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

[Nubmer6]

I feel like there's a reasonable shot that Miroschnichenko goes even later give his diagnosis, right? Is there a comp for that previously happening?

I thought there was a post last week saying he was officially in remission, although that seems odd since I thought you had to be cancer-free for 5 years to be considered in remission.

 

[Forge]

I thought there was a post last week saying he was officially in remission, although that seems odd since I thought you had to be cancer-free for 5 years to be considered in remission.

I heard remission as well, but I had also read that he was expected to miss all of next year while going through treatment still, so I'm not sure how those two things coalesce as I'm not a doctor.

 

[StevenToddIves]

I really like Sykora. Id be pumped if he is our pick in the 3/4 rounds . Ostlund is another guy i really like if th erussian kids get snapped up

Ostlund also has some serious upside -- he's lightning quick with an high-end combination of passing and puckhandling. He's a high-IQ player with a ferocious compete level which belies his size.

I'm not sure I take Ostlund if Beck is still on the board. Beck is just as good (though different) and his game is more suited to a middle-6 center role at the NHL level.

If Sykora falls, he's just a ridiculous steal. I'm not sure why no one has ranked him high -- actually, I am sure it's that many "draft analysts" are too lazy to watch Slovakian league hockey. Everything about this kid screams sleeper. If there's a Gritsyuk in the 2022 class, it might be Sykora.

 

[StevenToddIves]

I feel like there's a reasonable shot that Miroschnichenko goes even later give his diagnosis, right? Is there a comp for that previously happening?

The best news I heard all draft season is that Ivan Miroshnichenko is in complete remission. This is terrific news -- first and foremost for Ivan and his family and loved ones.

But, as draft analysts we also have to keep in mind the draft-day implications. With three picks each in the top 33, I don't see how Montreal, Arizona or Buffalo don't take a swing with one of their picks. Miro's upside is simply tremendous -- he entered the year as a likely top 3 pick, and were it not for the Hodgkin's complications there would be a good chance he might still be that high.

Perevalov is an off-chance -- I'd say maybe 25% he falls to the early 2nd round. Trikozov has the best chance of the three, though analytics love him and I can see him going to Toronto or Arizona late in the 1st round.

 

[Ripshot 43]

@StevenToddIves

Thank you again for your write ups as always that create such discussions as this thread.

I feel like many of us here are watching these top prospects and stating who we think are the best players now or in a certain game/tournament. My question is… when you, someone who has watched prospects closely for years is evaluating them, what are you looking for in their game to determine who you think will be the best player 5 years from now?

 

[Hockey Sports Fan]

If Slafkovsky really is making a push for 1st overall, you take Wright at 2 and don’t look back. But i don’t think Montreal can pass up a goal scoring, 2-way center that oozes leadership and character.

 

[TrufleShufle]

Im not going to do that. If you havent read it then Ill just assume you skipped over it

Logan Cooley has in no way gotten a fair shake in this thread. I mean of all things to contest, thats not the one


Since you dared me! On my break.

 

[Eggtimer]

If Slafkovsky really is making a push for 1st overall, you take Wright at 2 and don’t look back. But i don’t think Montreal can pass up a goal scoring, 2-way center that oozes leadership and character.

Meh , I’d rather trade down a spot if possible and take Jiricek / Nemec at that point . Depends on if a team is willing to trade up and what they offer . But no way in hell I trade down that far and miss out on those two . I don’t inuwcegstbto think . I just want Slafkovsky at two and call it a day

 

[Saugus]

Would you be upset if the Devils decided to draft Wright?

Of course not. I just don't expect Montreal to pass on him.

If they take Wright as expected, we take Slafkovsky. If they take Slafkovsky, we take Wright.

If they lose their minds entirely and take anybody other than one of those two, we take Wright.

 

[Guttersniped]

I'm a big fan of Slafkovsky and I think his upside is enormous but I'm not sure I see the Rantanen comparisons everyone keeps bring up apart from similar size and both having played in Liga. Rantanen was a step above in terms of skating and offensive playmaking in his draft year compared to Slafkovsky, while Slafkovsky is a more physical player that showcases more 200ft potential. Rantanen himself has showcased the ability to drive play as the #1C for the Avalanche when MacKinnon has missed time which is not something I expect to see out of Slafkovsky ever.

Ratanen has an October birthday so his draft year is the equivalent of Slafkovsky’s next season.

Ratanen’s age 17 season stats are actually very similar to Slafkovsky’s. That doesn’t mean they’re definitely on the same trajectory but it’s unfair to compare Ratanen second full season in Liiga to Slafkovsky’s first.

