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

[Eggtimer]

This is hard, but this team needs grit and grit bad. It's Slafkovsky for me.

Call it what you want but yes we need a player that can draw defenders to him then buy time with elite stick handling plus puck protection to make room and time for our skilled guys . Plus make plays coming off the boards and driving the net giving opponents a handful. That’s some of why I love Slafkovsky’s game and potentially how it can boost Bratt’s Hughes’ game

 

[LeedsMonster]

i dig a pony

I roll a stoney

 

[Eggtimer]

I roll a stoney

I pay alimony

 

[Nubmer6]

i dig a pony

I roll a stoney

I pay alimony

You guys are weird.

 

[njdevils1982]

You guys are weird.

heres my beard... aint it weird?




(got this on LP)

 

[Eggtimer]

heres my beard... aint it weird?




(got this on LP)

Weird but not feared

 

[Hisch13r]

So how do we square Slaf’s exceedingly mediocre production? There’s the “usage” answer this year (although even with proper usage I doubt it looks good enough to really justify a 2nd overall pick). What about last years mediocre U20 production?

 

[daveskirtun]

Other

 

[OmNomNom]

So how do we square Slaf’s exceedingly mediocre production? There’s the “usage” answer this year (although even with proper usage I doubt it looks good enough to really justify a 2nd overall pick). What about last years mediocre U20 production?

what, 13pts in 16 games? rantanen had 17pts in 18 games in his D-1 yr as a comparison. also, slaf's season was cut short, as that U20 season had a lot less games, based on what i'm seeing

 

[Hisch13r]

what, 13pts in 16 games? rantanen had 17pts in 18 games in his D-1 yr as a comparison. also, slaf's season was cut short, as that U20 season had a lot less games, based on what i'm seeing

Rantanen had 18 in 17. Hintz had 38 in 29. Aho had 59 in 44. Kakko had 55 in 38. Puljujarvi had 18 in 11 which is the same that Slaf had this year in his DY but Puljujarvi did it with 12 goals while Slaf did it with 12 assists. It's a clear step down. He must have gotten injured because other players played many more games. Kemell being one of those guys and he had 36 in 38.

 

[britdevil]

It's Slafkovsky. You don't even need to think about it.

Wow, can't believe we won another lottery lol. Amazing.

 

[Nico Hischier]

 

[Andre Palot]

Knowing where we are now, would either Jiricek or Nemec be a shocking reach at the second position?

 

[Nico Hischier]

Knowing where we are now, would either Jiricek or Nemec be a shocking reach at the second position?

I don’t think so. I think for me it comes down to either jiricek or slafkovsky only because of size. One is 6’3 and the other is 6’4. I might be changing my tune and starting to think we shouldn’t pass up a top RD

 

[markog]

How about Joakim Kemell (RW, 18), playing in finnish men league 15g+8a in 39 games?

 

[Unknown Caller]

So how do we square Slaf’s exceedingly mediocre production? There’s the “usage” answer this year (although even with proper usage I doubt it looks good enough to really justify a 2nd overall pick). What about last years mediocre U20 production?

If we’re just talking NHLe type modeling based strictly on production, Slafkovsky has essentially identical numbers / projection to Kopitar, Nichushkin, and Rantanen in their D0 years, all of which are his closest comps in terms of playing style.

 

[FooteBahl]

I pay alimony

Are you a jabroney, homie?

 

[Saint Beaurivage]

I watched all of the player videos available - Slafkovsky, Jiricek, Cooley and Nemec over the past 2-days. Look forward to the world championships.

Slafkovsky hands down. Skating, strength, vision, and the sickest pair of hands. Slafkovsky can keep possession of the puck in really tight areas. I see that some might see in Jiricek but only because he is a D. You can always trade another player "or Slafkovsky" for a defenseman if you have to. I just do not see this being close at all. Personally I might pick Slafkovsky over Wright if given the chance. He looks to be a very special power forward type.

 

[glenwo2]

Both Writers have the top 4 going
MTL- Wright
NJD- Slafkovsky
ARI- Cooley
SEA- Nemec

This is the most common top 4 I’m seeing around in mock drafts and even more so the top 3. Most top 3’s look like that and a lot of them have Nemec at 4 too. Some others might have Jiricek, or Kemell at 4.

This top 4 is as surprising as the Sun rising in the morning.

(meaning it's not surprising at all)

 

[glenwo2]

Sabres fan here hopefully not intruding. Congrats! I said in our forum that you guys are going to be very very good, very soon.

Can't really go wrong either way getting the younger Hughes a top pair partner, or the older hughes a top line winger. I'm team Jiri/Slaf for you guys

@sabremike , your friend is here.

But in all seriousness, thanks for the well-wishes, Zach.

Very excited right now.

 

[FooteBahl]

I don’t think so. I think for me it comes down to either jiricek or slafkovsky only because of size. One is 6’3 and the other is 6’4. I might be changing my tune and starting to think we shouldn’t pass up a top RD

I see your point, but we do have a pretty damn good top RD for the next 6 years and our D already has some damn good size. When our best skilled forwards with size are Nate and Miles, we have issues

 

[glenwo2]

Okay at 10:45 of the vid, admit it...you all laughed at Gary's reaction when the balls dropped and nothing happened for a moment.

 

[hidek91]

I see your point, but we do have a pretty damn good top RD for the next 6 years and our D already has some damn good size. When our best skilled forwards with size are Nate and Miles, we have issues

In the top 10 you never draft for need, you always go BPA. This is not NBA and there would be enough playing time for all of these prospects, even including centers.

I personally think that if you, for example, believe that Cooley is very likely to become the next J. Hughes, you draft him and roll Hughes-Hischier-Cooley as your center group and if push comes to shove, you pull Johansen-Jones type of swap. Some people will counter that with saying that you can get Seth Jones level of d-man in Jiricek and Nemec but in my opinion, the risk of both of them is much higher than risk related to Seth Jones at the moment of Johansen trade (when he already had several NHL seasons of experience).

Not saying that Cooley is the pick here but drafting for need in top 10 ends up with Zachas and Kotkaniemis.

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

A reminder Puljuarvi is currently 20 pounds lighter than Slafkovsky and will likely be 30 pounds lighter by the time Slaf plays in the NHL. In the NFL, a large deal is made of the weight of players, why do people ignore it in hockey. I'm not sure people understand what 30 pounds does for protecting the puck, along the boards and in the corner. Think Maroon down low. Now add, a top line skillset.

 

[FooteBahl]

In the top 10 you never draft for need, you always go BPA. This is not NBA and there would be enough playing time for all of these prospects, even including centers.

I personally think that if you, for example, believe that Cooley is very likely to become the next J. Hughes, you draft him and roll Hughes-Hischier-Cooley as your center group and if push comes to shove, you pull Johansen-Jones type of swap. Some people will counter that with saying that you can get Seth Jones level of d-man in Jiricek and Nemec but in my opinion, the risk of both of them is much higher than risk related to Seth Jones at the moment of Johansen trade (when he already had several NHL seasons of experience).

Not saying that Cooley is the pick here but drafting for need in top 10 ends up with Zachas and Kotkaniemis.

I agree with the BPA and I fully trust Fitz and the scouting staff to make the best call. All I’m saying is on draft day they have 2 or 3 players they are torn on, you pick the guy whose attributes are SEVERELY lacking on this team and who can dominate the corners in the playoffs where the intensity is amped up exponentially.
Playoff hockey isn’t the clutching/grabbing like it was in the 90’s, nor is it’s run and gun either—we need balance.