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

[StevenToddIves]

Offensively I'd disagree with Slafkovsky having good games every game. He played vs well vs weak opposition as he did during the Olympics. His game vs Canada was bad.

Jiricek didn't do anything at all to get his stock to rise, and I have him as a top 4-5 in my rankings. He had some flashes but also some moments where I was like ok, he's not even close to being as polished as the other D he's often mentioned with.


People seem to neglect the fact that Wright post 15 to 20 games had a PPG number that was extremely competitive to previous number ones.

I blame his covid infection for his slow start. The playoffs I have a harder time explaining amd I'm leaning on blaming the coaching, the team and the system

Again, I have to say: inventing a false narrative about a player in order to advance your argument -- whatever your argument may be -- is a perilous and unfair route to take.

You would be hard-pressed to find anyone in the hockey writing community who would say Slafkovsky was not the Slovakians best forward in the Canada game. To just write a sentence like "his game vs. Canada was bad" without offering any detail or explanation -- especially in light of the fact Slafkovsky was lauded all over the media for his strong performance -- is simply disingenuous.

 

[glenwo2]

Based on what Friedman said, sounds like there is definitely a strong chance we move the #2 pick. I would honestly hate it unless it was a superstar under 24. Fiala is great but with him you have to give him. big contract, whereas with the #2 pick, we would have a player on an ELC and is under our control for a while.

I think we can build something special with these players on ELC's and have an opportunity to bring in expensive free agents on short-term deals.

There's definitely a stronger chance he's speculating (and that I would believe far more than Fitz actually RISKING his Job security this way).

Trading the pick would've been the right move IF THE DEVILS STAYED PUT AT #5.

Being in a position to draft EITHER Slaf OR Wright no longer makes a trade palatable.

You draft one of those two and address other needs in the latter rounds.

THE END.

Owners better fire this clown if he is on the verge of doing something stupid.

I think Friedman needs to be fired for creating drama just to get clicks.

 

[minibrodeur]

Devs are just doing their due diligence to see if a player they feel is worth the 2OA pick is available. Theyre releasing it i because other teams need to know in advance if they're to make their own assessments on the value.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

I would like to see us get more physical wingers for Boq. He looked much better than I ever gave him credit for last year. Look for Crouse or Marchment type players.

Big Z to the rescue

 

[MakoSlade]

Big Z to the rescue

EZ BZ!

Foote and Zetterlund could be the answer. Tough part is though, we won't know until it is too late to get a replacement if they aren't.

 

[Doublechin]

Again, I have to say: inventing a false narrative about a player in order to advance your argument -- whatever your argument may be -- is a perilous and unfair route to take.

You would be hard-pressed to find anyone in the hockey writing community who would say Slafkovsky was not the Slovakians best forward in the Canada game. To just write a sentence like "his game vs. Canada was bad" without offering any detail or explanation -- especially in light of the fact Slafkovsky was lauded all over the media for his strong performance -- is simply disingenuous.

What narrative? Do I look like a lobbyist with any influence on who's getting picked? I just said his games vs Canada and even the Swiss were average at best. If you're in love, that's you, I doubt the organization that insiders are insisting are shopping the pick are as much in love.

 

[My3Sons]

What narrative? Do I look like a lobbyist with any influence on who's getting picked? I just said his games vs Canada and even the Swiss were average at best. If you're in love, that's you, I doubt the organization that insiders are insisting are shopping the pick are as much in love.

You will do much better if you avoid hyperbole. You won’t get too many folks on this board seeing @StevenToddIves pumping the tires of any particular player outside of what he sees and which he is clear in terms of his reports. He gave you an opening and you double down with snarky borderline insults? Tell us why Slafkovsky stunk versus Canada? I am open to looking at another prospect if it makes more sense (I was hoping Jiricek would look like the best choice but that’s not seemingly the case) and will absolutely listen to a cogent argument but insults aren’t that.

 

[Forge]

I just said his games vs Canada and even the Swiss were average at best

Actually, you said his game against Canada was bad.

 

[TrufleShufle]

Actually, you said his game against Canada was bad.

There really is no way, one way or the other to prove what was said.

 

[NJDevs26]

LOL at everyone going nuts over the reports of them shopping the pick, there've literally been reports of us shopping our first-rounder every year the last few years other than the #1OA's. Their internal list of guys worth moving #2OA for may be five or seven guys, of which possibly one might be available. Fitz hasn't really gotten raked over the coals on a trade yet so I'm not going to assume he'll just throw #2OA away for some 30-year old winger or a goalie until I see it.

