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

[njdevils1982]

Is WhiskeyDevils a Devils fan?

Why isn't he here with us?

for whatever reason he rarely posts here

 

[Devil made me do it]

I'll start this by saying I want Slaf 100%, would be disappointed if Canadiens take him. BUT, no one can deny how eerily similar it is to the Hughes/Kakko draft. Except we are the Rangers. Again, I want Slaf, Wright is not Hughes and Slaf is not Kakko, got it.

But I mean, us, hoping the other team takes the 1OA projected center so we can get the 2OA winger because we know he is better. To the point of the Rangers cheering when we picked Hughes.

Again, please don't tell me how or why they are different situations, I know them all and agree, but please tell me I'm not the only one that finds it a bit creepy to be on this end of it and so sure about it.

It's a fair point.
But I don't see Slafkovsky bust like Kakko has done thus far.
He is superior to Kakko in every metric. Kakko never impacted a shift like Slafkovsky. He was productive but not dominant. Kakko doesn't have Slafkovsky's vision, hands and playmaking ability.
It's a noticable difference in talent between the two.

 

[Eggtimer]

It's a fair point.
But I don't see Slafkovsky bust like Kakko has done thus far.
He is superior to Kakko in every metric. Kakko never impacted a shift like Slafkovsky. He was productive but not dominant. Kakko doesn't have Slafkovsky's vision, hands and playmaking ability.
It's a noticable difference in talent between the two.

Can’t go off past drafts to make comparisons on who hood a prospect is . Too many variables . Slafs usage at the beginning of the year was terrible . No kid would produce given his minutes , linemates , and time he was asked to play . At the Olympics he went in being a bottom line player asked to play a defensive role . He started scoring and only then was he used properly .

 

[TrufleShufle]

It's a fair point.
But I don't see Slafkovsky bust like Kakko has done thus far.
He is superior to Kakko in every metric. Kakko never impacted a shift like Slafkovsky. He was productive but not dominant. Kakko doesn't have Slafkovsky's vision, hands and playmaking ability.
It's a noticable difference in talent between the two.

I spent more time in that post explaining that I know all this, than I did saying how it was kinda creepy how similar the situation was.

 

[devilsfan35]

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Bucci is about to get the wrath of Habs fans

 

[Unknown Caller]

Going to be very interesting to see what the Devils do at 2 in the event Slafkovsky goes 1. I'm not the biggest Wright fan in the world, but I don't think you could pass on him there. Hughes-Hischier-Wright is an insane lineup down the middle.

 

[Devs3cups]

Going to be very interesting to see what the Devils do at 2 in the event Slafkovsky goes 1. I'm not the biggest Wright fan in the world, but I don't think you could pass on him there. Hughes-Hischier-Wright is an insane lineup down the middle.

100% agreed. I’m pretty convinced Montreal goes Wright though. If they don’t, I’d be very, very happy with just keeping the pick and drafting Wright, who’s a fantastic prospect. But a trade to get one of the D is also very plausible, I like Jiricek and Nemec pretty much equally.

 

[Unknown Caller]

100% agreed. I’m pretty convinced Montreal goes Wright though. If they don’t, I’d be very, very happy with just keeping the pick and drafting Wright, who’s a fantastic prospect. But a trade to get one of the D is also very plausible, I like Jiricek and Nemec pretty much equally.

I'm fine with moving back for Nemec, but I'm not moving 2nd overall/Shane Wright unless there's a massive package back in return. A late 1st in a draft with mediocre depth doesn't do it for me.

 

[Devs3cups]

I'm fine with moving back for Nemec, but I'm not moving 2nd overall/Shane Wright unless there's a massive package back in return. A late 1st in a draft with mediocre depth doesn't do it for me.

I’d tend to agree there. If Wright is on the board at 2, ARZ might get desperate.

 

[MartyOwns]

if slaf goes first and we move the pick, which we should, we are basically trading wright to the highest bidder. that could get pretty insane

 

[Unknown Caller]

I’d tend to agree there. If Wright is on the board at 2, ARZ might get desperate.

2nd overall for 3rd overall and one of Nick Schmaltz or Dylan Guenther and you have a deal. Coyotes fans would be appalled at the proposal, but I wouldn't move Wright to Arizona unless the package looked like that.

 

[Unknown Caller]

if slaf goes first and we move the pick, which we should, we are basically trading wright to the highest bidder. that could get pretty insane

I'm not convinced the Devils should move Wright unless the compensation was a no brainer. Rolling something like Hughes-Hischer-Wright-Boqvist down the middle is how you win Stanley Cups. I'm not giving that up to a highest bidder unless the return is significant.

 

[StevenToddIves]

Bucci is about to get the wrath of Habs fans

Montreal might go with Slafkovsky, in which case they'll be happy about it.

 

[glenwo2]

I’d tend to agree there. If Wright is on the board at 2, ARZ might get desperate.

I don't know what they could offer that would pry Wright from Fitz's hands....

