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

[Lou is God]

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.

If all players are equal you draft for need. To me it's that simple.

 

[oxman44]

Ive only seen about 3+- games of the top 5 prospects so far. So not exactly a full scouting report. I think all of these kids are really good and would be very happy with any of them. Im continuing with the assumption that MTL grabs Wright. So to me, I would have it like this if I was the devils scouting dept.

If they want to go D, Nemec is my guy. I like Jiricec alot, and typically I'm ALL about size and length when it comes to defensmen. But I see a special quality in Nemec that shouts NHL top 2 D to me. Just an excellent skater with dynamite 2 way hockey sense and tons of skills to boot. Already very advanced defensively for his age. And hes really not small at all, like we see with some of the highly touted puck moving D.

If the choice is F, Then ive gotta go Slafkovsky. Everyone has posted just about everything we need to know about him already. But the thing that really stands out to me, that we need in a very bad way, is his wall/down low play. Kid always attacks the middle once he can get the puck off the wall. puck protection etc just top notch. perfect compliment to our centers.
Cooley is phenomenal, but hes got alot of the same qualities as Jack. Kind of a jack-lite. amazing player though

 

[RangerDoggo]

Trade the pick.

 

[Normal Devil]

Trade the pick.

What are you eying for it?

 

[Better Call Sal]

Maybe not, but better players have dropped further than that.

If he never injured his knee, most definitely not

Good to see you back!

 

[LeedsMonster]

So I've been a Jiricek guy so far, but does anyone think Slaf could play in the NHL right away?

 

[Andre Palot]

What are you eying for it?

Established names that in the past I remember being floated around were Sergachev and Marner

I wonder if the timing could be right since both those teams have cap problems.

 

[RangerDoggo]

What are you eying for it?

Someone who can play immediately on the top 6, see if Fitz can rustle something away from Minnesota or Calgary. Perhaps Mangiapane?

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

Someone who can play immediately on the top 6, see if Fitz can rustle something away from Minnesota or Calgary. Perhaps Mangiapane?

Not sure if you are trolling but stop trolling

 

[Devils731]

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.

It really is bizarre that size is almost exclusively looked at as height.

Zetterlund is 5’11” and 220. He’s a freaking tank but he doesn’t get tons of cred as a big guy because he’s listed 1 inch under 6 feet.

On the flip side, Zacha is a big guy who should be really tough but he’s 6’3” and 210. He’s actually much easier to move around than Zetterlund would be but he’s tall so he’s big.

Obviously height will tend to affect reach, which is important, but we as the hockey community tend to discuss “big” as just height. It’s weird.

 

[Xirik]

Speak for yourself. I want a pony.

Alexei Ponikarovsky eh?

Thats thinking outside the box! Nobody will think we will draft an over-ager!

 

[Xirik]

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.

I wish Mine would do he same.

 

[glenwo2]

These 3 top prospects could be available for NJ Devils after NHL Draft Lottery climb

With the Devils selecting second in July's draft after the lottery, many of the draft's top prospects are available to be selected.

www.northjersey.com

Standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing 220 pounds, Slafkovsky provides the size that New Jersey can benefit from. Great hands and strong board play can add a level of physicality that the Devils are lacking. Slafkovsky projects as a top six winger and has drawn comparisons in his game to Jaromir Jagr by some scouts.

Yeah.....draft Slaf and don't look back.

If he even becomes a Poor-man's Jagr, I'd be ecstatic.

 

[JrFischer54]

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.

Agree with this you go BPA all the way. a team that has been as bad as us for as long as us needs talent everywhere i dont care if center is "deep" on our team. bottom line we need talent if everyone hits how they are suppose to then make a trade you don't have to keep these guys forever. that being said though i would trade the pick. find a team that is up against the cap has a youngish proven top line material guy they know they probably can't afford but we can. its a win/win the team gets cap relief and a legit prospect and we get what we are assuming the prospect will turn into eventually but without the risk. so to me its a no brainer trade the pick and get the talent you eventually are hoping this kid at 2 is going to be help our foundation NOW not maybe 2-3 years from now with this kid if ever.

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

It really is bizarre that size is almost exclusively looked at as height.

Zetterlund is 5’11” and 220. He’s a freaking tank but he doesn’t get tons of cred as a big guy because he’s listed 1 inch under 6 feet.

On the flip side, Zacha is a big guy who should be really tough but he’s 6’3” and 210. He’s actually much easier to move around than Zetterlund would be but he’s tall so he’s big.

Obviously height will tend to affect reach, which is important, but we as the hockey community tend to discuss “big” as just height. It’s weird.

I whole heartily agree. Make BMI a thing!

 

[Clam Jensen]

Someone who can play immediately on the top 6, see if Fitz can rustle something away from Minnesota or Calgary. Perhaps Mangiapane?

Please tell me you’re kidding.

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

To be honest, a 27 BMI or higher is ideal to play in the NHL.

 

[Clam Jensen]

To be honest, a 28 BMI or higher is ideal to play in the NHL.

That’s thicc. There are NFL players smaller than that.

 

[FooteBahl]

Please tell me you’re kidding.

Maybe his Facebook account was suspended?

 

[Normal Devil]

I'm taking Slaf at #2, but if Matthew Tkachuk is available I'd ship that pick off in a second. I would not ship that pick off for Kevin Fiala.

 

[FooteBahl]

I'm taking Slaf at #2, but if Matthew Tkachuk is available I'd ship that pick off in a second. I would not ship that pick off for Kevin Fiala.

An extended Tkachuk right?

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

That’s thicc. There are NFL players smaller than that.

I changed it to 27...If they can be 28 and maintain most of there speed....yes please!

