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

[Captain3rdLine]

The expectation for those guys should not be 2nd pair. I think it's unlikely any of them get there. Maybe you can get one of them there. If the conversation is about need then you're f***ed on D if Severson walks. There's a gaping hole in that top 4 beyond Luke, Dougie, and Siegenthaler. Maybe you end up keeping Graves but he's nothing all that great anyway. Go toss Nuke the bag and you've got Slaf in one of the best case scenarios.



Probably 6th. Wright, Jiricek, Cooley, Nemec, Nazar for the top 5. I want Jiricek. Think Cooley would be great. Would be cool with Nemec but bothered a bit because I don't think he's even the best for his position. Don't want anyone else there

Man one of the best case scenarios for Slafkovsky is not Nichuskin. You keep saying that. That’s just dumb. Best case he’s one of the best wingers in the league.

 

[Blackjack]

Probably 6th. Wright, Jiricek, Cooley, Nemec, Nazar for the top 5. I want Jiricek. Think Cooley would be great. Would be cool with Nemec but bothered a bit because I don't think he's even the best for his position. Don't want anyone else there

With Slaf is it mostly a concern over his (lack of) Liiga production pre Olympics, or other stuff?

 

[Captain3rdLine]

With Slaf is it mostly a concern over his (lack of) Liiga production pre Olympics, or other stuff?

The only legitimate concern is his lack of production yes. Otherwise people bring up his skating because it’s not elite but he is a pretty good skater.

 

[Hisch13r]

With Slaf is it mostly a concern over his (lack of) Liiga production pre Olympics, or other stuff?

Yeah the lack or production both this year and last spooks me. The way he shot up rankings because he shot 29% over 7 games is concerning. I think there’s been way too much stock put into the Olympics and the fact that he’s 6’4. I think if he had a reasonable SH% at the Olympics and scores 3-4 goals instead that he likely ends up on most final rankings in like the 5-7 range. If that happened and we ended up moving back to the 6-7 range at the lottery then I’d be much more open to him. At 2 I don’t get it.

The only solace I can take is that we have the talent to get the most out of him and he can be propped up by better players. I’d rather my 2nd overall pick be the one helping to do the propping up for others. If he can be a great passenger complementary two way producer then fine. I think there’s better options than that at 2nd overall but fine

 

[Hisch13r]

Man one of the best case scenarios for Slafkovsky is not Nichuskin. You keep saying that. That’s just dumb. Best case he’s one of the best wingers in the league.

I’m talking about him being something similar to this years Nichushkin for his prime. That’s one of the best case scenarios. If you don’t think it is then you’re underrating Nichushkin.

 

[StevenToddIves]

He will be next time it's updated. It'll be Wright, Cooley, and Slaf as the top 3. I don't think he belongs there but he'll be there.

Yeah, I'm not sure Cooley belongs quite so high, myself. It's extremely close between 2-6 for me with Jiricek, Nemec and Nazar also in the mix.

I watch a ton of the US-NTDP, and in my mind Nazar drove that team more than Cooley did for much of the season. They're both outstanding obviously -- I wouldn't have them 5/6 unless I was extremely high on them. But I just think Nazar is more versatile with the ability to play several roles, multiple positions and with a superior 200-foot game, so I'm sticking with Nazar at #5 for right now. I'd say Cooley is more Barzal-esque and Nazar is more Point-esque, and to be honest I'd choose Brayden Point of the two of those players even though Barzal is a bit more dynamic. It's close.

As for Slafkovsky, he's just rare. When was the last time a player with the arguably top combination of passing vision/puck-handling/hockey IQ was also a 6'4-220 beast who played a power, interior game? To me, he has the highest upside of any forward in the draft, and his high intangibles give me high hopes he'll at least come close.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

I’m talking about him being something similar to this years Nichushkin for his prime. That’s one of the best case scenarios. If you don’t think it is then you’re underrating Nichushkin.

Best case scenario is one of the best wingers in the league and consistently over point-per-game producer. Is Nichuskin either of those things or even very close.

