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

[StevenToddIves]

i'm scared of falling in love w slaf, only to have him ripped out of our hands by mtl

This is possible, but the good money is still on Montreal taking Wright. I wouldn't call it a "safe" bet, though.

The Devils need to cross their fingers and hope Montreal succumbs to the pressure to take Wright. Adding Slafkovsky to the NJ core would be a coup of epic proportions. I'd say the moment the Devils make a pick of Slafkovsky, they jump to #1 in NHL prospect pools. No one can match a top 5 of:

1 (tie) Luke Hughes
1 (tie) Juraj Slafkovsky
3 Arseni Gritsyuk
4 Alexander Holtz
5 Shakir Mukhamadullin

This is also yet another argument to ABSOLUTELY NOT trade the #2 pick. The Devils have a potential group of relatively cost-controlled Fs which would include:

C: Hughes, Hischier, Mercer
W: Bratt, Sharangovich, Slafkovsky, Gritsyuk, Holtz

This is not just *good*, this is downright ridiculous. It's an embarrassment of riches. You add one power guy to those 8 players (Nichushkin, anyone?) and it's almost disgusting. In 3 years, that could potentially represent the best top 9 in the world.

 

[ninetyeight]

Czechs at times playing with as little as 5 Dmen against Finland, so more icetime for Jiricek this game. He was on ice against the finnish 3-0 goal, but it wasn't really his fault, but more on his d partner Scotka, whose been terrible tonight. Also great plays by Seppälä and Heiskanen on that goal.

I think Jiricek has looked solid again, couple of good shots, good positioning and handled atleast one 1v1 rush chance. I think the fact that he looks like he belongs at 18 is huge. But he's not a game changer like Slafkovsky.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

If I'm understanding that last part correctly, he's talking about a situation where the Habs would trade with us so they had both #1 and #2? That seems wildly unrealistic. Has anybody had back to back picks in the top 5 since the Sedin twins were drafted?

I'm hoping that his source about the Habs liking Wright the most is correct, but it's hard to take seriously when the second half of the premise is so unrealistic (which to be fair, he acknowledges).

There's nothing they can offer that would make sense for both teams. Would they be willing to trade Caufield? Wouldn't make sense for them and I honestly am not sure I'd do that kind of deal either.

 

[Eggtimer]

No way I trade the pick . If Fitz wants to add a NHL ready player , I’d rather we trade Holtz than pick #2.
Im not saying we should be shopping Holtz but rather that I hold pick #2 in very high regard.
After I said all of that … I understand why Fitz said he would thnk about trading the pick. A lot of GMs have said that about their picks prior to dradf time. It just very rarely happens that it is traded and it’s just the GM doig their due diligence. Ya if a Pastrnak or Meier is offered , then maybe you at least think of moving the pick but it is essentially a mute point as no way a team moves a Pastrnak for pick #2.

There's nothing they can offer that would make sense for both teams. Would they be willing to trade Caufield? Wouldn't make sense for them and I honestly am not sure I'd do that kind of deal either.

Ya Montreal has nothing I’d want in trade for #2. Not even Caufield. Maybe a 18 year old Price but that’s about it.

 

[billingtons ghost]

No way I trade the pick . If Fitz wants to add a NHL ready player , I’d rather we trade Holtz than pick #2.
Im not saying we should be shopping Holtz but rather that I hold pick #2 in very high regard.
After I said all of that … I understand why Fitz said he would thnk about trading the pick. A lot of GMs have said that about their picks prior to dradf time. It just very rarely happens that it is traded and it’s just the GM doig their due diligence. Ya if a Pastrnak or Meier is offered , then maybe you at least think of moving the pick but it is essentially a mute point as no way a team moves a Pastrnak for pick #2.


Ya Montreal has nothing I’d want in trade for #2. Not even Caufield. Maybe a 18 year old Price but that’s about it.

I can't think of a reason other than fear of failure that the Habs trade the pick. I mean, it would be 100% media based - They could threaten to take Slaf and try to blackmail us, but would they really take him knowing our consolation might be the BPOA?

There's a huge need at C in MTL that Slaf isn't going to fill.
There's no need for us to move since we have that depth at C.

Unless Fitz is secretly set on Nemec/Jiricek/Kemell defenseman and wants to move back two spots AND pick up an NHL ready player, I couldn't see why he'd move the pick with Slaf there.

