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

[JrFischer54]

Since when he is picking up NHL regulars a sure thing? What if the player you trade the #2OA was a byproduct of the previous team system or other factors that made him look better than he really was? Or they decline for unknown reasons ie Taylor Hall? Plenty other examples too where a team thought they had a sure fire top player and they regressed.

thats true too but i rather take a chance on someone with a proven track record in the nhl then someone your trying to project to the nhl. say they made a trade and whoever the player they get lives up to their end of the deal and this kid drafted turns out solid for where he is picked its still a good trade for both teams they each got something out of it they needed. i just think these kids need some nhl ready talent not someone that might maybe contribute in two years. two years is a long time away when you have hamilton entering year 3 of his long term deal nico jack eating up their "cheap" years of their team friendly deals.

 

[Lou Bloom]

I'd say the odds of Cooley being the #2 pick are infinitesimal. The good money is Slafkovsky, or Wright if the Canadiens go with Slafkovsky at #1. But if the Devils make a surprise pick, it will be one of the RD -- Jiricek or Nemec. The Devils are not going to use the #2 overall pick for a guy who projects as their future 3rd line center.

Saying he projects as their future 3rd line center is just a lazy way to handwave a player that most would agree should be in discussion for the pick. Cooley is considered by most to be a top 3 prospect in this draft class and if the Devils agree with this evaluation then they'll definitely consider him.

 

[devilsblood]

my concern with him is its a contract year and he puts up career numbers your going to be paying a premium on that salary because of it. outside this year his stats are good but just not convinced.

His previous 2 years were very good, just Covid shortened seasons hide that fact a little.

18-19 was not so great but 23 in 80 in 17-18.

124 in 419 games for his career. 76 in his last 196.

Rarely misses games. Only 26 years old.

Throw in the Swiss connection.

I was hesitant at first but I've really warmed up to the idea. Especially if it's based around Holtz.

 

[Lou is God]

thats true too but i rather take a chance on someone with a proven track record in the nhl then someone your trying to project to the nhl. say they made a trade and whoever the player they get lives up to their end of the deal and this kid drafted turns out solid for where he is picked its still a good trade for both teams they each got something out of it they needed. i just think these kids need some nhl ready talent not someone that might maybe contribute in two years. two years is a long time away when you have hamilton entering year 3 of his long term deal nico jack eating up their "cheap" years of their team friendly deals.

But you're missing an important factor if a regular NHL player doesn't work out - the contract.

You're not going to trade away a #2OA for an NHL player without ensuring that the said player agrees to an extension, a very significant extension, 6 or 7 years with a high cap tied to them, if after two years this player doesn't panned out, you're STUCK with him and his albatross of a contract. While chances are the player you could have drafted is now a NHL stud.

And even if the player you drafted isn't a NHL stud, at least you never signed him to a huge contract, you trade him away like the Flyers did with Nolan Patrick and be done with him.

 

[Eggtimer]

His previous 2 years were very good, just Covid shortened seasons hide that fact a little.

18-19 was not so great but 23 in 80 in 17-18.

124 in 419 games for his career. 76 in his last 196.

Rarely misses games. Only 26 years old.

Throw in the Swiss connection.

I was hesitant at first but I've really warmed up to the idea. Especially if it's based around Holtz.

I’m not sure what to think. We have very little right handed shots on the team , especially in the top 6. I know it’s not a massive issue but is not ideal .
Losing Holtz leaves us with Mercer as a right handed shot and … that’s about it ( for top 6 guys)
Still don’t really have a pure sniper on the team which Holtz could be. I like Fiala but not sure if he fits salary wise and would prefer a stud RW but ??
We have Bratt Shara and possibly Slafkovsky as left shot LW. Plus if we add specifically Nuke , he is a LW as well (not sure if he has / can play RW ) And then there is Gritsyuk … who could be a stud for us and he is a LW / left shot.