 

[Unknown Caller]

LOL at everyone going nuts over the reports of them shopping the pick, there've literally been reports of us shopping our first-rounder every year the last few years other than the #1OA's. Their internal list of guys worth moving #2OA for may be five or seven guys, of which possibly one might be available. Fitz hasn't really gotten raked over the coals on a trade yet so I'm not going to assume he'll just throw #2OA away for some 30-year old winger or a goalie until I see it.

Anyone who is on the list is going to be an elite young player under team control at a palatable cost. The number of players that fit that profile and are actually available is probably zero.

 

[Doublechin]

You will do much better if you avoid hyperbole. You won’t get too many folks on this board seeing @StevenToddIves pumping the tires of any particular player outside of what he sees and which he is clear in terms of his reports. He gave you an opening and you double down with snarky borderline insults? Tell us why Slafkovsky stunk versus Canada? I am open to looking at another prospect if it makes more sense (I was hoping Jiricek would look like the best choice but that’s not seemingly the case) and will absolutely listen to a cogent argument but insults aren’t that.

Wait, what was insulting? I'm just saying falling in love with a players tends to get us to neglect his cons and focus on his pros. Many pro scouts have often said, one of the most important tool they absolutely need is the ability to not fall in love with prospects and remain neutral

We as fans have the tendency to fall in love with prospects, Habs fans are suddenly madly in love with Wright and Devils fans with Slaf because the odds are high that these are the teams picks. Just as the Ranger fans suddenly started comparing Lafreniere to Matthews or better

Actually, you said his game against Canada was bad.

Ok

I did

I still think so, some flashes were shown but nothing that made me go nice, this is what I was waiting to see. To be quite honest some of the plays I remember the most that I disliked were vs the Suiss, so I'd say that game was bad, Canada was average at best

Just my perspective, not looking for a battle lol

 

[My3Sons]

Wait, what was insulting? I'm just saying falling in love with a players tends to get us to neglect his cons and focus on his pros. Many pro scouts have often said, one of the most important tool they absolutely need is the ability to not fall in love with prospects and remain neutral

We as fans have the tendency to fall in love with prospects, Habs fans are suddenly madly in love with Wright and Devils fans with Slaf because the odds are high that these are the teams picks. Just as the Ranger fans suddenly started comparing Lafreniere to Matthews or better

Ok

I did

I still think so, some flashes were shown but nothing that made me go nice, this is what I was waiting to see. To be quite honest some of the plays I remember the most that I disliked were vs the Suiss, so I'd say that game was bad, Canada was average at best

Just my perspective, not looking for a battle lol

You discounted his opinion saying he’s in love with a prospect. You just acknowledged in this post that’s a big flaw in scouting. Yes, that’s an insult. Again disliking a player is well within your prerogative. All we want is the specific substantive “why” which you started to offer here.

 

[Doublechin]

You discounted his opinion saying he’s in love with a prospect. You just acknowledged in this post that’s a big flaw in scouting. Yes, that’s an insult. Again disliking a player is well within your prerogative. All we want is the specific substantive “why” which you started to offer here.

I don't even dislike the player. Saying that we tend to focus on the pros and cons and staying neutral isn't an insult.

As an example I prefer Cooley and Wright. Wright isn't even close to Bergeron and that comparable is insane to me. Cooley, many label him a great two way forward, he's ok at best and might never play center in the NHL

Those sound like insults?

You think scouts that work for the same admin don't debate this subject with a passion at draft day?

StevenToddIves if anything I said felt like an insult, I apologize...​

 

[StevenToddIves]

Big Z to the rescue

Can the dog skate?

 

[Guttersniped]

It seems like a report designed to drum up drama. I don’t doubt that Fitz is looking at all options, but I don’t think he’s eager to move the pick. Seems like a hard trade to win.

Yeah, I’m pretty skeptical. Fitz didn’t even originally volunteer the idea of trading the pick before the lottery. A reporter asked if he was willing to trade it and he said yes (because, of course he is).

And then us moving the pick immediately became a talking point because these dudes have to talk about something and nothing is happening.

No one trades these picks. The idea that there’s enough players who would be available and worth trading the pick for that you can actually compile a list of them is laughable.

 

[StevenToddIves]

I don't even dislike the player. Saying that we tend to focus on the pros and cons and staying neutral isn't an insult.

