Prospect Info: Current #2 overall poll and discussion

[TrufleShufle]

How is it a major red flag?

Someone saying that someone "looks bored" is pretty subjective as you don't know what their definition of "looking bored" is.

 

[glenwo2]

That's not "looking bored".

That's "why am I here?".

 

[Saugus]

Some of you guys latch on to the smallest shit and compound it.

This should be the motto of HF.

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

Wright has played two OHL seasons. He dominated his first at age 15 if you grade on a curve for a 15 year old, missed his age 16 season (due to COVID) and didn't play anywhere, then he goes into his age 17 season bored and uninterested after not playing hockey for a year? How is that not a red flag?

I don't think that's necessarily what happened mind you and maybe it's just the case that Wright developed early and there was less room to grow than thought, maybe his coaching staff in Kingston was a bad fit for him, maybe a million things, but it's not like Wright has dominated the OHL and his season last year was the result of being so far and ahead of his competition or anything.

 

[Devils731]

I do worry about players who are “bored” by their level of competition. Especially if they’re not destroying the competition and winning big.

For me, I think the players who are most likely to see big improvements as a pro are guys who would end up dominating because they can’t help but go 100%.

Now Wright could be different. Some are saying he really focused on playing a pro style game and that hurt his production but maybe makes him a better pro player going forward. That’s the type of question your scouts will have to answer.

 

[beekay414]

Wright has played two OHL seasons. He dominated his first at age 15 if you grade on a curve for a 15 year old, missed his age 16 season (due to COVID) and didn't play anywhere, then he goes into his age 17 season bored and uninterested after not playing hockey for a year? How is that not a red flag?

I don't think that's necessarily what happened mind you and maybe it's just the case that Wright developed early and there was less room to grow than thought, maybe his coaching staff in Kingston was a bad fit for him, maybe a million things, but it's not like Wright has dominated the OHL and his season last year was the result of being so far and ahead of his competition or anything.

It's not a red flag if you know what type of player Wright is. He's a cerebral type, borderline passive, that wants to get his teammates involved. If his teammates aren't up to snuff, he's going to suffer because of it unless he develops that drive to take over a game. Not every player has it. Nico doesn't have it, yet I don't see people knocking Nico's ability as a player or calling that a red flag for him. That's the only reason why Slafkovsky is even getting consideration to overtaking Wright for many. It's because he wasn't overly assertive despite being clearly the best player on the ice.

Wright gets by on being an insanely smart player who thrives in the technical aspects of the sport. If you can't understand why a mental player has mental fatigue or passivity at times, then you don't know human beings.

 

[devilsblood]

lol no it's not. You ever been in a class that you were too smart for? Wright is a cerebral player and the talent in that league, especially his teammates, aren't the most cerebral or high hockey IQ guys. The OHL was shit this year as far as quality play goes. You put Wright with someone as cerebral as him or thinks the game as high as he does (like Jack Hughes or Jesper Bratt) and he's going to pop off.

Some of you guys latch on to the smallest shit and compound it. Wright's too damn good for the OHL and I don't blame him one bit for lack of interest.

If Wright is too damn good he should putting up over 2.5 ppg like McDavid did.

Wright had 3 goals in 14 playoff games, and the argument is he is too good for the OHL?

Now if you want to argue the cerebral aspect of his game will translate well the NHL? OK, but too good for the OHL? Based on what? Bored? Yikes.

It's not a red flag if you know what type of player Wright is. He's a cerebral type, borderline passive, that wants to get his teammates involved. If his teammates aren't up to snuff, he's going to suffer because of it unless he develops that drive to take over a game. Not every player has it. Nico doesn't have it, yet I don't see people knocking Nico's ability as a player or calling that a red flag for him. That's the only reason why Slafkovsky is even getting consideration to overtaking Wright for many. It's because he wasn't overly assertive despite being clearly the best player on the ice.

Wright gets by on being an insanely smart player who thrives in the technical aspects of the sport. If you can't understand why a mental player has mental fatigue or passivity at times, then you don't know human beings.

This is getting worse and worse.

 

[beekay414]

If Wright is too damn good he should putting up over 2.5 ppg like McDavid did.

Considering he's not the best player of his generation...no, he shouldn't.

This is getting worse and worse.