Yeah the lack or production both this year and last spooks me. The way he shot up rankings because he shot 29% over 7 games is concerning. I think there’s been way too much stock put into the Olympics and the fact that he’s 6’4. I think if he had a reasonable SH% at the Olympics and scores 3-4 goals instead that he likely ends up on most final rankings in like the 5-7 range. If that happened and we ended up moving back to the 6-7 range at the lottery then I’d be much more open to him. At 2 I don’t get it.

The only solace I can take is that we have the talent to get the most out of him and he can be propped up by better players. I’d rather my 2nd overall pick be the one helping to do the propping up for others. If he can be a great passenger complementary two way producer then fine. I think there’s better options than that at 2nd overall but fine

He’s not a passenger at all so stop saying that. It was also more than the Olympics. He came back from the Olympics with some confidence and was put in a better role and produced much better to finish his LIIGA season. Even without the Olympics his strong LIIGA finish would’ve seen him rise just because of how good of a skillset he has.

 

[Brodeur]

Just an excuse to bump Ryan Kennedy making a Simpsons reference about Slafkovsky during the Olympics. No word if Slafkovsky has attitude and is edgy, in your face. He may get biz-zay, consistently and thoroughly. We're talking about a totally outrageous paradigm.

 

[Rusty7550]

Yeah the lack or production both this year and last spooks me. The way he shot up rankings because he shot 29% over 7 games is concerning. I think there’s been way too much stock put into the Olympics and the fact that he’s 6’4. I think if he had a reasonable SH% at the Olympics and scores 3-4 goals instead that he likely ends up on most final rankings in like the 5-7 range. If that happened and we ended up moving back to the 6-7 range at the lottery then I’d be much more open to him. At 2 I don’t get it.

The only solace I can take is that we have the talent to get the most out of him and he can be propped up by better players. I’d rather my 2nd overall pick be the one helping to do the propping up for others. If he can be a great passenger complementary two way producer then fine. I think there’s better options than that at 2nd overall but fine

Shot up rankings? He was 4th in Bob Mckenzie ranking at the beginning of the season. So he was already a top prospect. He had fantastic Hlinka Gretzky cup. After Olympics, he played in 2nd line till end of the season. Played very well in the play offs. About his productivity last season. He had shoulder injury in the first half of the season and after WJC Covid, didn't play for a while.

 

[The Wumpus]

Just an excuse to bump Ryan Kennedy making a Simpsons reference about Slafkovsky during the Olympics. No word if Slafkovsky has attitude and is edgy, in your face. He may get biz-zay, consistently and thoroughly. We're talking about a totally outrageous paradigm.

Hopefully he doesn't decide to return to his home planet like Kovalchuk

 

[OmNomNom]

I think that vastly underrates Nemec's upside, to even put him in the same breath as Smith is nuts. Nemec does not have the physical limitations that Smith has, which ultimately led him to be a late teens pick and not a top 5 pick.

When I watch Nemec I see a defenseman who has a HIGH floor and a HIGH ceiling.

Smith's physical limitations weren't a knock on him back then were they? i think the issue was he was in a strong draft class

Dmen ahead of him

Dahlin
Quinn Hughes
Boqvist
Bouchard
Dobson

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Best case scenario is one of the best wingers in the league and consistently over point-per-game producer. Is Nichuskin either of those things or even very close.

Nichushkin is now one of the best defensive players in the entire NHL and one of the better wingers in the league. If Slafkovsky becomes that player by his early 20s, yes, that’s a very good outcome. Who do you think this guy is, Jagr?

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Nichushkin is now one of the best defensive players in the entire NHL and one of the better wingers in the league. If Slafkovsky becomes that player by his early 20s, yes, that’s a very good outcome. Who do you think this guy is, Jagr?

No but he legitimately has potential to be one of the very best wingers in the league if he turns out. If we’re just talking about this season and you think Nichuskin was one of the best wingers in the league than sure.

 

[Hisch13r]

Nichushkin is now one of the best defensive players in the entire NHL and one of the better wingers in the league. If Slafkovsky becomes that player by his early 20s, yes, that’s a very good outcome. Who do you think this guy is, Jagr?

lol Apparently this guy who also just put up a 33 goal 69 pt pace isn't good enough. If you can get anything close to this for his prime you should be f***ing overjoyed

 

[Tao Jersey Jones]

 

[Hisch13r]

Shot up rankings? He was 4th in Bob Mckenzie ranking at the beginning of the season. So he was already a top prospect. He had fantastic Hlinka Gretzky cup. After Olympics, he played in 2nd line till end of the season. Played very well in the play offs. About his productivity last season. He had shoulder injury in the first half of the season and after WJC Covid, didn't play for a while.