Even if we ended up with Wright, we are frigging celebrating like mad.

 

[My3Sons]

I can't think of a reason other than fear of failure that the Habs trade the pick. I mean, it would be 100% media based - They could threaten to take Slaf and try to blackmail us, but would they really take him knowing our consolation might be the BPOA?

There's a huge need at C in MTL that Slaf isn't going to fill.
There's no need for us to move since we have that depth at C.

Unless Fitz is secretly set on Nemec/Jiricek/Kemell defenseman and wants to move back two spots AND pick up an NHL ready player, I couldn't see why he'd move the pick with Slaf there.

Even if we ended up with Wright, we are frigging celebrating like mad.

Assuming they don't trade the pick for the current equivalent of Ryder Halak and a second. Hopefully they are just exploring their due diligence and won't sell low on the pick.

 

[StevenToddIves]

I can't think of a reason other than fear of failure that the Habs trade the pick. I mean, it would be 100% media based - They could threaten to take Slaf and try to blackmail us, but would they really take him knowing our consolation might be the BPOA?

There's a huge need at C in MTL that Slaf isn't going to fill.
There's no need for us to move since we have that depth at C.

Unless Fitz is secretly set on Nemec/Jiricek/Kemell defenseman and wants to move back two spots AND pick up an NHL ready player, I couldn't see why he'd move the pick with Slaf there.

Even if we ended up with Wright, we are frigging celebrating like mad.

I also foresee Montreal taking Wright, but Slafkovsky also makes enormous sense. The idea of a top line with Suzuki centering Slafkovsky and Caufield has to be as intriguing to them as the idea of Hughes centering Bratt and Slafkovsky is to us.

However, top wingers can be found all over the draft, while the lion's share of top centers are taken quite early in the 1st round. And you are certainly correct Montreal has a huge need here. I think they take Wright, and the Devils luck out (!) with Slafkovsky.

 

[Devs3cups]

I also foresee Montreal taking Wright, but Slafkovsky also makes enormous sense. The idea of a top line with Suzuki centering Slafkovsky and Caufield has to be as intriguing to them as the idea of Hughes centering Bratt and Slafkovsky is to us.

However, top wingers can be found all over the draft, while the lion's share of top centers are taken quite early in the 1st round. And you are certainly correct Montreal has a huge need here. I think they take Wright, and the Devils luck out (!) with Slafkovsky.

Agree with everything you said here. The report that came out yesterday floating around here saying Slaf wasn't very high on our board makes me a little nervous... do you think that's a possibility?

 

[StevenToddIves]

Agree with everything you said here. The report that came out yesterday floating around here saying Slaf wasn't very high on our board makes me a little nervous... do you think that's a possibility?

No.

 

[ninetyeight]

If he wasn't, he has to be now.

 

[Monsieur Verdoux]

Czechs at times playing with as little as 5 Dmen against Finland, so more icetime for Jiricek this game. He was on ice against the finnish 3-0 goal, but it wasn't really his fault, but more on his d partner Scotka, whose been terrible tonight. Also great plays by Seppälä and Heiskanen on that goal.

I think Jiricek has looked solid again, couple of good shots, good positioning and handled atleast one 1v1 rush chance. I think the fact that he looks like he belongs at 18 is huge. But he's not a game changer like Slafkovsky.

I missed parts of the first and third period, but this was a first game where I saw some puck skills from Jiricek. I agree that he looked solid. He played the puck with confidence, and it's something that I didn't see in his first few games.

 

[Devs3cups]

No.

I’m pretty sure it’s not a possibility too, that makes it even more clear!

I was also wondering, what would your reaction be if we ended up with Wright? Is it as big of a day for the organization in your mind? I’ve read a lot of your thoughts on Slaf, but not so much about Wright.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Friedman also said that Kadri is Flyer if Colorado doesn’t re-sign him (someone mentioned that here, I looked it up, and yep, he said it).

Now, a million years ago the Flyers were interested in Kadri and yes, an chippy asshole on skates seems right up their alley, but the Flyers don’t need to get older and they certainly don’t need to hand out a third long term deal to a aging center. They don’t have 7m in extra cap space just sitting around either.