As an example I prefer Cooley and Wright. Wright isn't even close to Bergeron and that comparable is insane to me. Cooley, many label him a great two way forward, he's ok at best and might never play center in the NHL

Those sound like insults?

You think scouts that work for the same admin don't debate this subject with a passion at draft day?

StevenToddIves if anything I said felt like an insult, I apologize...​

I'm not insulted, it's ok. I'm a long-time NYC bartender, I'm pretty tough to offend.

However, I do think that it is better to argue FOR a player you want to draft than AGAINST a player you do not want to draft, for myriad reasons. If you do sincerely feel a player is not as good as he's been hyped up to be, this is fine, but the way to debate this without creating an argumentative environment or unnecessary vitriol is to illuminate specific instances and examples without blanket pejorative statements.

For example -- saying "Player XXX made several poor puck decisions and was poor defensively against Team XXX" or whatever will create a real debate.

However, saying "Player XXX is totally overrated and stunk in the game against Team XXX" will just get people riled up.

 

[MartyOwns]

Big Z to the rescue

jesus christ this guy doesn’t skip neck day

 

[Doublechin]

I'm not insulted, it's ok. I'm a long-time NYC bartender, I'm pretty tough to offend.

However, I do think that it is better to argue FOR a player you want to draft than AGAINST a player you do not want to draft, for myriad reasons. If you do sincerely feel a player is not as good as he's been hyped up to be, this is fine, but the way to debate this without creating an argumentative environment or unnecessary vitriol is to illuminate specific instances and examples without blanket pejorative statements.

For example -- saying "Player XXX made several poor puck decisions and was poor defensively against Team XXX" or whatever will create a real debate.

However, saying "Player XXX is totally overrated and stunk in the game against Team XXX" will just get people riled up.

My main and ultimate concern with Slafkovsky is the lack of intensity to his game which ends up leaving me with a sense that he won't ever show a physical aspect to his game and turn into a JVR or Bobby Ryan. His lack of production in the Liga is also a slight concern and for the most part between the WC and Olympics he's somehow mainly produced vs very weak opposition.

I still have him as a top 3 or 4 however so there isn't a dislike just concern

 

[Oneiro]

My main and ultimate concern with Slafkovsky is the lack of intensity to his game which ends up leaving me with a sense that he won't ever show a physical aspect to his game and turn into a JVR or Bobby Ryan. His lack of production in the Liga is also a slight concern and for the most part between the WC and Olympics he's somehow mainly produced vs very weak opposition.

I still have him as a top 3 or 4 however so there isn't a dislike just concern

I have similar concerns. He’s a finesse player with a lot of skill in the tough areas, which doesn’t necessarily mean he is tough to play against. Those two guys are great examples of mediocre outcomes with this pick, though they had their moments.

 

[ASK7]

Seeing reports from Elliotte Friedman that the Devils are considering trade options for the 2nd overall pick is just purely frustrating to hear as a fan. Why is this report even out there? This team finished 37 points out of a playoff spot - the last playoff spot! Yes, the team had significant goaltending issues (which are still outstanding) and critical injuries but even without all that, it is still far away. But I am not dismissive of the progress and promise of this team - they seem to have a strong base with Hughes, Hischier, Bratt, Sharangovich, Mercer, Boqvist, Siengenthaler (an excellent trade by Fitzgerald for a 3rd) etc along with still having an excellent farm system highlighted by L. Hughes, Holtz, Gritsyuk etc. but to think they are even considering trade options with the 2nd overall pick is just short sighted and stupid at this point.

Since the inception of the NHL cap in 2005 - 2006 season, there has not been one trade involving a team drafting in the top 5 trading its pick for an established player. These are the limited number of trades of top 10 picks being dealt for a player (not including trades of a future 1st for a player that becomes a high pick (Karlsson or Duchene trades or trades like the 2008 Islanders - Nashville trade of swap of 7th and 9th Pick) in the Cap era:

1. Devils trading 9th overall to Vancouver for Cory Schneider
2. Columbus trading Jacob Voracek, 3rd rounder and 8th overall (Flyers selected Sean Couturier) to Flyers for Jeff Carter
3. Penguins trading Jordan Staal to Carolina for 8th Overall (Derrick Pouliot), Sutter and Dumoulin
4. Rangers trading Derek Stepan and Antti Raanta to Arizona for 7th overall (Lias Andersson) and Tony DeAngelo and
5. Canucks trading 9th overall along with a 2022 2nd round pick and salary fillers of Beagle, Eriksson and Rousell for OEL (massive contract and diminished play) and Connor Garland.