In what way? That's literally been the knock on Wright and the only reason why he's not the runaway #1 pick right now. That he didn't take over games when he was clearly the best player on the ice. Have you been living under a rock? Did you think a kid with no weakness in his game suffered from prospect fatigue because he played balls to the wall every night?

 

[devilsblood]

Considering he's not the best player of his generation...no, he shouldn't.


In what way? That's literally been the knock on Wright and the only reason why he's not the runaway #1 pick right now. That he didn't take over games when he was clearly the best player on the ice. Have you been living under a rock? Did you think a kid with no weakness in his game suffered from prospect fatigue because he played balls to the wall every night?

He scored 3 goals in 11 playoff games and your argument is he is too good for the league. Sorry but that doesn't add up.

As per the bold? No, I didn't think that, but I do think bored is not something I want in a high pick.

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

It's not a red flag if you know what type of player Wright is. He's a cerebral type, borderline passive, that wants to get his teammates involved. If his teammates aren't up to snuff, he's going to suffer because of it unless he develops that drive to take over a game. Not every player has it. Nico doesn't have it, yet I don't see people knocking Nico's ability as a player or calling that a red flag for him. That's the only reason why Slafkovsky is even getting consideration to overtaking Wright for many. It's because he wasn't overly assertive despite being clearly the best player on the ice.

Wright gets by on being an insanely smart player who thrives in the technical aspects of the sport. If you can't understand why a mental player has mental fatigue or passivity at times, then you don't know human beings.

I'm fine with an argument that his game doesn't jump off the ice like Slafkovsky's and scouts overrate certain plays where it seems like a player "instills his will on the game." I'd even be open to an argument that Wright's defense doesn't show up on the stat sheet and he's better than his raw production looked last year.

But your last part about how Wright's so cerebral he needs to take mental breaks seems like wild projection.

Ultimately I think he'll go first and he's a fine pick at 1st overall in this draft, don't mean to bash him, just think these hypothetical psychological explanations for his year last year if true would be concerning, but probably there's no real evidence for them so I'm not putting much stock into them.

 

[JrFischer54]

Trade the pick for proven top line nhl talent. If wright falls maybe it makes other teams more interested in the pick

 

[devilsblood]

Trade the pick for proven top line nhl talent. If wright falls maybe it makes other teams more interested in the pick

It's so not happening.

 

[beekay414]

He scored 3 goals in 11 playoff games and your argument is he is too good for the league. Sorry but that doesn't add up.

As per the bold? No, I didn't think that, but I do think bored is not something I want in a high pick.

You're taking something I said and applying your own context to it. Take it with the entire comment and you'll understand what I'm saying. He's a insanely cerebral player and when you're not surrounded by players on the same level as you are, you can get dragged down. If he was more assertive and tried to be a selfish player, his stats would pop off the page but that's not his game at all. He wants to get his teammates involved. You're a Devils fan. You've seen Jack get dragged down by his teammates and it took him until his 3rd year to just say "screw it" and become more assertive himself. You can't base everything off of the box score. Yes, he's too good for the OHL. Has been since he was 15 years old. The OHL has been shit the last few seasons. Brad Allen even said it was the worst he's ever seen it this year.

Fine, you can have the high compete guy. I'll take the kid that's going to coast his way to 80 points.

But your last part about how Wright's so cerebral he needs to take mental breaks seems like wild projection.

He played under a microscope all season. If you can't understand a highly mental kid letting mental shit get to him, then you simply don't know how the human brain works. I'm extremely bullish on Wright and think he'll 100% be the best player in this class. I'm just taking the context of his season into account here. He was still productive and still was the best player on the ice the majority of the time. He's not a generational player and I think that's where people get the misconception that he should've just dominated.

 

[Hockey Sports Fan]

I’d like to say congrats to this Red Wings blog on coming up with the first trade package for the Devils’ first (provided Wright is available) that might actually be an overpay, even though i’m not sure i’d do it: Bertuzzi, Hronek, 8th overall, and another later pick.



Bertuzzi kinda rubs me the wrong way after we had the vax issue with Blackwood, but i have to admit he’s exactly the type of player the Devils should be looking for. I’m not sure of his contract situation.

 

[JimEIV]

You cannot not (I love double negatives) make this pick.