He was generally around the like 5-7 range for most of the year then after the Olympics he jumped up to a 2/3 for many.

Yeesh. Even after the jump he was still considerably lower than Kakko or Lundell and also lower than Kotkaniemi.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Should be noted that that does include his playoff production which dropped off.
He had 6 pts in 10 regular season games played after the Olympics I believe.
And then 7 in 18 playoff games.

I believe his ice time dropped again in playoffs but I’m not 100% sure. 15:47 isn’t that great but it’s certainly better.

He was generally around the like 5-7 range for most of the year then after the Olympics he jumped up to a 2/3 for many.



Yeesh. Even after the jump he was still considerably lower than Kakko or Lundell and also lower than Kotkaniemi.

Not in the regular season. He put up 6 in 10 and then his production dropped again in the playoffs along with his TOI I believe.

There’s also a lot more to him than his production as it’s been noted a lot.

 

[Jersey Fresh]

The last guy we took whose production didn't comport with the "tools" was Pavel Zacha...just saying.

 

[Hisch13r]

The last guy we took whose production didn't comport with the "tools" was Pavel Zacha...just saying.

It's very fitting that we repeat the mistake right as we're going to get rid of Zacha this offseason.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

The last guy we took whose production didn't comport with the "tools" was Pavel Zacha...just saying.

They aren’t even comparable.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

They aren’t even comparable.

They’re comparable in that they were toolsy prospects with middling production. I remember reading a Zacha scouting report about how he played with a nasty edge and he then just turned out to be a soft bum. I understand the PTSD with this kind of pick. Cooley seems so much safer to be a great player.

 

[Jersey Fresh]

They aren’t even comparable.

Just noting a lot of people looked past the production with Zacha too because he had such a great combo of skill and physical tools. Always makes me a bit weary when we see a guy like that who isn't scoring at their expected rate.

 

[Hisch13r]

They’re comparable in that they were toolsy prospects with middling production. I remember reading a Zacha scouting report about how he played with a nasty edge and he then just turned out to be a soft bum. I understand the PTSD with this kind of pick. Cooley seems so much safer to be a great player.

Just noting a lot of people looked past the production with Zacha too because he had such a great combo of skill and physical tools. Always makes me a bit weary when we see a guy like that who isn't scoring at their expected rate.

I mean how is a guy who didn't even have a higher PPG than a f***ing Dman picked 20th overall and only barely had one after his ice time got bumped a bit seen as this slam dunk 2nd overall pick??? It just makes NO sense.

We just can't pick Cooley. You're not allowed to have 3 great undersized forwards on one team. It's not allowed.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

They’re comparable in that they were toolsy prospects with middling production. I remember reading a Zacha scouting report about how he played with a nasty edge and he then just turned out to be a soft bum. I understand the PTSD with this kind of pick. Cooley seems so much safer to be a great player.

That was because he threw the odd dumb hit in the OHL and got a suspension. Go watch Zacha prospect videos. Never really used his body or was good down low and along the boards. Slafkovsky is great at using his body. One of his biggest strengths. They are very different players. Zacha was probably faster with a better shot. Slafkovsky is a bit bigger and uses his size much better, smarter player with better Playmaking and he has great hands that are better than Zacha’s were. They aren’t similar at all.

I mean how is a guy who didn't even have a higher PPG than a f***ing Dman picked 20th overall and only barely had one after his ice time got bumped a bit seen as this slam dunk 2nd overall pick??? It just makes NO sense.

We just can't pick Cooley. You're not allowed to have 3 great undersized forwards on one team. It's not allowed.

He’s not seen as a slam dunk. It’s simply because there’s a lot more to scouting than production. We can and who knows even could pick Cooley. But Slafkovsky is a very good prospect who I hope we take.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Just noting a lot of people looked past the production with Zacha too because he had such a great combo of skill and physical tools. Always makes me a bit weary when we see a guy like that who isn't scoring at their expected rate.

He never used his size other than to throw the odd dirty hit. Very different player