Going to be very interesting to see what the Devils do at 2 in the event Slafkovsky goes 1. I'm not the biggest Wright fan in the world, but I don't think you could pass on him there. Hughes-Hischier-Wright is an insane lineup down the middle.

Agreed.

It's a true case of 1a and 1b here.

 

[Devs3cups]

Montreal might go with Slafkovsky, in which case they'll be happy about it.

They might, but I still feel it's really unlikely. I feel the odds are definitely smaller than the Nico/Patrick odds split in 2017.

I was pretty much at 95-99% certain MTL'd go Wright before the WC, and even with the WC, I still feel it's 90-95% Wright for MTL.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

What do you mean? I thought he looked great for an 18yo d prospect. He's played all games and is tied in d points in the Czech team.

He’s done alright for an 18yo but not great and he has played as the 7th or 8th D up until today. But he was scratched today from the looks of it. We’ll see if he gets another opportunity but this tournament likely hasn’t been a stock booster.

They might, but I still feel it's really unlikely. I feel the odds are definitely smaller than the Nico/Patrick odds split in 2017.

I was pretty much at 95-99% certain MTL'd go Wright before the WC, and even with the WC, I still feel it's 90-95% Wright for MTL.

I’m giving it 70-75%

 

[devilsfan35]

Unless slovakia wins the WC and slaf breaks all kinds of records and goes full connor mcdavid, i dont see him going first to MTL

 

[MartyOwns]

I'm not convinced the Devils should move Wright unless the compensation was a no brainer. Rolling something like Hughes-Hischer-Wright-Boqvist down the middle is how you win Stanley Cups. I'm not giving that up to a highest bidder unless the return is significant.

it really doesn’t. we’re pretty strong down the middle, and if we trade that draft pick to get an impact player in an area of actual need (and a pick!), we can roll hughes nico mercer down the middle.

but yes, i agree the return would have to be significant obviously. what i’m saying is if we give every team a chance at him, the return could be more than significant. that would be something to consider

 

[Devs3cups]

He’s done alright for an 18yo but not great and he has played as the 7th or 8th D up until today. But he was scratched today from the looks of it. We’ll see if he gets another opportunity but this tournament likely hasn’t been a stock booster.


I’m giving it 70-75%

I'd be ready to settle halfway at 85%.

In all seriousness, I REALLY doubt they pass on him. 1st draft as a GM, Canadian C, represents a need, draft in MTL, consensus pick, etc.

With that being said, if they overthink this and we get Wright, that kid's gonna have a chip on his shoulder to prove the doubters wrong and that would be good for us. Wright would be a fantastic add to our prospect pool and would assure us the best C depth in the league and maybe the best 3rd line for years to come.

 

[Guttersniped]

Montreal might go with Slafkovsky, in which case they'll be happy about it.

I don’t really see it, life without centers is a sad and non-functional existence. Consider how much this team leaned on Zajac just to basically function when we lacked center depth.

This is the equivalent of us just having Nico and Zacha as our centers and drafting a winger. The Habs have a lot pure wingers (Caulfield, Anderson and Gallagher).

Unless they have misgivings about Wright, and don’t like Cooley either, it would be a pretty shocking to go with a winger. You have to try and find a 1C if you’re Montreal.

Slafkovsky is riser but he’s not the obvious slam dunk Andrei Svechnikov was, Svechnikov had bonker stats (& advanced one too) that really pointed to a special player. This is a little like “Kakko at 1?” stuff to me, Hughes arguably had his negatives (size, weak shot) but that wasn’t happening.

I guess they could see the 2023 as having a lot of centers and see Slafkovsky as more unique, but they could as easily find themselves in a spot to pick Michkov (or whatever) next year too.

It’s a little tough to say since Kent Hughes is an unknown entity, though Gorton doesn’t seem like the type to buck convention.

 

[glenwo2]

Slafkovsky is riser but he’s not the obvious slam dunk Andrei Svechnikov was, Svechnikov had bonker stats (& advanced one too) that really pointed to a special player. This is a little like “Kakko at 1?” stuff to me, Hughes arguably had his negatives (size, weak shot) but that wasn’t happening.

Can you please elaborate on what you mean by this?

 

[Guttersniped]

Can you please elaborate on what you mean by this?

Some people pretended that there was a question of who was going 1st in 2019 even though their was no f***ing way we weren’t taking Hughes?


Nationality plays a part in this too.

 

[Ripshot 43]

If we missed out on Slafkovsky (my phone finally knows how to auto spell his name!), I don’t know why any Devils fan would want this Wright kid… he only put up 108 points which included a disappointing start to his season. Hard Pass.

 

[ninetyeight]

He’s done alright for an 18yo but not great and he has played as the 7th or 8th D up until today. But he was scratched today from the looks of it. We’ll see if he gets another opportunity but this tournament likely hasn’t been a stock booster.

That's disappointing to hear. I watched some of the first two games and thought he looked good (though I guess a team like GBR is not a proper measure) . His point totals are also good considering his age and limited ice time. Why do you think he was scratched? Did he make mistakes or are there just better more experienced players available? Has Nemec surpassed him as the #1 dmen of this draft?