This organization apparently prides itself for its data analytics and this is the data on these trades. I was a math major and I am providing the historical data on these trades. There are zero trades involving a top 5 pick in the cap era and in this case, we are talking about the 2nd overall pick.

There are many reasons why these trades do not happen but two critical reasons are the following:

1. Selecting a player with this high a draft selection has the greatest rate of success of a team hitting on the selection. Yes, there are several misses but look at the high level of success when selecting in the top 4 selections in 2013 to 2018 drafts:

2013: MacKinnon, Barkov, Drouin, Jones

2014: Ekblad, Reinhart, Draisaitl, Bennett

2015: McDavid, Eichel, D. Strome, Marner

2016: Matthews, Laine, Luc-Dubois, Puljujarvi

2017: Hischier, Patrick, Heiskanen, Makar

2018: Dahlin, Svechnikov, Kotkaniemi, B. Tkachuk

And since this is the 2nd pick, there should be less volatility with the selection.

1. These players are cost controlled in a cap era. No different than an NFL team maximizing the savings of a rookie qb deal, it is the same with the NHL. Colorado is still enjoying the benefits of signing MacKinnon to an extension earlier on in his career (signed to a 7 year - $44m) which runs through next year. If the Devils utilize the 2nd overall pick and hit on the pick, it will provide them much greater cap flexibility as their existing core ages. Also, they could get the benefit of an elite player who could extend the competitive window of Hischier and Hughes as they age.

The fact is that teams who are selecting in the top 5 do not trade the pick for good reason - it is just stupid. Go look at football and it is never done. It is done in basketball but it is a much different sport because the impact of one player on a team in that sport is unique and when it occurs, it is for a championship. Think of the Cavaliers trading #1 overall pick (Andrew Wiggins) to Minnesota for Kevin Love after resigning Lebron to pair with Kyrie. The Lakers also traded the 4th overall Pick (DeAndre Hunter) in a package for Anthony Davis and the Celtics traded the 5th pick (Jeff Green) as part of a package for Ray Allen in order to combine with Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. But if you notice, the Cavaliers, Lakers and Celtics were set up to win a championship right away with these trades of a high pick. You really think if the Devils move this pick, they will win a championship in 3 years? It is not happening.

And do not think the Devils are now ahead of the curve with this thinking of trading a top 5 pick. Nothing done by this ownership and management team these last number of years should give a fan of this team that level of confidence and trust. Do you hear a report of someone like Steve Yzerman in Detroit who has a track record from building Tampa, considering trading its high pick? Why are we even hearing that the Devils are considering moving the pick? It just sounds desperate which is never a good look.

Yes, is there a player or package in which you would move the pick? Sure but let teams come to you and do it quietly - it should not be so advertised like it seems to be the case here. We can throw obvious but not happening trades involving names like M. Tkachuk, Q. Hughes or O’Connor where it definitely would make sense because of the player, age and/or contract or maybe even some trade package for a goalie like Knight, Askarov or Wallstedt but when you hear names like Fiala (does not add the necessary size or grit plus cap hit), Meier (huge QO - cap hit) etc., it is very troubling. You can forget about deals for a goaltender such as Gibson (declining) or Hellebuyck (29 years old) involving this pick. You want to trade the 2nd round pick for Fiala in a package, I could see that or a trade involving one of the forward prospects because of their volume for a veteran, I could see that. Although the team has tried some of these shortcuts to success moves (Palmieri aside, referring to Bennett, Johansson, Muller, Grabner, Subban, Gusev moves) in which they moved 2nd and 3rd round picks and have not worked, I can see moving a 2nd round pick here because of the youth on the roster, the state of the farm system and the making of the 2nd overall pick.

I do not hold myself out to be a hockey talent evaluator like some on here who do an excellent job evaluating the draft eligible prospects (Steven ToddIves, Jason MacIsaac, etc.) but I did scout for a professional organization in another sport and regardless of the sport, all drafts have a tiering system. This draft does have a top tier of two players in Wright and Slafkovsky. Yes, the Devils are weak at RD but Nemac and Jiricek are not on that level and Cooley is beneath these top 2. They do not have a player like Slafkovsky in this organization and the thought that they would move such a cost controlled asset is frightening. And the Devils should take Wright if Montreal takes Slafkovsky even though they have Hischier, Hughes and Mercer.

