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

[Saugus]

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

That's another possibility. If Montreal takes Slafkovsky or someone else, we might reasonably see what Arizona is willing to pay in order to get Wright as their franchise center. Could get additional assets and still come away with Jiricek or Nemec, which I think would be acceptable.

 

[Blackjack]

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

Why? Shane Wright is a rare talent. I highly doubt Arizona or Seattle offer up enough to tempt us. I'm not giving up Wright to add a 2nd round pick.

 

[Normal Devil]

Why? Shane Wright is a rare talent. I highly doubt Arizona or Seattle offer up enough to tempt us. I'm not giving up Wright to add a 2nd round pick.

People probably need to resign themselves to the fact that either Shane Wright or Juraj Slafkovsky will be a New Jersey Devil come July 7, 2022. And that's a good thing!

 

[MartyOwns]

Why? Shane Wright is a rare talent. I highly doubt Arizona or Seattle offer up enough to tempt us. I'm not giving up Wright to add a 2nd round pick.

we can either trade the pick, or trade one of wright/hughes/nico in the next few years. drafting wright would be incredibly dumb. arizona has 7 picks in the first 2 rounds alone, i’d love to take a couple off their hands.

 

[Tretyak 20]

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

Have to disagree with this. Wright is more a goal scorer than your traditional C, he could easily be switched to W. Unless Arizona is offering Chychrun ++, I'm not too i terested. And based on recent drafts, they won't be offering much of anything. An extra 2nd isn't worth giving up a player of Wright's caliber.

 

[Forge]

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 you view Wright as a better prospect than the guys remaining (which largely seems to be the case from evaluators, though obviously that gap has been lessoning), just take Wright.

You can kick the tires on a trade, but don't trade the pick just to trade the pick. If Arizona is okay with giving up real assets to make the flip, then sure, but I'm not moving it as a discount just to move it.

we can either trade the pick, or trade one of wright/hughes/nico in the next few years. drafting wright would be incredibly dumb. arizona has 7 picks in the first 2 rounds alone, i’d love to take a couple off their hands.

Drafting the prospect perceived to be the best player in the draft is "incredibly dumb"?

 

[Zacha37]

I think everyone is heavily sleeping on Wright as a prospect. The guy was seen as a near Matthews level prospect not even two years ago after he scored 50 as an under ager in the OHL. If Montreal passes on him, which there’s 0 chance they do, you run to the podium and take him as a franchise cornerstone, no matter his position.

 

[glenwo2]

People probably need to resign themselves to the fact that either Shane Wright or Juraj Slafkovsky will be a New Jersey Devil come July 7, 2022. And that's a good thing!

oh woe is us.

 

[glenwo2]

If you view Wright as a better prospect than the guys remaining (which largely seems to be the case from evaluators, though obviously that gap has been lessoning), just take Wright.

You can kick the tires on a trade, but don't trade the pick just to trade the pick. If Arizona is okay with giving up real assets to make the flip, then sure, but I'm not moving it as a discount just to move it.



Drafting the prospect perceived to be the best player in the draft is "incredibly dumb"?

What would you consider to be "real assets"?

I'm just curious as to what it would take.

 

[Forge]

What would you consider to be "real assets"?

I'm just curious as to what it would take.

Good question.

I'm getting at least one of those firsts and one of those seconds and I still wouldn't love the deal if we are being honest. I may even ask for a player (Crouse? Can finagle the pieces a little bit on our end). The idea is to put the cost high enough where they are probably going to say no and maybe even say that we are crazy lol but I'm perfectly happy with that if they do because I view Wright as a superior prospect to what we would have to take at 3. This isn't a MAF - Pitt scenario where Florida was okay with them taking MAF because they had Luongo and they liked Staal and Horton similarly. In that situation, it was basically just free assets for Florida. I'm losing something of value here when I trade Wright and I'm not really looking to move him if we are being honest. It's hard to find a balance between what is incredible value for losing the best prospect in the draft and only making a one spot drop because there is very little precedent for it this high up, and LIS, the Pitt / FL situation really isn't the same.

 

[RSeen]

We are in an interesting position with having Holtz, Luke, Mercer and the potential #2 pick all on ELC's for multiple years.