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

Jesper Bratt - 26.5
Nico Hischier - 25.6
Fabian Zetterlund - 30.4
Pavel Zacha - 26.1
Miles Wood - 24.9
Tomas Tatar - 26.5
Yegor Sharangovich - 26.1
Dawson Mercer - 24.3
Michael McLeod - 24
Janne Kuokkanen - 25.6
Andreas Johnsson - 27.8
Jack Hughes - 25.3
Alex Holtz - 26.3
Nick Hischier - 25.6
Nolan Foote - 24.1
Jesper Boqvist 24.1
Nathan Bastian 25

 

[Captain3rdLine]

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

At this point Jiricek would be a reach yes. He isn’t really in the top two conversations anywhere but on this board. Nemec would be a little bit of one but not quite as much. Wouldn’t call either a shocking reach but saving him having a big World Championships it seems highly unlikely that Jiricek is in the conversation for #2 overall. So unless the Devils absolutely fall in love with him he won’t be the pick. I think Cooley and Nemec would be more likely at this point.

 

[HBK27]

If all players are equal you draft for need. To me it's that simple.

I agree.

I suppose the next question then is what is the Devils biggest need? I keep hearing about the lack of RD depth, but that assumes that Luke Hughes will definitely be playing LD in NJ. Hasn't he been playing on the right side the past few years? Why wouldn't that continue in the NHL? Aside from having an easier time keeping pucks along the boards in the offensive zone, what are some of the other pros/cons of Luke playing RD as a left handed shot? Doesn't it open up more shooting lanes for him? Certain players (such as Ovechkin) seem to play better on their offside. Plus, with as good as he skates and is able to walk the line, I think he'll have it easier keeping pucks in the zone on his backhand than most other left shooting RD. Can someone refresh my memory as to how the Devils defensive pairings used to look during the Cup seasons when we had an abundance of left shooting D?

Hamilton already locks down a RD spot for the next 7 years. Obviously Severson is a wildcard in all this - have to hope that Fitz is working with his agent right now to see what an extension looks like as that may certainly have an impact on who the Devils draft at #2. If they can come to a reasonable number, I think the Devils should lock up Severson on a long term deal. He'll turn 28 in August, so he's still got quite a few good years left in him. The key though is to have at least a limited NTC for the deal, so that if his cap hit does become an issue a few years down the road (say when Luke, Holtz, Mercer or whoever needs a new deal) or the Devils have an abundance of depth on RD and he's the odd man out, they can trade him. As long as they're able to move him in a few years if necessary, I don't mind a bit of an overpay on an extension. Fitz just needs to figure that situation out before the draft.

So, if you already have a locked up Hamilton and Severson on RD for the foreseeable future, there's just one spot to fill. That could certainly go to Hughes as early as the end of next season, though you also have another good candidate in Reilly Walsh. He seems to be having a solid season in Utica this year. He also just turned 23 in April. He's at the point where it's time to sink or swim. With Subban out the door, Walsh absolutely has to be given (unless he's an absolute disaster in pre-season) the 3rd pairing RD spot. Need to see what we have in him. The RD depth beyond that is admittedly weak - maybe McCarthy or Moynihan is the next top pure RD, though I'm not sure where their chances currently top out. It's also not a stretch to think that one of the LD prospects (Bahl?) could always shift over to RD at some point or even Ty Smith (who played a good amount of RD in juniors). I just certainly don't see RD as some big need for NJ - though obviously pending a Severson extension and/or Luke playing RD.

I think we can all agree that we're OK on LD. Siegenthaler was great this year, though it's only one season. Graves is solid, but a pending UFA - not sure what direction they'll go with him. Many assume Luke Hughes is our future #1 LD, which certainly may be the case. Also have a lot of depth of prospects here with Muk, Okhotyuk, Bahl, Vuko, Misyul, Edwards...either way, LD doesn't factor into the pick.

Goaltending is certainly a need, but that doesn't really factor in either unless Fitz intends to trade a prospect or two to try to fill that position. Personally, I think you go after one of the top UFA's to pair with Blackwood. Pay more for a shorter term since we have the cap space. Bernier may not be healthy by the start of the season, but you deal with that if/when it's an issue.

I think we can agree that center is the least of our worries. Between Hughes, Hischier, Mercer, Boqvist & McLeod, we should be set. I think this upcoming season is huge for Boqvist and McLeod to prove they can be #3/#4 centers on a contending team. It's nice to have the faceoffs and defense that McLeod provides, but he's still got to improve his scoring to show he can be a #4 center on a top team.

Long term top 9 currently projects as:
- Hughes
- Hischier
- Bratt
- Mercer
- Sharangovich

Feel confident in including these 5 skaters, assuming no hiccups with a Bratt extension.

Then there's:
- Holtz

No reason to believe he won't be a top 6 winger at this point, though who really knows.

- Boqvist

Need to seem him prove it again next year, but looks promising. Gives us a solid 7 out of 9. Maybe Zacha has a long-term future here, maybe not. Would hope that he's at least flipped for another top 9 forward, but again...who knows.

Have to assume some prospects also pan out between the ones listed below, though maybe some wind up on the 4th line:
- Gritsyuk
- Zetterlund
- Thompson
- Clarke
- Stillman
- Salminen

Bastian seems a decent enough 4th liner, but maybe he gets pushed out. Who knows how Wood will look post-injury, though as a pending RFA one year away from UFA, his contract will be interesting to watch this offseason. Tatar and Johnsson have no future here.

All things considered, I think adding another top line wing is the way to go, which is why I lean Slafkovsky. His stats are a bit concerning to me, but I only just starting really looking into the prospects a few days ago and most seem to have NJ taking him at #2. Doesn't hurt to add his size to an otherwise relatively small forward group.