Prospect Info: Current #2 overall poll and discussion

[beekay414]

If I were a GM drafting Slafkovsky, I would want him to start the year in the AHL. Let him acclimate to North American rinks and hockey, take a bit of the pressure off. If he tears it up, he can always be recalled, but although he's close to NHL ready, I'd say there's still some elements of Slafkovsky's game which can be improved upon.

Can Slaf come over and play in the AHL next year? Thought he'd have to go back to TPS if he doesn't make the team.

 

[longislanddevil]

@StevenToddIves Hypothetically, if the Devils trade 2OA to Columbus for 6OA and 12OA, what are the chances Cooley is still on the board? Assuming the Devils targets are RD or Gauthier, this would be a nightmare scenario.

 

[devilsblood]

@StevenToddIves Hypothetically, if the Devils trade 2OA to Columbus for 6OA and 12OA, what are the chances Cooley is still on the board? Assuming the Devils targets are RD or Gauthier, this would be a nightmare scenario.

I tend to think the best skating center in the draft wouldn't fall too much.

But if the RD/Gauthier did go before Cooley we could go nuts and trade down again? I know typically trading the #2 OA for a bunch of significantly lower picks is a bad move, but in a draft where the top of the board looks like a relatively weak group? Maybe it makes sense.

 

[Hisch13r]

Is there any chance Slaf doesn’t play in the NHL next season?

Yeah. He’d need to blow me away to not throw him in the AHL though

 

[Forge]

@StevenToddIves Hypothetically, if the Devils trade 2OA to Columbus for 6OA and 12OA, what are the chances Cooley is still on the board? Assuming the Devils targets are RD or Gauthier, this would be a nightmare scenario.

I'm not Steve, but I'd wager it's pretty small. I think you're looking at Nemec / cutter / jiricek in that spot.

I think there's a very clear top 2 and a pretty obvious top 3. I think asking for Cooley to fall three spots from what appears to be a locked in #3 oa spot is asking a lot.

Is there any chance Slaf doesn’t play in the NHL next season?

Feel like it's much not likely that he doesn't play in the NHL then he does

 

[Captain3rdLine]

It’s never vague and meaningless coming from Friedman. He doesn’t provide information that’s pure speculation, there’s always pretty strong veracity behind it whether it ultimately comes to fruition or not.

It was absolutely vague and meaningless. He’s not saying that’s what’s happening or that people are telling him that what’s happening.

He quite literally said that some other teams are speculating about that possibility.
I wasn’t saying he was speculating.
He was quite literally saying that some other teams are speculating that the devils could like a dman and consider trading back.

No one has actually said they do. Just speculated that they could.

 

[StevenToddIves]

@StevenToddIves Hypothetically, if the Devils trade 2OA to Columbus for 6OA and 12OA, what are the chances Cooley is still on the board? Assuming the Devils targets are RD or Gauthier, this would be a nightmare scenario.

I couldn't see Cooley falling past Philadelphia at #5 -- the Flyers need help up the middle and Cooley would not only be the consensus top available player there, he's also a Pennsylvania native.

But it's also important to keep in mind that if Cooley is even available at #5, it probably means Gauthier is already off the board, as are one of the two big RD prospects.

In this particular scenario, the Devils would clearly take whichever RD is left over at #6, for instance:

1 MTL Slafkovsky
2 CLB Wright
3 ARI Gauthier
4 SEA Nemec/Jiricek
5 PHI Cooley
6 NJ Nemec/Jiricek

I have Slafkovsky as the 1st pick here because I think the only way the Devils trade down is if Montreal goes with Slafkovsky. But again, even in the peculiar and unlikely scenario the Devils would pick at #6 with both Jiricek and Cooley available, for instance, I think Jiricek would be the pick. Personally, I have Jiricek ranked #3 and Cooley #5, and would not be surprised if the Devils board looked similar, as Fitzgerald has stated a desire to make the Devils tougher to play against and more physical.

 

[StevenToddIves]

I tend to think the best skating center in the draft wouldn't fall too much.

But if the RD/Gauthier did go before Cooley we could go nuts and trade down again? I know typically trading the #2 OA for a bunch of significantly lower picks is a bad move, but in a draft where the top of the board looks like a relatively weak group? Maybe it makes sense.

In my mock draft, I have Gauthier going #3 to Arizona, then #4 Seattle opting for a RD and Philadelphia taking Cooley at #5. I'm not kidding around or trying to be different, I actually believe it's a very realistic scenario.

I mean, the best skating center in the draft is actually Brad Lambert, who has appreciably more upside than Cooley, and he could fall into the 20s.

But finally, I think it bears noting that this is a draft with a clear-cut top two in Wright and Slafkovsky. Both have high floors and superstar upsides. Neither is a perfect prospect, but they're both clearly potential franchise players if they approach their ceilings.

As such, I would only trade down if it was an overwhelming offer. To be honest, I'd say the #6 and the #12 pick is a pretty overwhelming offer. The Devils would likely get one of Jiricek/Nemec/Gauthier and be able to fill another big need at #12 with a kid like Kasper or swing for the moon with a pick like Miroshnichenko.