Finally as long as you have Ruff as the coach of this team, you just cannot reconcile that decision with any thought of moving the pick. Ruff is not going to be the coach of this team when it is ready to win - he was always thought of as a developmental coach for the young players and he has done that to some extent (Ty Smith aside). By keeping Ruff, the team is implicitly acknowledging that they are not ready to win which is okay because of the youth but then don’t contemplate moving the pick. Fitzgerald always said the team would tell him when the team is ready to win. I watched this season - did you see the team tell Fitzgerald or its fans that it is ready to win? To borrow a slogan from another team controlled by this ownership group, trust the process and the process is to make this selection. If they make such a trade involving the pick, there should be an autopsy done of this ownership/management team.

 

[Monsieur Verdoux]

My main and ultimate concern with Slafkovsky is the lack of intensity to his game which ends up leaving me with a sense that he won't ever show a physical aspect to his game and turn into a JVR or Bobby Ryan. His lack of production in the Liga is also a slight concern and for the most part between the WC and Olympics he's somehow mainly produced vs very weak opposition.

I still have him as a top 3 or 4 however so there isn't a dislike just concern

I agree. This is my primary criticism for him. But in my opinion, he had a good game against Canada and a fairly good game against Switzeland.

 

[MadDevil]

You'd think people would be used to the "team with a top 5 pick that isn't #1 overall may be willing to trade the pick" thing by now. Seems like it happens at least every other draft and nothing ever comes of it.

 

[Peter Sidorkiewicz]

There’s nothing wrong with him but if you could get a legit physical faceoff 3C you could move Boquist to 4C which relieves him of some defensive responsibility and he can sub on a skill line if needed. McLeod isn’t quite a fit at 3C with his limited offense and Boquist isn’t quite a fit at 4C with his limited defense.

Trocheck is the perfect 3C for this team.

 

[StevenToddIves]

Seeing reports from Elliotte Friedman that the Devils are considering trade options for the 2nd overall pick is just purely frustrating to hear as a fan. Why is this report even out there? This team finished 37 points out of a playoff spot - the last playoff spot! Yes, the team had significant goaltending issues (which are still outstanding) and critical injuries but even without all that, it is still far away. But I am not dismissive of the progress and promise of this team - they seem to have a strong base with Hughes, Hischier, Bratt, Sharangovich, Mercer, Boqvist, Siengenthaler (an excellent trade by Fitzgerald for a 3rd) etc along with still having an excellent farm system highlighted by L. Hughes, Holtz, Gritsyuk etc. but to think they are even considering trade options with the 2nd overall pick is just short sighted and stupid at this point.

Since the inception of the NHL cap in 2005 - 2006 season, there has not been one trade involving a team drafting in the top 5 trading its pick for an established player. These are the limited number of trades of top 10 picks being dealt for a player (not including trades of a future 1st for a player that becomes a high pick (Karlsson or Duchene trades or trades like the 2008 Islanders - Nashville trade of swap of 7th and 9th Pick) in the Cap era:

1. Devils trading 9th overall to Vancouver for Cory Schneider
2. Columbus trading Jacob Voracek, 3rd rounder and 8th overall (Flyers selected Sean Couturier) to Flyers for Jeff Carter
3. Penguins trading Jordan Staal to Carolina for 8th Overall (Derrick Pouliot), Sutter and Dumoulin
4. Rangers trading Derek Stepan and Antti Raanta to Arizona for 7th overall (Lias Andersson) and Tony DeAngelo and
5. Canucks trading 9th overall along with a 2022 2nd round pick and salary fillers of Beagle, Eriksson and Rousell for OEL (massive contract and diminished play) and Connor Garland.

This organization apparently prides itself for its data analytics and this is the data on these trades. I was a math major and I am providing the historical data on these trades. There are zero trades involving a top 5 pick in the cap era and in this case, we are talking about the 2nd overall pick.

There are many reasons why these trades do not happen but two critical reasons are the following:

1. Selecting a player with this high a draft selection has the greatest rate of success of a team hitting on the selection. Yes, there are several misses but look at the high level of success when selecting in the top 4 selections in 2013 to 2018 drafts:

2013: MacKinnon, Barkov, Drouin, Jones

2014: Ekblad, Reinhart, Draisaitl, Bennett

2015: McDavid, Eichel, D. Strome, Marner

2016: Matthews, Laine, Luc-Dubois, Puljujarvi

2017: Hischier, Patrick, Heiskanen, Makar

2018: Dahlin, Svechnikov, Kotkaniemi, B. Tkachuk

And since this is the 2nd pick, there should be less volatility with the selection.