We should be in a position to take on some vets, perhaps you look at higher dollar values and less years. Not sure who is a fit/would come here but it could be worth considering.

Seems like the Pens could be letting go Malkin and/or Rust. On short-term deals they could be interesting but they could cash in elsewhere/not want to come here.

 

[Eggtimer]

We are in an interesting position with having Holtz, Luke, Mercer and the potential #2 pick all on ELC's for multiple years.

We should be in a position to take on some vets, perhaps you look at higher dollar values and less years. Not sure who is a fit/would come here but it could be worth considering.

Seems like the Pens could be letting go Malkin and/or Rust. On short-term deals they could be interesting but they could cash in elsewhere/not want to come here.

Letang would be the most ideal. On a deal that ends when Luke should be comfortable and ready to play top minutes... I dont seeit happening but he would be an ideal addition for 2-3 years.

 

[MartyOwns]

If you view Wright as a better prospect than the guys remaining (which largely seems to be the case from evaluators, though obviously that gap has been lessoning), just take Wright.

You can kick the tires on a trade, but don't trade the pick just to trade the pick. If Arizona is okay with giving up real assets to make the flip, then sure, but I'm not moving it as a discount just to move it.



Drafting the prospect perceived to be the best player in the draft is "incredibly dumb"?

how many 1C’s does this team need? yes, it’s incredibly dumb asset management to take another. i never said trade it just to trade it- arizona could use wright + they have a billion picks = obviously you call and ask if they want to move up. “hi chayka/sullivan/current clown running the team- wright is the bpa, we’re obligated to take him. but we don’t need another 1C. if you want him, make us a reasonable offer that helps both clubs.” and see what they say.

in that scenario, we acquire another pick (hopefully a first) or an established player while addressing an actual area of concern at #3. it’s really not that complicated.

 

[Forge]

how many 1C’s does this team need? yes, it’s incredibly dumb asset management to take another. i never said trade it just to trade it- arizona could use wright + they have a billion picks = obviously you call and ask if they want to move up. “hi chayka/sullivan/current clown running the team- wright is the bpa, we’re obligated to take him. but we don’t need another 1C. if you want him, make us a reasonable offer that helps both clubs.” and see what they say.

in that scenario, we acquire another pick (hopefully a first) or an established player while addressing an actual area of concern at #3. it’s really not that complicated.

Meanwhile tampa runs all of its centers without problems.

But sure...lets not draft the best prospect in the draft.

Amazing Sam Bowie energy here.

 

[Triumph]

I think everyone is heavily sleeping on Wright as a prospect. The guy was seen as a near Matthews level prospect not even two years ago after he scored 50 as an under ager in the OHL. If Montreal passes on him, which there’s 0 chance they do, you run to the podium and take him as a franchise cornerstone, no matter his position.

He had a year off and then scored like Matthews in his draft year, except that Matthews scored .66 goals per game in the Swiss league and Wright scored .51 in the OHL.

 

[RSeen]

how many 1C’s does this team need? yes, it’s incredibly dumb asset management to take another. i never said trade it just to trade it- arizona could use wright + they have a billion picks = obviously you call and ask if they want to move up. “hi chayka/sullivan/current clown running the team- wright is the bpa, we’re obligated to take him. but we don’t need another 1C. if you want him, make us a reasonable offer that helps both clubs.” and see what they say.

in that scenario, we acquire another pick (hopefully a first) or an established player while addressing an actual area of concern at #3. it’s really not that complicated.

Or you take Wright and move him or Hughes to the wing.

 

[Forge]

So I'm curious what happens then if Arizona is just like, "nah, we are cool. We like Cooley / Nemec and we are happy to take him. You can take Wright".

Do you then just pass on Wright because "how many top centers do you need"?

 

[Eggtimer]

Or you take Wright and move him or Hughes to the wing.

Move Hughes ot wing? We tried that . He is our franchise player. Better at C and asking him to move to the wing so the new kid can play C? Not an option. IF Wright was taken , he would b eon the wing or 3c to begin with

 

[MartyOwns]

But sure...lets not draft the best prospect in the draft.

BPA is usually the route i go- your problem is that you’re looking at things in a vacuum. i’ve already explained multiple times that there is some nuance to our position, but since your only reply is ‘bpa!!!1!’ i won’t bother again.