Id like to add Nuke plus Puljujarvi. Both big skilled wingers that are very good defensively. Jesse is a right handed shot , big , plays very good defence , wouldn’t cost a lot , still has potential . Both are perfect fits plus fill massive needs .
I just don’t know how we can add what we really need while Zacha Tatar Johnson are still here.
In a perfect world I want to add Nuke Puljujarvi and draft Slafkovsky .
Shara Hughes Mercer
Nuke Nico Bratt
Slafkovsky Boqvist Puljujarvi
Zetterlund McLeod Wood

But where the hell does Zacha Tatar Johnson go.
And Holtz….
Maybe trade Holtz for a goalie? It would have to be one hell of a goalie for me to trade Holtz for.

Unless you move Mercer to 3c ( but is more effective at wing ) and Holtz goes to the first or second line?
And shit…. If we draft Slafkovsky … where does he go? Replaces Zetterlund until he develops and works his way up the lineup ? Then move Zetterlund to 4th line wing but where does Bastian go? 13th forward?

Maybe Shara gets moved ? Once Slaf develops ? But Shara has good production for the salary cost….
I dont know. So where would Fiala fit in ? Only place I can see is is with Nico and Bratt moves to the right side …
I just think we need to get bigger , harder to pay against , better defensive forwards , and would prefer having both Nuke and Puljujarvi over Fiala . Just my two cents .

Dream land roster : ( If Gritsyuk comes over and keeps developing as he has… where the hell does he fit in !)

Slafkovsky Hughes Holtz
Nuke Nico Bratt
Shara Mercer Puljujarvi
Zetterlund Boqvist Wood
Gritsyuk
Foote


Graves Hamilton
Seigenthaler Severson
Okhotiuk Hughes
Bahl
Mukhamadulin

Husso
Blackwood

Still have players like Gritsyuk Shakir Foote Thompson Clarke Stillman ……..
We are going to be stacked lol .

We could be the Harlem Globtrotters of the NHL.

This is for two years from now when Luke Slaf and Holtz are all ready .
Out :
Graves
Ty Smith (trade )
McLeod ( trade or don’t resign )
Zacha (trade )
Johnson ( trade)
Tatar ( let contract expire if can’t be traded )

 

[Captain3rdLine]

i've been pro trading this pick before we even got the #2 pick not sure what you mean i guess i can't have an my own opinion? this place would be pretty boring if everyone agreed with each other no?


yeah i'm not big on fiala as being legit maybe if he had more then just this year stat line. to me your trading away an unknown that could be good could also flop. your going to get back a proven nhl top line talent to play now with jack nico or on the back end. you have to trade something good to get something good. devils have enough unknowns no need to add another one if they don't have to.

sorry for having my opinion on it

First, lots of people who we’re okay with trading the 5-7 pick for someone like Fiala no longer are after we won the 2nd pick.

It’s also not fair to say Fiala’s stay line is just this year. This was his best year but he’s been putting up good numbers for 3 seasons now.

I wouldn't holtz already has the time in the system and should in theory be closer to contributing at the nhl level. also would probably return less then a pick a team can choose who they want to take with it.



pretty sure its like 98% pro keeping the pick and thats being generous lol so can't get much more close on the same opinion. what can i say i don't drink the kool-aide and just rather get the current foundation help then another player who may or may not pan out for the top line.

That’s just stupid. Holtz isn’t nearly as valuable as the #2 pick.

 

[Devs3cups]

Saying he projects as their future 3rd line center is just a lazy way to handwave a player that most would agree should be in discussion for the pick. Cooley is considered by most to be a top 3 prospect in this draft class and if the Devils agree with this evaluation then they'll definitely consider him.

Don't think he meant to say Cooley will become a 3rd C, but rather that he'd become the 3C on our team with Jack and Nico in front of him.

 

[JrFischer54]

But you're missing an important factor if a regular NHL player doesn't work out - the contract.

You're not going to trade away a #2OA for an NHL player without ensuring that the said player agrees to an extension, a very significant extension, 6 or 7 years with a high cap tied to them, if after two years this player doesn't panned out, you're STUCK with him and his albatross of a contract. While chances are the player you could have drafted is now a NHL stud.