1. These players are cost controlled in a cap era. No different than an NFL team maximizing the savings of a rookie qb deal, it is the same with the NHL. Colorado is still enjoying the benefits of signing MacKinnon to an extension earlier on in his career (signed to a 7 year - $44m) which runs through next year. If the Devils utilize the 2nd overall pick and hit on the pick, it will provide them much greater cap flexibility as their existing core ages. Also, they could get the benefit of an elite player who could extend the competitive window of Hischier and Hughes as they age.

The fact is that teams who are selecting in the top 5 do not trade the pick for good reason - it is just stupid. Go look at football and it is never done. It is done in basketball but it is a much different sport because the impact of one player on a team in that sport is unique and when it occurs, it is for a championship. Think of the Cavaliers trading #1 overall pick (Andrew Wiggins) to Minnesota for Kevin Love after resigning Lebron to pair with Kyrie. The Lakers also traded the 4th overall Pick (DeAndre Hunter) in a package for Anthony Davis and the Celtics traded the 5th pick (Jeff Green) as part of a package for Ray Allen in order to combine with Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. But if you notice, the Cavaliers, Lakers and Celtics were set up to win a championship right away with these trades of a high pick. You really think if the Devils move this pick, they will win a championship in 3 years? It is not happening.

And do not think the Devils are now ahead of the curve with this thinking of trading a top 5 pick. Nothing done by this ownership and management team these last number of years should give a fan of this team that level of confidence and trust. Do you hear a report of someone like Steve Yzerman in Detroit who has a track record from building Tampa, considering trading its high pick? Why are we even hearing that the Devils are considering moving the pick? It just sounds desperate which is never a good look.

Yes, is there a player or package in which you would move the pick? Sure but let teams come to you and do it quietly - it should not be so advertised like it seems to be the case here. We can throw obvious but not happening trades involving names like M. Tkachuk, Q. Hughes or O’Connor where it definitely would make sense because of the player, age and/or contract or maybe even some trade package for a goalie like Knight, Askarov or Wallstedt but when you hear names like Fiala (does not add the necessary size or grit plus cap hit), Meier (huge QO - cap hit) etc., it is very troubling. You can forget about deals for a goaltender such as Gibson (declining) or Hellebuyck (29 years old) involving this pick. You want to trade the 2nd round pick for Fiala in a package, I could see that or a trade involving one of the forward prospects because of their volume for a veteran, I could see that. Although the team has tried some of these shortcuts to success moves (Palmieri aside, referring to Bennett, Johansson, Muller, Grabner, Subban, Gusev moves) in which they moved 2nd and 3rd round picks and have not worked, I can see moving a 2nd round pick here because of the youth on the roster, the state of the farm system and the making of the 2nd overall pick.

I do not hold myself out to be a hockey talent evaluator like some on here who do an excellent job evaluating the draft eligible prospects (Steven ToddIves, Jason MacIsaac, etc.) but I did scout for a professional organization in another sport and regardless of the sport, all drafts have a tiering system. This draft does have a top tier of two players in Wright and Slafkovsky. Yes, the Devils are weak at RD but Nemac and Jiricek are not on that level and Cooley is beneath these top 2. They do not have a player like Slafkovsky in this organization and the thought that they would move such a cost controlled asset is frightening. And the Devils should take Wright if Montreal takes Slafkovsky even though they have Hischier, Hughes and Mercer.

Finally as long as you have Ruff as the coach of this team, you just cannot reconcile that decision with any thought of moving the pick. Ruff is not going to be the coach of this team when it is ready to win - he was always thought of as a developmental coach for the young players and he has done that to some extent (Ty Smith aside). By keeping Ruff, the team is implicitly acknowledging that they are not ready to win which is okay because of the youth but then don’t contemplate moving the pick. Fitzgerald always said the team would tell him when the team is ready to win. I watched this season - did you see the team tell Fitzgerald or its fans that it is ready to win? To borrow a slogan from another team controlled by this ownership group, trust the process and the process is to make this selection. If they make such a trade involving the pick, there should be an autopsy done of this ownership/management team.

Outstanding post -- thanks for this.