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

What should we do with #2?

  • Slafkovsky

    Votes: 220 61.5%

  • Jiricek

    Votes: 56 15.6%

  • Nemec

    Votes: 30 8.4%

  • Trade it

    Votes: 39 10.9%

  • Other

    Votes: 13 3.6%
  • Total voters
    358
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Saugus said:
I think it's silly that they ask a kid if he's the best player in the draft. What exactly are they expecting to hear? The only responses you could get to that question are either unhelpful, noncommittal, or delusional.
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That's how interviews are. They are always dumb.
 
Hisch13r said:




This was Slaf's 3rd year in Finland. It's not like it was some big culture shock and he was adjusting to a new place.
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It was his first year in the men's league...but I'm not making any assertions.

I just see a team that's top two scores are from the very town the team is based in and 5 other players are from the same town making it 7 in total from Turku and I see 21 other Finn's on the roster and the top 6 scorers are all from Finland and I wonder what kind of opportunities a 17 year old Slovak got?

I don't know the answer...but watching the nationalistic debates of any Finnish prospect or player has me very skeptical about how to interpret Slafkovsky's results...

Just purely random thoughts really.
 
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Hisch13r said:




This was Slaf's 3rd year in Finland. It's not like it was some big culture shock and he was adjusting to a new place.
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How many points can any player amass in a bottom 6 role without PP time at any level? I think this is a better question to ask.

Post-Olympics, when Slafkovsky was placed in more of a middle 6 role with 2PP time, his scoring increased.

We really need to see the stats in context and use our scouting acumen to ask ourselves: how many points would Slafkovsky have scored in the CHL or on the US-NTDP? That's the key. That's what I asked myself with Lucas Raymond, which is why I thought he was a great pick by Detroit at #4 overall. That's what I'm asking myself with Slafkovsky, which is why I think he's a slam dunk for the top 2 overall.

In the CHL, I strongly feel Slafkovsky would be around Wright's total of 94 points. On the US-NTDP, I strongly feel Slafkovsky would have fairly easily topped Isaac Howard's team-leading 80 points. If there is a reason to dispute my estimations based on Slafkovsky's skill set and level of play, I'd love to hear it, because I don't think anyone would doubt he'd be a 1st line player with 1PP minutes in either of those scenarios.
 
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Slafovsky is going to be a player that is "hard to play against" with his size and skill combo. Watching a scouting video on YouTube it was noted that he is not a big hitter or a crazy physical player. He's going to need to learn how become a better hitter and learn use his size advantage along the boards. We saw how Zacha would be an aggressive player in juniors but pretty much never lays big open ice hits and plays a soft game. I'm not saying Slaf will be like that but I'm invisioning this kid being a Jamie Benn like power forward.
 
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I think Slafkovsky surprised a lot of people including himself during the Olympics . In one of his interviews just after the Olympics , he said he was on the team to play on the forth line as an energy / defensive / checking role …
To me that says a bunch of things . I think everyone ( his league team , himself , everyone trying to help develop him ) was ok with the notion of him being used in a limited role on his Finnish team and Olympics . This to me sounds like his potential was never fully realized until his play in the Olympics , and only then did he change his style of game .
If the kid was used properly to begin with , maybe his numbers would be a lot better . It wasn’t that long that he was finally used as a scoring option getting decent minutes and not used in a checking role . I think that is massively important to take into account . The kid is literally just “ breaking out “ now and will only improve once he gets more experience and confidence to be a top 6 player
 
Random thought but I feel as though I find myself getting hung up on players' listed positions/handedness and what they can actually play. For example, Luke is a LHD but can play the RD and has said as much, while Cooley also just came out and said hes comfortable on wing and doesnt mind playing there. Ty Smith also played some RD I believe, even at the NHL level. Wood looked good on his offside flying down the boards for shots.

Wonder how much play that gets from scouts and management when determining who to pick and where they might play. All things aside with how perfect Slafkovsky is for us, if management really likes Cooley's skillset and he says wing is fine for him, do you pick him with intention of using him on wing? And I dont askthat from Fitzgerald's perspective I ask from any team whod like Cooley enough and has centers to consider this
 
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Xirik said:


He's definitely very self confident and has a drive to be better.

"Shane believes he put in the work to be drafted 1st, What are your thoughts on that?

Slaf: Thats what he thinks *Shrugs*

That respones has very



energy
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I can appreciate his honesty and even the ability to be reflective over his past ability and confidence level, though (and I only comment this since we have a psychology team at these interviews) I take issue with one of his comments about his growth over the last year. Id argue it would show more internal confidence if he instead stated that he felt he was playing the same way the whole time, and that added icetime and confidence is what helped him become a stronger prospect in the scouts eyes.

Now obviously it wouldnt have to he worded like that lol, but to say that he knew he could play at a certain level but essentially didnt shows me a certain trait that someone whos still a bit immature would have.

Im not necessarily saying he is lying or that his confidence didnt rise or wasnt the reason for his improvements, but psychologically (and id obviously need more than eight minutes with him to build a foundation to even comment off of) I would have preferred a more humbled answer, one that doesnt necessarily blame his confidence but instead adds it as a reason of more than one, perhaps the biggest

Otherwise he speaks well for his age and it being a foreign language, so he certainly is smart and seems to have a charisma about him, even if it doesnt usually come out in a Europeans' interview lol
 
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Fanatik said:
I can appreciate his honesty and even the ability to be reflective over his past ability and confidence level, though (and I only comment this since we have a psychology team at these interviews) I take issue with one of his comments about his growth over the last year. Id argue it would show more internal confidence if he instead stated that he felt he was playing the same way the whole time, and that added icetime and confidence is what helped him become a stronger prospect in the scouts eyes.