And even if the player you drafted isn't a NHL stud, at least you never signed him to a huge contract, you trade him away like the Flyers did with Nolan Patrick and be done with him.

oh boy the salary cap scare tactic. have you not seen x amount of teams trading away bad contracts? lol and people call me negative on here oh man. you are assuming the worst possible outcome and in either situation the team is still in the same spot no bad contract and no busted prospect.

First, lots of people who we’re okay with trading the 5-7 pick for someone like Fiala no longer are after we won the 2nd pick.

It’s also not fair to say Fiala’s stay line is just this year. This was his best year but he’s been putting up good numbers for 3 seasons now.


That’s just stupid. Holtz isn’t nearly as valuable as the #2 pick.

FIRST off for the record i never mentioned fiala in any of this. I'm sure somewhere in the nhl there is more then just kevin fiala out there that will have rumors around. who that is i don't know who would I trade for? I don't know just would listen to offers and if the right name pops then yeah i make the deal. SECOND i'm glad you agree with me that I said holtz IS NOT worth more then the 2oa.

 

[Lou is God]

oh boy the salary cap scare tactic. have you not seen x amount of teams trading away bad contracts? lol and people call me negative on here oh man. you are assuming the worst possible outcome and in either situation the team is still in the same spot no bad contract and no busted prospect.

The moment when you realize you didn't really think a bad idea out thoroughly, keep them ideas coming dude!!

 

[JrFischer54]

Saying he projects as their future 3rd line center is just a lazy way to handwave a player that most would agree should be in discussion for the pick. Cooley is considered by most to be a top 3 prospect in this draft class and if the Devils agree with this evaluation then they'll definitely consider him.

i did last week mention something similar to this and got roasted so just gave up on it. the devils should be looking at all realistic kids whoever they think the top 5 are. i wouldn't not draft cooley just we have nico and jack. that applies to ALL players. this team needs skill and talent everywhere so to avoid not look at a player because we have players there thats bad business to me.

 

[AfroThunder396]

I don't think a deal where the #2 overall pick is the best asset is the kind of deal we should be making. If we're selling the pick, it's going to be impossible to get reasonable value back because of the cost control and quality associated with that pick.

To me, the only way a deal would work is if we're BUYING and #2 overall is the centerpiece of that deal. Something like #2 overall + Holtz/Mukhamadullin + roster player for a Matt Tkachuk/Alex DeBrincat kind of piece.

 

[JrFischer54]

The moment when you realize you didn't really think a bad idea out thoroughly, keep them ideas coming dude!!

sure keep being scared of the cap said no team ever just hf nj devils board members lol

 

[Lou is God]

sure keep being scared of the cap said no team ever just hf nj devils board members lol

I'm not scared of the cap, I'm scared of bad contracts and bad ideas that can set the team back years. There is a reason teams don't trade away top picks, it's stupid to do so.

 

[minibrodeur]

Yes, I know they're not good comparables. I'm just trying to conceptualize for myself what this player with no obvious comparable in the current NHL might play like. (I'm intrigued by the Jagr comparisons but don't really buy them, because Jagr is unique). I started with the fact that he is about the same size as Zubrus. Then I layered on what I know or have heard about his skills.

From what you say, it sounds like Slafkovsky has similarly good hands in tight and the willingness to go to rough areas of the ice as Parise did, while having a better shot and playmaking ability than Parise. He also appears to be really good on the forecheck.

So while "Parise in Zubrus's body" is not the exact right way to think of his game, it might be the closest I can get using the players I'm most familiar with (mostly former Devils).

In any case, I'm sure we can agree that if he can put all (or even most) of those elements of his game together, this guy will be scary good.

Although far from current NHL, Mike Morreale mentioned in one of his most recent podcasts that he interviewed a very respected hockey mind, in Craig Ramsay. Craig is the coach of the Slovakian Men's international team and said that Slafkovsky reminded him of Clark Gillies.

 

[JrFischer54]

I don't think a deal where the #2 overall pick is the best asset is the kind of deal we should be making. If we're selling the pick, it's going to be impossible to get reasonable value back because of the cost control and quality associated with that pick.

