Prospect Info: Devils Win #2 Overall -- Slafkovsky vs. Jiricek vs. Nemec

[SteveCangialosi123]

Just a really weird grading system in theory slaf is an average nhl player with all star upside or average nhl players are all stars

I don’t Nico has any singular skill that is significantly better than average. But he’s also not significantly worse than average at anything. Put it all together and it equals a terrific player. Average NHL players aren’t average at everything.

 

[devilsblood]

Wright is better offensively than Nico was at his age. The offensive upside is higher imo.

CHL stats were pretty similar in their respective draft years. Nico may have been in a more offensive league, but Wright is on a more stacked offensive team.

 

[devilsblood]

I don’t Nico has any singular skill that is significantly better than average. But he’s also not significantly worse than average at anything. Put it all together and it equals a terrific player. Average NHL players aren’t average at everything.

If we take the grinder subset he is well above average offensively.

Or flip that.

If we take the offensively player subset he is well above average grinder wise.

For a talented offensive player, Nico has a very high grinder quotient in him.

 

[TF1970]

Would you guys take Drysdale straight up for the #2 pick?

i probably would

 

[Hockey Sports Fan]

Lol at pronman assessment has slaf nhl average at everything but still somehow has him as an nhl all star projection it kinda doesn’t make any sense just do away with the nhl average grace and leave the projection or a blurb

Pronman’s grading system is very peculiar but if you read him for awhile, it starts to make sense. He’s grading players against the entirety of NHL history, basically. It’s not curved for that specific draft. It’s important to realize that Slafkovsky’s ceiling is closer to a 60 point power winger than a 100-point hall of fame two way forward, and i think his grades are there to manage expectations.

He also said Slaf is similar to Rick Nash, who similarly had no weaknesses in his game but few/no elite strengths. But when you combine that lack of weakness with a huge frame and a strong work ethic, you get a very good hockey player.

 

[Blackjack]

Pronman’s grading system is very peculiar but if you read him for awhile, it starts to make sense. He’s grading players against the entirety of NHL history, basically. It’s not curved for that specific draft. It’s important to realize that Slafkovsky’s ceiling is closer to a 60 point power winger than a 100-point hall of fame two way forward, and i think his grades are there to manage expectations.

He also said Slaf is similar to Rick Nash, who similarly had no weaknesses in his game but few/no elite strengths. But when you combine that lack of weakness with a huge frame and a strong work ethic, you get a very good hockey player.

When you say Slafkovsky's ceiling is a 60 points, I assume you mean his projection. IMO his ceiling is around 100 points.

 

[Hockey Sports Fan]

When you say Slafkovsky's ceiling is a 60 points, I assume you mean his projection. IMO his ceiling is around 100 points.

Yeah i guess that would have made more sense, but i stand by what i said. I should have emphasized the “closer to.” Meaning IMO Slaf is more likely a 60-80 point winger than an 80-100 point winger.

And that’s all just jumping off the conversation about the weird system Pronman uses to rate skillsets. For example, it’s weird to see someone like Jagger Firkus listed with “NHL Average” puck skills along with almost all the first round. But the idea is that even though Firkus has very good hands (and an elite WHL name), they’re not so good that they elevate him into the top end of the draft. So it’s kinda like evaluating the whole package along with the analysis, and not saying “this guy’s handling skill is 83 but this guy is 90, so he’s the better forward.”

 

[goonybird]

Pornman likes guys who dangle, are big, and preferably play C. That's the formula.

 

[Devs3cups]

 

[Devil made me do it]

Another Slaf article, this is from the Montreal beat writer:

Juraj Slafkovsky's unique skill could make him potential top pick for Canadiens

Every NHL team is looking for the skill set Juraj Slafkovsky brings, but is that enough for the Canadiens to take him over Shane Wright?

theathletic.com

He feels Slaf is more boom/bust, but also goes on to say, Slaf has improved throughout the season. It seems, for every negative, there is a counter argument. If he makes a bad decision one shift, he makes a spectacular one the next. His production was “meh” with TPS but was outstanding internationally. His skating was so-so but it has improved. Sometimes he attacks the middle/ defenders, sometimes he takes the puck down the boards. It seems a lot of scouts, would rather drop him to 5-7 range than be forced to give a projection. I think the high grades on Kakko and Pool Party make media scouts nervous to predict Slaf’s upside.