Now obviously it wouldnt have to he worded like that lol, but to say that he knew he could play at a certain level but essentially didnt shows me a certain trait that someone whos still a bit immature would have.

Im not necessarily saying he is lying or that his confidence didnt rise or wasnt the reason for his improvements, but psychologically (and id obviously need more than eight minutes with him to build a foundation to even comment off of) I would have preferred a more humbled answer, one that doesnt necessarily blame his confidence but instead adds it as a reason of more than one, perhaps the biggest

Otherwise he speaks well for his age and it being a foreign language, so he certainly is smart and seems to have a charisma about him, even if it doesnt usually come out in a Europeans' interview lol
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That could simply be a language barrier.
 
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BurntToast said:
That could simply be a language barrier.
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It could but he was speaking quite clearly and was able to form his thoughts pretty well. I think he meant what was said and it came across accurately

But it can be left open to interpretation I guess
 
Captain3rdLine said:
That’s what you want to hear. He thinks he improved throughout the year. I much rather that than him say that he did better when he got more ice time and was given opportunity. They want players who are gonna play well no matter where they are and look in the mirror for the answers. Not someone who sits there and basically suggests they didn’t do as well earlier on because they weren’t given a top 6 role and powerplay time and with that didn’t have confidence.

A answer along the lines I worked hard throughout the year and improved as the year went on to the point where I earned more ice time, gained some confidence and had more success. I think that’s actually a lot more humble than suggesting he played the same way all year and that he didn’t do as well earlier on because he didn’t have the confidence.
That would be a terrible answer.
You don’t want players who struggle with confidence or need certain things to happen for them to play at their best.

That’s my opinion.

I think a prospect talking lots about what they need to work on and improve is great and exactly what you want.
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Its not what I want to hear, its what I got from his statements. Reading between the lines is exactly the job of the psychological team, hence I made the comment. And for the record Im not holding it against him in any way but just pointing that specific response out.

Confidence is an inherently not-humbling trait. Its why people who are extremely confident tend to be linked to cockiness, whether it be negative or not. Jack Hughes had this in bundles and it was a common gripe among his detractors and haters, yet it doesnt mean its wrong of him or negative or immature. Wayne Gretzky is probably one of the most humble athletes of his skill level in all sports history, and yet even when he makes comments about his greatness it can always be left up to interpretation that hes not being humble. Its just the nature of language and understanding.

Also Id like to add that Europeans tend to expound less on their thoughts in such settings than North Americans, for reasons including many but mostly cultural and outgoing-personalities. So adding that on top of speaking a foreign language, it probably comes across harsher than it seems.

But that doesnt change that it most likely lines up with his school of thinking, that he feels his confidence to do better was what most helped him and that he thinks he always had the ability to do so. Id have just preferred he said that since it would show the same level of confidence but instead speak to actual real-world circumstance, and yes that isnt humble and not what I said earlier but if that is your level of confidence then own it. To me it seems like he isnt as confident as to get to that level of 'cockiness', and so instead Id like him to explain why his confidence rose and not just put that as the main means of improvement. Its crossing two different paths of deeper meaning and so it, psychologically, sounds a bit confusing.

Discussing the psychie of someones speech is always going to have different interpretations, and its why people get paid to do that because they are better than most at it. Im just giving my opinion on that.
 
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Fanatik said:
Its not what I want to hear, its what I got from his statements. Reading between the lines is exactly the job of the psychological team, hence I made the comment. And for the record Im not holding it against him in any way but just pointing that specific response out.

Confidence is an inherently not-humbling trait. Its why people who are extremely confident tend to be linked to cockiness, whether it be negative or not. Jack Hughes had this in bundles and it was a common gripe among his detractors and haters, yet it doesnt mean its wrong of him or negative or immature. Wayne Gretzky is probably one of the most humble athletes of his skill level in all sports history, and yet even when he makes comments about his greatness it can always be left up to interpretation that hes not being humble. Its just the nature of language and understanding.

Also Id like to add that Europeans tend to expound less on their thoughts in such settings than North Americans, for reasons including many but mostly cultural and outgoing-personalities. So adding that on top of speaking a foreign language, it probably comes across harsher than it seems.

But that doesnt change that it most likely lines up with his school of thinking, that he feels his confidence to do better was what most helped him and that he thinks he always had the ability to do so. Id have just preferred he said that since it would show the same level of confidence but instead speak to actual real-world circumstance, and yes that isnt humble and not what I said earlier but if that is your level of confidence then own it. To me it seems like he isnt as confident as to get to that level of 'cockiness', and so instead Id like him to explain why his confidence rose and not just put that as the main means of improvement. Its crossing two different paths of deeper meaning and so it, psychologically, sounds a bit confusing.

Discussing the psychie of someones speech is always going to have different interpretations, and its why people get paid to do that because they are better than most at it. Im just giving my opinion on that.
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I don't understand.

There is a "Psychological team"? I'm confused.
 
Devils731 said:
Yes. The Devils have psych people at these interviews who try and create a personality profile about the player.
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Middle aged white male lives alone in a remote place with access to his victims.

Guadana said:
I like the judgement of man, who is trying to express himself by basic language with limited word pack. High level of psychological analysis.
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That may be the most entertaining thing you’ve ever written in English.
 
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Honestly at the end of the day I hope we just take whoever the scouts view as the best player. From watching highlights, Slaf seems appealing, but then again so did Zacha.

If I recall correctly, there were many people on the board (myself included), who wanted Pavel. Poor decision then.

The size and skillset of Slaf is appealing but if Cooley or one of the Dmen are ranked higher, take them.

We just cannot afford to miss here if we want to be an elite team.
 
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