However, I'm not trading down with Arizona to #3 or Seattle to #4 unless they really overwhelm us to move up. With Arizona, I'd demand the #26 overall pick, while with Seattle I might ask for Adam Larsson.

I'm not Steve, but I'd wager it's pretty small. I think you're looking at Nemec / cutter / jiricek in that spot.

I think there's a very clear top 2 and a pretty obvious top 3. I think asking for Cooley to fall three spots from what appears to be a locked in #3 oa spot is asking a lot.


Feel like it's much not likely that he doesn't play in the NHL then he does

Be happy you're not Steve with this hangover.

Can Slaf come over and play in the AHL next year? Thought he'd have to go back to TPS if he doesn't make the team.

I'm pretty sure the team which drafts Slaf can sign him and send him down. But you're better off asking the all-knowing oracle @Guttersniped

 

[Xirik]

I wonder...

Shea Theodore is LD but seems to prefer being RD according to reports and he doesn't have a NMC. Would 2OA for him be a good deal? Vegas needs prospects after throwing away everything in trades and they are in cap hell.

 

[ChicksDigTheTrap]

Would 2OA for him be a good deal?

It would be a great deal for Vegas

 

[Its Always Sundstrom]

I would say I'm cheating with hockey. I know my wife, she doesn't mind.

Hey, life dictates relationships, not old, out dated models. You have your hockey mistress, my friend!

But seriously, thank you. You and @StevenToddIves are fantastic and so happy to have you on NJD board squad. Miss you @thethinglonger !

 

[Xirik]

It would be a great deal for Vegas

I don't see it being a bad deal for the Devils. He fits the rebuild timeline and just had a career year.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

I wonder...

Shea Theodore is LD but seems to prefer being RD according to reports and he doesn't have a NMC. Would 2OA for him be a good deal? Vegas needs prospects after throwing away everything in trades and they are in cap hell.

 

[Xirik]

View attachment 564325

thanks for you're in depth opinion.

 

[StevenToddIves]

I wonder...

Shea Theodore is LD but seems to prefer being RD according to reports and he doesn't have a NMC. Would 2OA for him be a good deal? Vegas needs prospects after throwing away everything in trades and they are in cap hell.

Shea Theodore is exactly what the Devils should not be trading for. They have a far more talented offensive LD coming up in Luke Hughes. Either way, Theodore is not close to worth #2 overall.

 

[Xirik]

Shea Theodore is exactly what the Devils should not be trading for. They have a far more talented offensive LD coming up in Luke Hughes. Either way, Theodore is not close to worth #2 overall.

The reason I suggested it is a page ago people were asking about trading the 2nd for top pairing RD. Clearly there aren't many of those on the market but Theodore is a good LD but has played RD to surprising success.

Thanks for actually stating a reason why you think its a bad idea though.

 

[Eggtimer]

Ever consider anger management classes?

I got kicked out of last group class for starting a fist fight

 

[Team Concept]

Nemec is conspicuous by his absence from this list. I am intrigued by Lekkerimaki.

 

[ninetyeight]

Can Slaf come over and play in the AHL next year? Thought he'd have to go back to TPS if he doesn't make the team.

I'm pretty sure all Liiga contracts have an NHL clause. Which naturally covers AHL too since it's the same franchise contract for both leagues.

 

[Guttersniped]

I wonder...

Shea Theodore is LD but seems to prefer being RD according to reports and he doesn't have a NMC. Would 2OA for him be a good deal? Vegas needs prospects after throwing away everything in trades and they are in cap hell.

No way Vegas trades their best contract and one of their top players for futures. They’re too win now.

Also Theodore is very much an offensive defenseman and that’s not what we need. We already have Hamilton shooting the puck a ton and Luke will shoot it a ton too, it can only get shot so many times.

 

[Xirik]

*see's another teams fan board doing a mock draft*

*peeks in*
Devils trade 2OA for 6OA and 12OA but pick Savoie then Lekkerimaki

What is this!? a TEAM OF ANTS?!

 

[Guadana]

Hey, life dictates relationships, not old, out dated models. You have your hockey mistress, my friend!

But seriously, thank you. You and @stevetoddives are fantastic and so happy to have you on NJD board squad. Miss you @thethinglonger !

 

[StevenToddIves]

View attachment 564333


Nemec is conspicuous by his absence from this list. I am intrigued by Lekkerimaki.

You'd figure they would know Lekkerimaki's position if they were ranking him so high.

 

[Hisch13r]

View attachment 564333


Nemec is conspicuous by his absence from this list. I am intrigued by Lekkerimaki.

Lekkerimaki is just a worse Holtz. No interest.

*see's another teams fan board doing a mock draft*

*peeks in*
Devils trade 2OA for 6OA and 12OA but pick Savoie then Lekkerimaki

What is this!? a TEAM OF ANTS?!

If we were to trade back we should be taking one of the smaller guys if he is there at 12. That smaller guy is not Savoie or Lekkerimakki though. It's Nazar

 

[Zacha37]

Current Vegas odds for our pick.