I just don't see Slafkovsky end up as Kakko. He has an edge about his game, a combination of skill+intelligence+hustle that Kakko lacks.
Kakko's shot is nowhere near as good as Slafkovsky's.
Kakko cannot generate scoring chances all by himself the way Slafkovsky does.
Watching him up close at the WC instead of some selective highlights really convinced me that this kid will not bust.
I always base my evaluation from the eye test. And that's what I see. Some prospects just convince you in your evaluation that you won't be wrong.

 

[BurntToast]

I just don't see Slafkovsky end up as Kakko. He has an edge about his game, a combination of skill+intelligence+hustle that Kakko lacks.
Kakko's shot is nowhere near as good as Slafkovsky's.
Kakko cannot generate scoring chances all by himself the way Slafkovsky does.
Watching him up close at the WC instead of some selective highlights really convinced me that this kid will not bust.
I always base my evaluation from the eye test. And that's what I see. Some prospects just convince you in your evaluation that you won't be wrong.

I agree, it just seems “media” scouts are hesitant to give Slaf his due because they got burned in the past. When, they did the anonymous poll, Slaf got 3 (out of 10) first place votes.

 

[Fanatik]

I just don't see Slafkovsky end up as Kakko. He has an edge about his game, a combination of skill+intelligence+hustle that Kakko lacks.
Kakko's shot is nowhere near as good as Slafkovsky's.
Kakko cannot generate scoring chances all by himself the way Slafkovsky does.
Watching him up close at the WC instead of some selective highlights really convinced me that this kid will not bust.
I always base my evaluation from the eye test. And that's what I see. Some prospects just convince you in your evaluation that you won't be wrong.

I think Kakko has en edge about his game as well, you just dont see it often because I think hes just coming out of the 'acclimating' process, which can be very rough for a quieter Euro moving to the big City.

His board game couldnt be as strong as it is if he didnt play with some level of edge. Now maybe Slafkovsky's edge is more, idk

 

[StevenToddIves]

Would you guys take Drysdale straight up for the #2 pick?

No, because Slafkovsky and Wright are both players I would rank a bit higher. Drysdale is an exceptional young talent though, no slight on him.

Yeah, I figured he wasn't being shopped. He's a good one.

I'm pretty sure him or Sanderson would've been our pick in 2020 if Ottawa and you guys didn't pick them right before us.

I think Sanderson would have been the pick of Anaheim at #6 if Ottawa passed him at #5, which would have left Drysdale to the Devils.

 

[StevenToddIves]

You guys should take Cooley. Bump this later.

No. You take the best available player, and the top tier of the 2022 draft is Wright/Slafkovsky.

 

[Fanatik]

No, because Slafkovsky and Wright are both players I would rank a bit higher. Drysdale is an exceptional young talent though, no slight on him.


I think Sanderson would have been the pick of Anaheim at #6 if Ottawa passed him at #5, which would have left Drysdale to the Devils.

Might be crazy but Id consider doing #2 for Sanderson, if Fitzgerald and co liked him enough. Wish he was RH'd but Luke can play the right maybe?

A Sanderson-Hughes combo would be just bonkers

 

[StevenToddIves]

When you say Slafkovsky's ceiling is a 60 points, I assume you mean his projection. IMO his ceiling is around 100 points.

I think he mixed up the words "ceiling" and "floor".

I just don't see Slafkovsky end up as Kakko. He has an edge about his game, a combination of skill+intelligence+hustle that Kakko lacks.
Kakko's shot is nowhere near as good as Slafkovsky's.
Kakko cannot generate scoring chances all by himself the way Slafkovsky does.
Watching him up close at the WC instead of some selective highlights really convinced me that this kid will not bust.
I always base my evaluation from the eye test. And that's what I see. Some prospects just convince you in your evaluation that you won't be wrong.

The Kakko comparison for Slafkovsky is lazy, at best. Sure, they're both big wings who play an interior game and spent their draft-eligible seasons in Liiga. But I'd say everything else is different.

 

[bsu]

No. You take the best available player, and the top tier of the 2022 draft is Wright/Slafkovsky.

The top tier was Lafreniere and Byfield at one point too recently and there are MANY players that translated better.