Or you take Wright and move him or Hughes to the wing.

no, you don’t lol.

So I'm curious what happens then if Arizona is just like, "nah, we are cool. We like Cooley / Nemec and we are happy to take him. You can take Wright".

Do you then just pass on Wright because "how many top centers do you need"?

hey, now you’re getting it! i know it will be rough taking a top pairing defenseman, but you’ll just have to cope.

it’s all moot because montreal is definitely taking wright, he’s the best forward in the draft and most teams don’t have young 1&2C’s locked up (that’s the nuance i was referring to earlier)

 

[Forge]

hey, now you’re getting it! i know it will be rough taking a top pairing defenseman, but you’ll just have to cope.

So you're not cool with Slaf at 2, I take it?

BPA is usually the route i go- your problem is that you’re looking at things in a vacuum. i’ve already explained multiple times that there is some nuance to our position, but since your only reply is ‘bpa!!!1!’ i won’t bother again.

I don't have a problem, I just think your take of "how many 1cs does a team need" is bad as a reason to pass on the best player in the draft.

 

[Blackjack]

we can either trade the pick, or trade one of wright/hughes/nico in the next few years. drafting wright would be incredibly dumb. arizona has 7 picks in the first 2 rounds alone, i’d love to take a couple off their hands.

Disagree all around. You can build 3 scoring lines if you draft Wright. Mercer converts to wing, sign Nicushkin, Gritsyuk comes over next year

Bratt
Nichushkin
Mercer
Gritsyuk
Sharangovich
Hotlz

Winger depth: Zetterlund/Bastian/Thompson/Boqvist/Foote/Stillman/

Arizona has 7 picks in the first two rounds and they can send them all to us if they want Wright. Those suckers didn't win the lottery, we did.

 

[NJ DevLolz]

Is Landeskog a good comparison to Slaf? Probably a 50-60 point player with good two-way and board game? Can sniff P/G playing with elite talent?

 

[Forge]

Again, I think this largely comes down to prospect evaluation. I happen to think that Wright is in a tier by himself in this draft and as such, someone is paying me a hefty amount not to take him. If they don't, I'm taking him over positions of 'need'. If I grouped Wright in the same tier as guys like Slaf or Nemec then I would support the idea in concept, but to me there is a gap and I don't believe that right now RHD is as important as others project (if only because I think Severson will be re-signed, but this is obviously very much a guess).

I think it's easy to look at a draft like 2017 and see how Makar and Miro turned out and believe it's easy to zag rather than zig here. But I still believe that your best course of action in any given draft year, when accounting for the development time of some of these kids and how long it may take them to become impactful players on the roster and turnover on said roster, is to take the guy with best evaluation if you believe its better by a decent margin.

 

[michaelj97]

If NJD finds themselves at 2 with Wright and 2-3 other players they want on the board, what’s the problem with trying to squeeze Arizona? If they don’t go for it then the organization is still in a great spot, getting to decide between Wright or Jiricek/Nemec. The other talents aren’t exactly slouches.

If we walked away with Jiricek (who was my best case before the lottery) and 2-3 more assets that seems like a clear win. We’d potentially round out the defense longterm and add more upside/trade bait.

It’s not really a knock on Wright, the Devils would be lucky to have him in the fold and moving him to wing (or have insanely good center depth) takes care of *what to do with him*. But, for this team to really become contenders I’m expecting Fitz to add veterans to the top 2 lines and maybe even the other 2 as well. Whatever spot Wright would take Im expecting an experienced player to fill.

Ideally? Montreal inexplicably falls in love with Cooley and we put the squeeze on AZ and walk away with Slaf plus more.

Regardless, the Devils are in great position right now. I just want them to maximize the opportunity, however they see fit.

 

[Devil made me do it]

I look at Slafkovsky and I look at Cooley.. purely as an independent observer I take Slafkovsky 10x out of 10. The kid dominates in both skill and size. His impact in a shift rivals Jack Hughes. It sounds crazy to say but it's true. He has proven this against great competition in the best tournaments. His vision, hands, puck control, competitiveness are elite. Cooley is a nice skilled center you can find a dime a dozen in every draft. Slafkovsky types are not as common.