People shouldn’t expect Slafkovsky to be more immediately NHL-ready due to size.

Ratanen didn’t make the NHL until his D+2 season when he was 20, which will be the equivalent of Slafkovsky’s D+3 season.

Draisaitl also has an October birthday and didn’t permanently make the NHL until his D+2 season season as well.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

. Btw my preference would be to keep bahl and mukhamadullin and trade okhotyuk

absolutely not. Okhotiuk is my favourite one so far although I know Mukhammadullin has higher potential. But I love Okhotiuks game and he would definitely have the least amount of value in a trade,

 

[Captain3rdLine]

So I’ve been on the Slafkovsky train big time up to this point. I have to admit that after spending a lot more time watching him and the other top prospects and comparing their production, I’ve come to the realization that…..














every other prospect sucks and Slafkovsky is definitely still the way to go!

 

[StevenToddIves]

absolutely not. Okhotiuk is my favourite one so far although I know Mukhammadullin has higher potential. But I love Okhotiuks game and he would definitely have the least amount of value in a trade,

I deal Bahl out of the 3. I've already discussed my dream D for the Devils next year, because I'd like to give Mukhamadullin at least the start of the season in the AHL to acclimate to North American hockey.

Graves-Hamilton
Siegenthaler-Severson
Okhotyuk-Lyubushkin
White

Then, this is my best thought for 2023-24:
Okhotyuk-Hamilton
Siegenthaler-Hughes
Mukhamadullin-Lyubushkin
Vukojevic

 

[Captain3rdLine]

I deal Bahl out of the 3. I've already discussed my dream D for the Devils next year, because I'd like to give Mukhamadullin at least the start of the season in the AHL to acclimate to North American hockey.

Graves-Hamilton
Siegenthaler-Severson
Okhotyuk-Lyubushkin
White

Then, this is my best thought for 2023-24:
Okhotyuk-Hamilton
Siegenthaler-Hughes
Mukhamadullin-Lyubushkin
Vukojevic

Ya and Bahl definitely has more value. Was a bit better in junior and a more hyped up prospect coming into pro. Is 5-6 inches taller and he has more NHL games.

 

[Lou Bloom]

Ratanen has an October birthday so his draft year is the equivalent of Slafkovsky’s next season.

Ratanen’s age 17 season stats are actually very similar to Slafkovsky’s. That doesn’t mean they’re definitely on the same trajectory but it’s unfair to compare Ratanen second full season in Liiga to Slafkovsky’s first.

People shouldn’t expect Slafkovsky to be more immediately NHL-ready due to size.

Ratanen didn’t make the NHL until his D+2 season when he was 20, which will be the equivalent of Slafkovsky’s D+3 season.

Draisaitl also has an October birthday and didn’t permanently make the NHL until his D+2 season season as well.

I'm not comparing them in terms of production, I'm comparing them in terms of skillset. Rantanen was faster and shiftier at the same age and was a more dynamic playmaker. Slafkovsky meanwhile is more of a do it all power forward, while also having high end offensive potential. That's not to say Slafkovsky can't be as impactful as an overall player but I don't foresee him putting up back to back 100 point pace seasons and filling in as a 1C and driving play like Rantanen has done.

 

[StevenToddIves]

I'm not comparing them in terms of production, I'm comparing them in terms of skillset. Rantanen was faster and shiftier at the same age and was a more dynamic playmaker. Slafkovsky meanwhile is more of a do it all power forward, while also having high end offensive potential. That's not to say Slafkovsky can't be as impactful as an overall player but I don't foresee him putting up back to back 100 point pace seasons and filling in as a 1C and driving play like Rantanen has done.

Slafkovsky is a better passer/playmaker at the same age than Rantanen. He's also a better puck-handler. Rantanen is a bit faster and a better shooter. I guess that's the easy comparison, but I definitely disagree on the playmaking aspect. Slafkovsky also asserts himself physically more than an 18 year old Rantanen.

If you had a time machine to bring an 18 year old Rantanen into the 2022 draft, Slafkovsky would certainly go higher.

 

[MasterofGrond]

Slaf's hands are really impressive for a dude that big, especially down inside close to the net.

 

[ninetyeight]

I have to say I'm definitely spoiled from seeing guys like Laine, Kakko or even Eichel do so well at the WCs in their draft year, that I sometimes forget how incredibly rare it actually is. Just making it into the team as an 18 year old is pretty uncommon. When you count how many actually do it it's a pretty small group all things considered. Luke Hughes looking like one of USA's best defenders at 18yo is crazy.

