Care to explain why you get Zacha vibes from Slaf? Cuz they're nothing alike.
Prospect Info: Devils Win #2 Overall -- Slafkovsky vs. Jiricek vs. Nemec
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Care to explain why you get Zacha vibes from Slaf? Cuz they're nothing alike.
Captain3rdLine
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Not sure where you read that. It’s pretty big assumption and it sounds like it’s just one persons opinion. There’s lots of people saying Slafkovsky should go number 1 too.
I’m not sure why you’re getting those vibes from Slafkovsky but I wouldn’t draft or evaluate a prospect off of gut vibes.
I also don’t personally think Jiricek has higher upside than Nemec. Maybe has more goal scoring upside but all he has on Nemec is size/physicality and a harder shot.
Slafkovsky has literally almost nothing in common with the 3 players you named. Kakko's strength was a lack of weaknesses, as he checked every column in the scouting tool box. But he also lacked singular elite tools, which Slafkovsky possesses with his playmaking, puckhandling and hockey IQ. Patrick was similar to Kakko in this way, but also had a history of injury problems and maybe a lack of intangibles. Zacha has nothing in common with anyone in this list -- he was the penultimate "Hugh Jessiman" type pick -- "let's take the big, fast guy with the great shot and hope he gets better at hockey". All you need to do is watch the Olympics and the opening games of the WC to know that Slafkovsky is already pretty awesome at hockey.
Juraj Slafkovsky's upside is, quite simply, far higher than Kakko, Patrick or Zacha. His floor is also the highest of these four players. None are a good comparable. I'd say the best recent comparable for Slafkovsky would be Mikko Rantanen, in terms of both statistical/development arc and general (though not specific) play-style. Rantanen's draft year criticisms also were largely centered on his lack of big numbers in the Finnish men's league.
Yeah nothing to do with how they play. None of Kakko patrick or Zacha have really cemented themselves as top 6 players (they were all high draft picks). We drafted Zacha because we thought he could play either first line center or first line wing and neither happened. I can see the same thing happening with slafkovsky, like Zacha, stuck in mediocrity between third line and second line. Again nothing to do with how they play, I just don’t think he makes it to being a top line guy. And if we draft him I would love for him to prove me wrong
glenwo2
JESPER BRATWURST
I make it a point never to trust my gut for anything.
It usually ends up with heartburn.
Thanks Steven I kind of answered this above but my comparison has nothing to do with their play styles but more of the fact they were high draft picks that at the time were projected to be top line or top 6 guys and none have really made it (yet at least). Maybe I think less of slafkovsky because I’m fully aboard the draft jiricek train
This doesn't really explain anything lol. If your gut tells you to stay away from a player because other forwards who were ranked high didn't pan out, perhaps you should just not get involved in the discussions about who the devs should take...just a thought. Scouting isn't an exact science and the last thing anyone should do is be afraid of x or y just because other players didn't live up to expectations. Prospects bust all the time.
You literally just said "I don't wanna pick Slafkovsky because other highly rated forwards didn't pan out". Sounds silly doesn't it?
Forge
Blissfully Mediocre
Huh? I feel like I explained myself pretty well. Here... I don’t think he becomes a top line guy just like Zacha didn’t become a top line guy.
ok I don't think Jiricek becomes a top dman. No other explanation, just my "gut".
I'm not actually being serious about that btw, just trying to show how silly it sounds.I love Jiricek as a prospect, too. But I always say the worst way to endorse one prospect is to belittle another competing prospect. Think of how many people made fools of themselves by trying to endorse Kakko by putting down Jack Hughes. A healthy Hughes is a pretty good bet for 100+ points next year.
I think you can compare one players' attributes vs. another's, but only if they play similar positions. To me, it's a razor thin demarcation between US-NTDP forwards Logan Cooley and Frank Nazar, for example. We can compare those two players for hundreds of pages.
However, it's more difficult to accomplish this with a forward vs. a defenseman, as in the case of Slafkovsky and Jiricek (or Nemec). I'd say the best route to go here would be to watch more Jiricek and then post why you feel he would be the best player for the Devils to select at #2 overall.
As for me, I've said a lot how I'm personally split between Slafkovsky or Jiricek. Of course, I would be thrilled with either, and they both fill serious organizational needs for the Devils. I'd also be very happy with Nemec. Winning the #2 pick in the lottery was a huge benefit for the Devils, and we should all be ecstatic at the lucky position it has put us in.
I know itd be a poor way to go about a draft if youre talking about the most value-based pick at 2 (which it should be), but is it possible Fitzgerald makes the pick with the idea in mind that we can miss on the 2nd best player in the draft and it wouldn't affect our future much?