 

[JimEIV]

I’d like to say congrats to this Red Wings blog on coming up with the first trade package for the Devils’ first (provided Wright is available) that might actually be an overpay, even though i’m not sure i’d do it: Bertuzzi, Hronek, 8th overall, and another later pick.



Bertuzzi kinda rubs me the wrong way after we had the vax issue with Blackwood, but i have to admit he’s exactly the type of player the Devils should be looking for. I’m not sure of his contract situation.

Ok...I will trade the 2nd pick for Seider. I love that kid. But they really don't have the assets.

In no world is Bertuzzi the center piece for a #2 overall.

 

[TonySoprano]

So no matter who/when Wright is drafted is he playing in the OHL again as he can't play in the A?

 

[Brodeur]

My coworker is from Edmonton, he said those are his friend's parents. [/coolstorybro]

 

[JimEIV]

That guy looks like Gilbert Gottfried a little bit.

 

[devilsblood]

You're taking something I said and applying your own context to it. Take it with the entire comment and you'll understand what I'm saying. He's a insanely cerebral player and when you're not surrounded by players on the same level as you are, you can get dragged down. If he was more assertive and tried to be a selfish player, his stats would pop off the page but that's not his game at all. He wants to get his teammates involved. You're a Devils fan. You've seen Jack get dragged down by his teammates and it took him until his 3rd year to just say "screw it" and become more assertive himself. You can't base everything off of the box score. Yes, he's too good for the OHL. Has been since he was 15 years old. The OHL has been shit the last few seasons. Brad Allen even said it was the worst he's ever seen it this year.

Fine, you can have the high compete guy. I'll take the kid that's going to coast his way to 80 points.


He played under a microscope all season. If you can't understand a highly mental kid letting mental shit get to him, then you simply don't know how the human brain works. I'm extremely bullish on Wright and think he'll 100% be the best player in this class. I'm just taking the context of his season into account here. He was still productive and still was the best player on the ice the majority of the time. He's not a generational player and I think that's where people get the misconception that he should've just dominated.

Nothing about Jack Hughes's play ever suggested "bored" or "passive".

 

[Devils731]

Nothing about Jack Hughes's play ever suggested "bored" or "passive".

I almost used Hughes when discussing concerns over players being “bored”.

If you put Jack Hughes into a league he’s too good for, he would put up massive numbers and stand out every game because he’s got the drive to win and be the best.

Laine is a lower drive guy but you put him in a league he’s too good for and he’d also put up massive numbers just because of his talent.

Wright being “bored” has ended up with people questioning if he’s incredibly talented or merely very talented. People would be less likely to question this if Wright has put up numbers and/or won everything.

 

[beekay414]

Nothing about Jack Hughes's play ever suggested "bored" or "passive".

And I didn't say that, now did I? I said that cerebral players can be dragged down by lesser teammates.

 

[beekay414]

People would be less likely to question this if Wright has put up numbers

108 points in 74 games may not be incredibly eye popping but it also shouldn't be qualified as "not putting up numbers." If you wanna say that you want more eye popping numbers out of a #1 overall pick, fine, but this idea that he didn't produce is absurd.

 

[Devils731]

108 points in 74 games may not be incredibly eye popping but it also shouldn't be qualified as "not putting up numbers." If you wanna say that you want more eye popping numbers out of a #1 overall pick, fine, but this idea that he didn't produce is absurd.

You cut off the part where I say the difference we are looking at is “incredibly” or “very” talented.

It’s not absurd to say his numbers this year may mean he’s only “very” talented.

He was thought to be “incredibly” talented after his first OHL season but he didn’t put up numbers this year to maintain that level.

 

[devilsblood]

And I didn't say that, now did I? I said that cerebral players can be dragged down by lesser teammates.

If the debate is centered around the idea of Wright being bored/passive, then Hughes is a bad comparison.

And as per Wright having "lesser teammates". He didn't lead his team in goals, assists or points. 5th in goals in the regular season. Was tied for 7th in playoff goals. 3rd in playoff points.

Another narrative that doesn't add up.

108 points in 74 games may not be incredibly eye popping but it also shouldn't be qualified as "not putting up numbers." If you wanna say that you want more eye popping numbers out of a #1 overall pick, fine, but this idea that he didn't produce is absurd.

But this idea is relative to being the #1 pick. It's also related to these idea's that he was "bored" or "too good".