To me, the only way a deal would work is if we're BUYING and #2 overall is the centerpiece of that deal. Something like #2 overall + Holtz/Mukhamadullin + roster player for a Matt Tkachuk/Alex DeBrincat kind of piece.

thats what makes the pick attractive to a lot of teams.

I'm not scared of the cap, I'm scared of bad contracts and bad ideas that can set the team back years.

yes trading for a top line talent that is entering his prime while we have kids currently on team friendly deals is such a bad move.

I can't wait for the salary cap watchers on here when nico hits ufa in 6 years? oh boy this place will be amazing.

 

[hidek91]

oh boy the salary cap scare tactic. have you not seen x amount of teams trading away bad contracts? lol and people call me negative on here oh man. you are assuming the worst possible outcome and in either situation the team is still in the same spot no bad contract and no busted prospect.

You have to add value to get rid of bad contract though.

For example, of course Chicago got rid of Bickell's contract, the problem is that it costed them Teravainen. Of course you can find less drastic examples but they are at best swaps of bad contracts.

You risk a scenario when you trade a great pick for a star player, you sign player to gigantic contract, you don't really become a contender, the player declines and you're back to square one (we traded top 10 pick for Schneider, a great goalie but we didn't win two playoff games with him). Also, in this league you don't want to be stuck in mediocrity, you either want to be good or hit absolute bottom to get the best possible prospect. In the nightmare scenario, if all of our problems happen again (goalies, bad defence, lack of grit) we want to have a realistic shot at Bedard rather than JT Miller or Fiala carrying us to 22nd-24th place and picking #8, #9 or #10.

 

[Devil made me do it]

The way Slafkovsky skates in the offensive zone is really unique. He looks like a joystick character in a videogame. The body movement is fluid and precise. That's really what makes him so dangerous. Sure his hands and vision are elite but the way he moves his body always putting himself in scoring situations is a rare trait.
That is what made me change my mind about him.
It must be a combination of his natural gifts and him having good coaching. No other way to explain it.

 

[Eggtimer]

The more I think of it , the more I believe that Slafkovsky is our pick.
This is based off thinking it’s between Slaf , Jiricek , Nemec.

If you look at our current roster and why we have in the system ,Slaf makes the most sense.

On D we have :
Hamilton
Hughes
Severson
Smith
Mukhamadoulin
Seigenthaler
Graves
Okhotiuk
Bahl

Thats 9 d that are NHL Dmen. Yes it’s a little early to say for certain but it looks very likely that Bahl Okhotiuk Shakir are going to be NHL regulars.

Plus 2-3 others that could be possible NHL players , plus whoever we draft with picks 2 on in this draft .

For forward prospects that have top 6 potential we have:
Holtz
Gritsyuk

For forwards that can play a solid “heavy ” or interior game in the top 6 … we have … Zetterlund , Foote?

Lookimg at it that way plus taking into account what Fitz and Brodeur has said about addig “heavier“ players that are harder to play against … I think it is very likely we go Slaf.

 

[McDuffz88]

legit top line talent over the 2oa pick 100% any day of the week. at this point in the 10 year rebuild you have to start adding legit talent to go with the core in place. but hey thats just me i know this msg board loves its prospects and its potential with kids.

Coming from the guy who has been advocating trading away Nico for a unknown prospect. Ironic. All week you been saying let's trade away Nico & draft a center. What a U turn. Do you not view Nico as a top line talent?

 

[JrFischer54]

You have to add value to get rid of bad contract though.

For example, of course Chicago got rid of Bickell's contract, the problem is that it costed them Teravainen. Of course you can find less drastic examples but they are at best swaps of bad contracts.