 

[StevenToddIves]

The top tier was Lafreniere and Byfield at one point too recently and there are MANY players that translated better

And Stutzle. The top 3 was pretty much set going into the 2020 draft. But the jury is still out there. Lafreniere or Byfield or Stutzle could all still wind up being the best player from the 2020 class, as could Sanderson, who has yet to play an NHL game.

But for the Devils, taking Cooley over Slafkovsky or Wright would be just sheer nearsightedness. Whereas Wright also plays center, he has a higher upside and floor than Cooley. Does this mean out is impossible for Cooley to wind up the better player? Of course not. But your odds are far better with Wrght.

However, we have to also factor in the overwhelming odds that Wright goes #1 overall. In this case, Cooley would still not be a top 3 choice for me -- because Slafkovsky and Jiricek both play more needed positions in the Devils organizations and both possess higher upside. I'd also add in Nemec, who has a higher floor but lower ceiling than Cooley, but also is a great bet to be a top 4, two-way RD, which the Devils desperately need.

Slafkovsky is the very, very likely pick. He's the clear best available player at #2, his upside is stratospheric, and he not only plays a position of great NJ need (top 6 LW) but also a style of great NJ need (interior forward who can dominate down low, where the Devils offense is weakest). Cooley is great, no doubt, but his upside is not remotely close to a player we already have at the same position in Jack Hughes, and we also have a #2 center with more diverse abilities in Nico Hischier.

 

[Monsieur Verdoux]

The top tier was Lafreniere and Byfield at one point too recently and there are MANY players that translated better.

It wouldn't be surprising if the best player in this draft is someone else than Wright or Slafkovsky. But the same thing can be said about Cooley too - there are many players that could translate better than him.

 

[My3Sons]

I agree with you. That’s just my shopping list. No expectations for #37. Add in some butter and kitty litter and my shopping list would be nice. Maybe some Funions with a Reid Schaefer.

You know you are old when it's been years since you've allowed yourself to eat Funions.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

Isn’t Nico hischier a good comparison for wright?

What kind of comparison? Not playstyle that's for sure.

One point to make is psychology. If you have 3 very good centers, well it creates competition but also opens the discussion where the person labeled as (3C) might want to go to another club where he can play 1c or 2c role. We see this in Eurosoccer where the divas arent happy to play in the shadows of other elite players. This also speaks in favor of drafting a winger or a D. That said, this kins of discussion would be years away for Wright and presumably devils window would have been open for a while too.

hmm they really care about that even if they're getting paid like a #1 center?

 

[Captain3rdLine]

What kind of comparison? Not playstyle that's for sure.



hmm they really care about that even if they're getting paid like a #1 center?

Not even saying what he’s saying is right but that is just wrong.
First off, most of these players are very competitive, want to play and be a difference maker. They don’t want to be on the 3rd line if they know they could play and be a much more impactful player on an NHL first line.
Second, it can have an affect on how much they make on their next contract and how they develop as a player. If they’re stuck on the third line with worse players and less ice time they won’t be viewed as highly or have as much of an opportunity to produce and put up numbers that will earn them their next contract.
Just because they’re getting paid like a 1st liner doesn’t mean they’ll be happy or not care about being on the 3rd line.
There’s so many factors.

 

[Devs3cups]

Not even saying what he’s saying is right but that is just wrong.
First off, most of these players are very competitive, want to play and be a difference maker. They don’t want to be on the 3rd line if they know they could play and be a much more impactful player on an NHL first line.
Second, it can have an affect on how much they make on their next contract and how they develop as a player. If they’re stuck on the third line with worse players and less ice time they won’t be viewed as highly or have as much of an opportunity to produce and put up numbers that will earn them their next contract.
Just because they’re getting paid like a 1st liner doesn’t mean they’ll be happy or not care about being on the 3rd line.
There’s so many factors.

These are all fair points, but maybe Wright also wouldn’t care if the team is successful and if he can help the team.

 

[Nubmer6]

You know you are old when it's been years since you've allowed yourself to eat Funions.

*I* thought I was old when all the centerfolds in Playboy were younger than me.

 

[Derps]

I don’t Nico has any singular skill that is significantly better than average. But he’s also not significantly worse than average at anything. Put it all together and it equals a terrific player. Average NHL players aren’t average at everything.

I think he's a significantly better passer than average