If Ellis is broken longterm then their defense is issue and they should be leaning towards at least recognizing the need for a soft reset with next year’s strong draft. (Though they *snicker* gave their 2023 2nd to Buffalo in the Risto trade *burst of uncontrollable laughter*.)

Freidman says all sorts of shit, he’s got a lot of airtime and almost nothing is actually happening.

It’s possible that we trade the pick and I dread that scenario because I don’t have a ton of faith that Fitz won’t lose this trade. You usually win when there are a lot of motivated bidders or the other guy is dead set on getting your asset.

If Fitz is approaching it “man, I got to move the puck to speed the process up” we’re likely f***ed. That’s definitely a worst case scenario, and while I now despise Freidman for putting that worm in my brain, I remain skeptical. (Because again, he’s throwing stuff out all the time.)

But he never said that. He just said he’s open to moving it and is putting together a list of players he would love it for.

I think there's a better than decent chance none of that is true and Friedman is just drumming up drama for clicks.

I don't trust these rumor-mongers at all.

Fitz would not be telling ANYONE what he actually is going to do, @Captain3rdLine .

We will eventually know what he does when he does it.

Hopefully, he does the RIGHT (and WISE) thing and drafts Slaf/Wright.


Meh. I don't buy it, @Lou is God

I disagree. I think Fits would want that out there because there’s a large portion of the fanbase that wants him to trade it. So why not put that out there whether he’s actually open to it or not so that he at least looks like he tried.

They aren’t rumour mongers. They’re the people that actually talk to the NHL GMs and basically put out whatever the teams want them to. Or just he teams give them stuff to put out. They aren’t just making it up.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Agree with everything you said here. The report that came out yesterday floating around here saying Slaf wasn't very high on our board makes me a little nervous... do you think that's a possibility?

I don’t think that guys was even saying that from his supposed source. He literally said he’s heard that there’s no clear number 2 from scouts.

And then later went on to suggest Nj doesn’t have Slafkovsky high which I’m willing to bet isn’t actually coming from any insider source. Almost looked like he just mixed in what he had heard supposedly and then threw his own opinion in.
Pretty weird post and he got rid of it pretty quick.

 

[My3Sons]

I don’t think that guys was even saying that from his supposed source. He literally said he’s heard that there’s no clear number 2 from scouts.

And then later went on to suggest Nj doesn’t have Slafkovsky high which I’m willing to bet isn’t actually coming from any insider source. Almost looked like he just mixed in what he had heard supposedly and then threw his own opinion in.
Pretty weird post and he got rid of it pretty quick.

If the team isn’t seeing a clear number 2 - which is not a stretch based on Fitz’s comments about a number of players with similar upside - then Slaf wouldn’t be that high. He’d be part of a tier. Now that statement was just after the lottery and who knows what the World games might be showing them. I just hope we don’t give the pick away for Ryder Halak and a second. One guy -short of a top tier goalie - isn’t going to dramatically change the team’s fortunes.

 

[StevenToddIves]

I’m pretty sure it’s not a possibility too, that makes it even more clear!

I was also wondering, what would your reaction be if we ended up with Wright? Is it as big of a day for the organization in your mind? I’ve read a lot of your thoughts on Slaf, but not so much about Wright.

I'd be perfectly happy getting a center with no weaknesses, terrific two-way acumen, an elite hockey IQ and PPG+ upside. Who wouldn't?

However, I'd prefer Slafkovsky, who to me is neck-and-neck with Wright for #1 overall and to me fills a greater organizational need for an interior F with elite scoring tools for the top line.

But if Montreal goes with Slafkovsky, there's really nothing you can complain about. If someone offers you the moon for Wright, you listen, but if not it's tough to be unhappy adding that type of elite talent to your core.

I don’t think that guys was even saying that from his supposed source. He literally said he’s heard that there’s no clear number 2 from scouts.

And then later went on to suggest Nj doesn’t have Slafkovsky high which I’m willing to bet isn’t actually coming from any insider source. Almost looked like he just mixed in what he had heard supposedly and then threw his own opinion in.
Pretty weird post and he got rid of it pretty quick.

To be honest, I kind of phase out anyone who isn't McKenzie or LeBrun when it comes to these sorts of rumors. Friedman to me seems... what's the word? Corruptible.

 

[devilsfan35]

I'd be perfectly happy getting a center with no weaknesses, terrific two-way acumen, an elite hockey IQ and PPG+ upside. Who wouldn't?