You risk a scenario when you trade a great pick for a star player, you sign player to gigantic contract, you don't really become a contender, the player declines and you're back to square one (we traded top 10 pick for Schneider, a great goalie but we didn't win two playoff games with him). Also, in this league you don't want to be stuck in mediocrity, you either want to be good or hit absolute bottom to get the best possible prospect. In the nightmare scenario, if all of our problems happen again (goalies, bad defence, lack of grit) we want to have a realistic shot at Bedard rather than JT Miller or Fiala carrying us to 22nd-24th place and picking #8, #9 or #10.

first off this team should not be competing for bedard next year and the fact that i've seen posters on here mention this is absolutely insane. i get the allure of trying to build this dynasty through the draft but enough is enough with the losing.

first everyone was afraid of the age 28 decline then its the salary cap and now you guys are worried about trading for someone who showed no signs of decline but suddenly if he got traded here and was given a new contract at some point would automatically decline. lol thats like the holy trifecta of hf logic lol

 

[JrFischer54]

Coming from the guy who has been advocating trading away Nico for a unknown prospect. Ironic. All week you been saying let's trade away Nico & draft a center. What a U turn. Do you not view Nico as a top line talent?

if i'm pro trading a draft pick away for an nhl player why would i be wanting to trade nico for a prospect? you mean trade nico for an nhl player? if the devils thought cooley was a real possibility and drafted him and then he surpassed nico on the depth chart yes i would definitely look into moving him. nico on a legit cup contending team? no he isn't a top line center. ommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmg i know right

 

[Lou is God]

first off this team should not be competing for bedard next year and the fact that i've seen posters on here mention this is absolutely insane. i get the allure of trying to build this dynasty through the draft but enough is enough with the losing.

first everyone was afraid of the age 28 decline then its the salary cap and now you guys are worried about trading for someone who showed no signs of decline but suddenly if he got traded here and was given a new contract at some point would automatically decline. lol thats like the holy trifecta of hf logic lol

People are not afraid, they're just not stupid and realize the risks you refuse to acknowledge, and not one person has said we should be competing for Bedard, not one.

 

[hidek91]

first off this team should not be competing for bedard next year and the fact that i've seen posters on here mention this is absolutely insane. i get the allure of trying to build this dynasty through the draft but enough is enough with the losing.

first everyone was afraid of the age 28 decline then its the salary cap and now you guys are worried about trading for someone who showed no signs of decline but suddenly if he got traded here and was given a new contract at some point would automatically decline. lol thats like the holy trifecta of hf logic lol

Team that gets Bedard next year can jump from rebuild to top 10 instantly, just like Toronto did after drafting Matthews. It's entirely possible (although not certain, too many variables including Bedard's immediate impact and who wins the lottery) that he's drafted by team that is behind us now in the rebuild process and would leapfrog us by adding Bedard. I'd rather Devils made it to Conference Finals than take part in the lottery though

Regarding your second paragraph, yes, that's how biology works, teams generally don't trade stars before they're 26-28 and if you get a player when he's 28, he's in the vast majority of cases past his peak and his performance will decline. And on top of that, he has an UFA status at this point so you have to compete with 31 other teams when offering salary. Those are, in nutshell, the reasons why cores of 6 of 8 teams remaining in the playoffs have been built through drafting. The two that weren't were Rangers who attract free agents (and still drafted Shestyorkin, entire 3rd line, Kreider, Miller) and St. Louis (who have 4 of their 5 top producers drafted by them so perhaps they shouldn't be in this group despite O'Rielly and Schenn being acquired via trade).

 

[Mr Bojanglez]

oh boy the salary cap scare tactic. have you not seen x amount of teams trading away bad contracts? lol and people call me negative on here oh man. you are assuming the worst possible outcome and in either situation the team is still in the same spot no bad contract and no busted prospect.

He brought up a really good point about Nolan Patrick - and how easy it was to get rid of him. As opposed to say....an Erik Karlsson (just a random high-cap, not meeting cap expectations-type player)

 

[JrFischer54]

People are not afraid, they're just not stupid and realize the risks you refuse to acknowledge, and not one person has said we should be competing for Bedard, not one.

i'll take names next time for ya

and yes a lot of people on this board are 100% scared of the salary cap and singing players past age 28. which i'm assuming while apply to nico and jack when their deals come up at that time right?

IF travis bowl cut finally came around with regard to the salary cap i have hope others will also.