We were looking very strong for the future before winning that pick and now we have our pick of the litter in terms of the remaining 3-4 coveted prospects. So if you make the pick with a 'playing with house money' mindset, I guess it just comes down to which position you feel needs a top line guy more in LW or RD
We were looking very strong for the future before winning that pick and now we have our pick of the litter in terms of the remaining 3-4 coveted prospects. So if you make the pick with a 'playing with house money' mindset, I guess it just comes down to which position you feel needs a top line guy more in LW or RD
Captain3rdLine
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I think he drafts hoping to get the first or second best prospect in the draft but well aware and okay with the fact that we won’t necessarily as long as we still get a very good player. If you’re picking second, odds are you won’t actually end up getting a top 2 player in the draft. If you get a top 5 or 10 player kind of depending on how good the draft ends up being you’ve done alright. Obviously the hope at 2 is always that you get an absolute game changing star who is the best player in the draft. If that happens you’ve done extremely well.
But I don’t think you do what you’re saying. That’s a way oversimplied view. You take the better prospect with the pick because you think they’re more likely to be good. You have a better chance of getting a really good player.
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Well I certainly wouldnt advocate for taking someone there who shouldnt be. But if their BPA is the difference of a single tier between them all then I have no issue going for more of a need.
In the end, unless you make an incredible trade, the odds are the slightly lesser player whos a better fit helps you more. Say if a Cooley or Nemec becomes a higher end player but Slafkovsky is still a fit on our top line but doesnt contend for any personal awards, while maybe the other two are. Just as an example.
Captain3rdLine
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I still think you go with the player you like more and are more confident in. Because it’s not that likely that one player is just gonna be slightly better.
Usually the turnouts are pretty different.
If they’re a decent bit more confident that Cooley is gonna be a better player than the others than they should probably take him. Because if they’re right the difference could be a top line guy vs a middle 6 guy. They could also always be wrong but if you trust your scouting than you should go with who you think is more likely to turn out. If it’s close and they aren’t sold on one guy over the other than I think position, fit, and need comes into play.
The reality is odds are 2-3 of the guys that go in the top 5 probably won’t be top line/pair players. If our scouts really think Cooley is more likely than Slafkovsky to be a top line guy than they should take him.
I think Slafkovsky is the best prospect. Even if Jack Hughes was a winger I would want Slafkovsky over Cooley. Right now I think Slafkovsky is ranked just ahead of Cooley and he may separate himself even more if he keeps his strong WC showing up. I think it’s unlikely but possible that the Devils scouts/management think Cooley is a better prospect to the extent where they would take him over Slafkovsky.
The more I read and see of Slafkovsky, the more I want us to take him. I wouldn't be upset if we end up with Jiricek though.
Captain3rdLine
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Slafkovsky (and Nemec) vs Canada at 9:20am tomorrow morning.
JrFischer54
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I will admit I don’t know anything about the kid but my concern is he won’t fill out that size and won’t use it in the nhl. Larrson was soft euro at 4. Zacha soft euro at 6. Not a good track record lol
Captain3rdLine
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I mean if you’re worried about him not filling out he’s already 220lbs which is more than Zacha and Larsson who’re both around 210lbs.
Also not a good reason. He’s very different.
JrFischer54
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I don’t know just don’t get the vibe he’s going to Unleash that size and be a wrecking ball out there. This has to be top line good the devils can’t afford to pick second and not walk away with the best player in the draft (minus wright)
JrFischer54
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That’s just wrong if your drafting 2nd it’s for a reason. This team is past settling for “good” 3rd line talent from draft picks. If you pick second and you come out with the 10th best player in the draft that is not a success. They need whoever they pick to be top line material. Being “happy with another Zacha (production) is going to really sting.
Eggtimer
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Zacha comparisons are kinda silly . Zacha was drafted by us because he was the most NHL ready C . Going in to that draft , we had literally zero NHL calibre C’s . Zajac hurt himself ( ruptured achilles? ) and we were almost forced to take the most NHL ready C no matter what . Zacha was seen as “ok” defensively and had somewhat of a two way game ( according to scouts ) . Devils couldn’t take someone like Barzal as he was simply not close to NHL ready . I remember the draft well and was disappointed we didn’t go Rantanen but immediately afterwards , I felt “ok”with the pick because we absolutely needed a C for that upcoming season . We had NOBODY to play C . I’m not going to get into it , but we were forced into that pick because of a complete lack of depth at C . I’m certain had we had any decent options at C at all we would have drafted someone else .I’m still pissed about it because of how short sighted “ management “ was .
Eggtimer
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I think Buffalo or Jackets go boom or bust with their second picks . Either they will hit a home run with a player like one of the Russian kids or they strike out completely . If I was a GM I think I’d go that way with the second pick .Nithing too crazy like a big reach but maybe someone people are apprehensive about but have skill out the ass and the questionable parts of their game are things like illness / injury concern or small in size yet dynamic players with no major issues like poor skating or terrible hockey IQ .
Captain3rdLine
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Huh? Where in the world there did I say anything about 3rd line talent? The 5th or probably even 10th best player that comes out of this draft will be a top line talent.
If we use our 2nd pick and get the 5th best player in the draft we’ve done alright and gotten a top line player. That’s just the reality. The odds are the player we take at 2 probably won’t be a top 2 player in a redraft 10 years from now. That’s the reality of how things go. We could and certainly hope to get the best player in the draft but that probably won’t happen. There’s always players taken later that turn out great.
Zacha is no where even remotely close to being a top 10 player in his draft.
now we just have to inactivate the salary cap.
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