was 5-4 after 10 then he said he went and did an additional 5 and it was 3-2 in Wrights favor so that’s an even 7-7 split. Scouts are divided as even in Pronman’s article the scouts were pretty split. On the other hand every one of the executives in Pronman’s article said Wright. Scouts might think Slaf’s a slightly better option but I’d still suspect execs don’t believe that slight gap justifies passing up on the center for the winger. Hopefully they like Slaf more and trade for a center so they feel comfortable taking Slaf. There’s size there but I don’t suspect there will be too too much scoring.

 

[Xirik]

I just Don't see Habs selecting Slafkovsky, The draft is being held in Montreal and I think that if they don't pick Wright or atleast Cooley the fans will Boo.

I just don't see a new front office liking the idea of getting on their fanbases bad side so early. Add the viciousness of the Montreal sports media, Slafkovsky would be the 1st OV pick with the most pressure to succeed in a long time. Anything Less then turning into Rantanen 2.0 would be seen as a bust.

Meanwhile if Wright only turned into an adequate 2nd line center I think the fans would be fine.

 

[Hisch13r]

I just Don't see Habs selecting Slafkovsky, The draft is being held in Montreal and I think that if they don't pick Wright or atleast Cooley the fans will Boo.

I just don't see a new front office liking the idea of getting on their fanbases bad side so early. Add the viciousness of the Montreal sports media, Slafkovsky would be the 1st OV pick with the most pressure to succeed in a long time. Anything Less then turning into Rantanen 2.0 would be seen as a bust.

I think the only way they do it is if they love Slaf and bring in say PLD. It really would be a super quick way to piss off a fanbase that so far seems to love the new management. For a decent amount of Habs fans it seems like they have him at 4 at the highest behind Wright, Cooley, and Nemec so he’d have to end up definitively better than all 3 of them as they all play more important positions

 

[Xirik]

I think the only way they do it is if they love Slaf and bring in say PLD. It really would be a super quick way to piss off a fanbase that so far seems to love the new management. For a decent amount of Habs fans it seems like they have him at 4 at the highest behind Wright, Cooley, and Nemec so he’d have to end up definitively better than all 3 of them as they all play more important positions



I think the only way they do it is if they love Slaf and bring in say PLD. It really would be a super quick way to piss off a fanbase that so far seems to love the new management. For a decent amount of Habs fans it seems like they have him at 4 at the highest behind Wright, Cooley, and Nemec so he’d have to end up definitively better than all 3 of them as they all play more important positions

PLD is RFA so I don't know much about what his value is but do the Habs have anything that would entice the Jets into trading him?

Guhle I guess?

 

[Shakir ONeal]

PLD is RFA so I don't know much about what his value is but do the Habs have anything that would entice the Jets into trading him?

Guhle I guess?

Ahem, haven’t you heard of a one Mr. Josh Anderson

 

[Hisch13r]

PLD is RFA so I don't know much about what his value is but do the Habs have anything that would entice the Jets into trading him?

Guhle I guess?

PLD has already made it clear he’s not sticking long term with the Jets. I think the Habs could definitely put together an offer to make it work

 

[Xirik]

PLD has already made it clear he’s not sticking long term with the Jets. I think the Habs could definitely put together an offer to make it work

huh, I thought it was scheifele that wanted out. Or is it both of them?

poor poor Jets.

 

[crashline]

I think there is something to this ... he needs a new challenge.

How about a pre-season with Greer & Geertsen riding shotgun?

Welcome to the show, rookie.

 

[nugg]

I had a little trade fun after Slaf was picked by Mtl, and here's what I got, after trading down a couple times. I used the newly added McKenzie list.

Yes, I know some of these are far-fetched, but for the most part I tried to utilize STI's info, aside from Goaltender and Nail's little bro

 

[ninetyeight]

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?

It's not ideal, but it's not as black and white either. No prospect is a sure thing and both of these top2 guys have concerns no matter what STI or anyone says.

To make you feel better about Slaf here's few things. TPS was one if not the most defensive teams in the league, their best player just barely makes into the top20 in Liiga scoring, and second best guy into the top30, and the next (and the rest) guy is far and away in the hundreds. Juraj has gone on record saying that he had to play more of a defensive heavy game in a bottom6 role. There was definitely an adjustment period coming from juniors into mens league. He scored just fine in liiga u20 league btw, had the 3rd best ppg for everyone who played 10 or more games, the two guys in front of him are older than him. But what is most important thing about Slaf is that if you look his stats and development it's in steep upward trajectory. The more time went by the better he got. While with Wright it's the other way around as he ended his season with what many call disappointing low compete effort in the playoffs.

With Wright it's possible that he peaked early, got used to being so much better than everyone else that maybe his development has slowed down a bit. It's also very likely that not playing for a year hurt his game and development. He seriously should have went somewhere to play, but I don't know if that was even possible.