However, I'd prefer Slafkovsky, who to me is neck-and-neck with Wright for #1 overall and to me fills a greater organizational need for an interior F with elite scoring tools for the top line.

But if Montreal goes with Slafkovsky, there's really nothing you can complain about. If someone offers you the moon for Wright, you listen, but if not it's tough to be unhappy adding that type of elite talent to your core.


To be honest, I kind of phase out anyone who isn't McKenzie or LeBrun when it comes to these sorts of rumors. Friedman to me seems... what's the word? Corruptible.

Friedman likes to use “I think” with his trade rumours. He likes to assume things that never happen which I hate.

 

[Nubmer6]

Friedman likes to use “I think” with his trade rumours. He likes to assume things that never happen which I hate.

I think I'm like that too when I make a statement.

 

[StevenToddIves]

I think I'm like that too when I make a statement.

I think you're wrong.

 

[Eggtimer]

I'd be perfectly happy getting a center with no weaknesses, terrific two-way acumen, an elite hockey IQ and PPG+ upside. Who wouldn't?

However, I'd prefer Slafkovsky, who to me is neck-and-neck with Wright for #1 overall and to me fills a greater organizational need for an interior F with elite scoring tools for the top line.

But if Montreal goes with Slafkovsky, there's really nothing you can complain about. If someone offers you the moon for Wright, you listen, but if not it's tough to be unhappy adding that type of elite talent to your core.


To be honest, I kind of phase out anyone who isn't McKenzie or LeBrun when it comes to these sorts of rumors. Friedman to me seems... what's the word? Corruptible.

I don’t mind Frank Seravalli, Spector for rumours. Spector doesnt get all wrapped up in hearsay and doesnt speculate. When he does speculate , he comes out and directly says “ this is me speculating “ lol.

 

[glenwo2]

I don't think management knows or cares what we think on here, and even if they do, it shouldn't affect their decision making with the pick.

When GMs start caving to media or fan pressure for splashy moves, that's when they start doing stupid shit. No thank you, I do not want to be like Toronto or Montreal, regularly making insane decisions for reasons other than hockey effectiveness.

It's not a splashy move to draft an outstanding young player such as Slaf.

Come on, Saugus.

 

[glenwo2]

But he never said that. He just said he’s open to moving it and is putting together a list of players he would love it for.


I disagree. I think Fits would want that out there because there’s a large portion of the fanbase that wants him to trade it. So why not put that out there whether he’s actually open to it or not so that he at least looks like he tried.

They aren’t rumour mongers. They’re the people that actually talk to the NHL GMs and basically put out whatever the teams want them to. Or just he teams give them stuff to put out. They aren’t just making it up.

Please show me this "large portion of the fanbase" that wants Fitz to basically trade Slaf (or Wright).

 

[Lou is God]

Agree with everything you said here. The report that came out yesterday floating around here saying Slaf wasn't very high on our board makes me a little nervous... do you think that's a possibility?

Who knows how old that news is, it might have been at a time when Slaf's stock started to rise, and since then his performance the past couple weeks has changed those scouts minds - and if it hasn't hopefully they're the ones Fitz has the least confidence in.

But honestly, Fitz doesn't need any scout to tell him who we need, he should realize that himself at this point. This is not a later round pick we're talking about.

 

[Guttersniped]

I guess a few devils fans will know the name of the top few guys at the draft but not know overly that much about them. I don’t think casual fans know enough to get upset and revolt if we draft one player over another unless it’s a crazy reach and everyone loses their shit.

There were people with Luke signs at the last draft (which surprised me), not picking him might have gotten a not great crowd reaction.

Bob McKenzie is releasing his final list on June 29 or 30 (the draft is July 7-8). He had Slafkovsky 2nd, I can imagine fans will be drawn to that. Maybe Cooley at 3rd on his list (and 2nd on others, will be in the conversation too.

The defensemen probably get pushed out (of the public narrative, not our scouts’ brains). There’s also a question of how much trade chatter will be going on too *sigh*. A trade announcement would have Maximum Everyone Losses Their Shit effect.

 

[MadDevil]

I would love if Bettman embraced his inner heel again and walked up to the mic...

"I think you're gonna wanna hear this....Montreal you're on the clock."

Then walks off the stage strutting like Vince McMahon.