I think the fact we didn't get to finish the U20 also affects on people's perceptions, especially for us general fans who don't watch every junior and european league game. We just remember that Slaf didn't score anything at U20, but who knows maybe he would have put up 3 pts in the next game and would have all of a sudden been ppg. And we would have more info on Nemec, Jiricek and Cooley too.

Who do you guys think is the most NHL ready of the draft, meaning will most likely play next season? Slaf will probably have to take another year in europe and then maybe one more in AHL. Is Wright going straight to NHL, or are Habs (or us who knows) going to take it slowly after the recent 1OA slow starts.

Also there's been few people/places that have stated that Nemec is a 1OA talent and should even go ahead of Wright. I wasn't very impressed with him in the olympics, and kinda brushed off the weaker Slovakian league accomplishments same way I did with Makar's AJHL seasons (yep). Nemec has been getting some Adam Fox comparisons lately, and saying while he's great offensively he's even better defensively. So far I've viewed him more as a transitional puck moving offensive dman with some holes in his defensive game, and thought Jiricek to be the more defensively solid but with great offensive upside as well. What do you guys think of this?

 

[Monsieur Verdoux]

I'm not comparing them in terms of production, I'm comparing them in terms of skillset. Rantanen was faster and shiftier at the same age and was a more dynamic playmaker. Slafkovsky meanwhile is more of a do it all power forward, while also having high end offensive potential. That's not to say Slafkovsky can't be as impactful as an overall player but I don't foresee him putting up back to back 100 point pace seasons and filling in as a 1C and driving play like Rantanen has done.

What I can remember, Rantanen wasn't a fast skater when he was drafted. He was perhaps more shiftier than Slafkovsky, but I don't think his skating was a strength for him. In fact, if I recall correctly, he was pretty average skater. Or maybe it was his D-1 season when it was considered a weakness for him.

It's unlikely that Slafkovsky is going to be as impactful player than Rantanen, but I don't think that Rantanen was a better (or worse) prospect at the same age. Rantanen has just reached his potential in the best possible way.

 

[devilsfan35]

Some comparables for slafkovsky:

Size/shooting/skating reminds me of Rick Nash
His ability to steal the puck is unbelievable. Reminds me of mark stone in that sense. I think thats his biggest strength. Hes really hard on pucks and will often make his team cycle another 20 sec because of his ability to take away the puck using his long reach.

 

[TrufleShufle]

I mean... he isnt even an option in the poll

The seemingly unanimous 2nd overall in January isnt in the poll!!

But since I was asked a few times Ill onlige and gather a bunch of quotes on my break. I have no issue going back and forth sbout this but theres no need to make me look silly and act like that hasnt been a large part of the discussion

Either your employer is breaking labor laws without giving you a break for this long or it was time for another account.

 

[Monsieur Verdoux]

I don't know what to think about Jiricek. It seems that his puck skills and skating aren't particularly good. Maybe this is a hot take and I significantly underestimate him, but he reminds me of a former #3 pick Zach Bogosian. Both are big guys who have pretty similar skating styles. Maybe Jiricek have more skill than Bogosian, but I haven't seen much of that in these few games. The biggest difference for me is that Jiricek is much more agile than Bogosian, who always looks slow and clumsy, and he has also more accurate shot.

I expect Jiricek will be a better player than Bogosian, but I think they have some similarities in their game.

 

[glenwo2]

Ostlund also has some serious upside -- he's lightning quick with an high-end combination of passing and puckhandling. He's a high-IQ player with a ferocious compete level which belies his size.

I'm not sure I take Ostlund if Beck is still on the board. Beck is just as good (though different) and his game is more suited to a middle-6 center role at the NHL level.

If Sykora falls, he's just a ridiculous steal. I'm not sure why no one has ranked him high -- actually, I am sure it's that many "draft analysts" are too lazy to watch Slovakian league hockey. Everything about this kid screams sleeper. If there's a Gritsyuk in the 2022 class, it might be Sykora.

Plus, this team could always use another bus-driver.

 

[MartyOwns]

Of course not. I just don't expect Montreal to pass on him.

If they take Wright as expected, we take Slafkovsky. If they take Slafkovsky, we take Wright.

If they lose their minds entirely and take anybody other than one of those two, we take Wright.

we can’t draft wright, we just can’t. we have to trade with arizona if montreal is stupid enough to pass on him

 

[Devils731]

we can’t draft wright, we just can’t. we have to trade with arizona if montreal is stupid enough to pass on him

If the Devils scouts think Wright is much better than then next prospect available the. The Devils probably have to take Wright.

I just don’t see Arizona being willing to pony up enough assets to make the trade worthwhile, assuming the Devils think Wright is a stud and the other prospects are a tier down.