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

[Blackjack]

Sharangovich wasnt really worth much of anything before his loan to the KHL in 2020, when he was 22. Last two drafts still need some time. Topias Vilen looks decent, Edwards' role will improve this year at Michigan, and Shlaine was steadily improving at Connecticut until he transferred, could boost his potential getting more time.

AHL watchers will tell you differently, his breakout started before he went back overseas.

 

[devilsblood]

AHL watchers will tell you differently, his breakout started before he went back overseas.

Maybe he showed a glimpse but 10 goals 25 points in 57 games as a 21 year old is not exactly eye opening.

17 goals in 34 games the next season in the KHL definitely had us taking notice.

 

[Blackjack]

Maybe he showed a glimpse but 10 goals 25 points in 57 games as a 21 year old is not exactly eye opening.

17 goals in 34 games the next season in the KHL definitely had us taking notice.

This has been discussed here. Most of his production was toward the end of that season, when he was bumped up to a scoring line. Sharangovich was definitely generating buzz before the Covid lockdown.

 

[devilsblood]

This has been discussed here. Most of his production was toward the end of that season, when he was bumped up to a scoring line. Sharangovich was definitely generating buzz before the Covid lockdown.

Fair enough, 5 goals 14 points in his last 11.

Point still stands though, 3/4's of the way through his 21 year old season in the AHL and he had 5 goals and 11 points in 46 games. Need to let the recent guys shake out before writing them off.

 

[StevenToddIves]

Sharangovich wasnt really worth much of anything before his loan to the KHL in 2020, when he was 22. Last two drafts still need some time. Topias Vilen looks decent, Edwards' role will improve this year at Michigan, and Shlaine was steadily improving at Connecticut until he transferred, could boost his potential getting more time.

But this encompasses the very nature of what scouting is.

The Sharangovich pick is light years from Edwards or Vilen or Shlaine. Anyone scouting Sharangovich could see he had NHL caliber size/speed and a ridiculous shot. The upside was clearly there.

Shlaine was steadily improving to the point where we could one day envision him with a depth role in the AHL. That's it. There's nothing high end in this player, not a single tool or intangible.

Vilen and Edwards were not bad picks for the players they were so much as why they were drafted by the Devils. Neither one has any chance to crack an incredibly deep Devils LD pool -- even not counting Luke Hughes -- of Mukhamadullin/Okhotyuk/Bahl/Misyul/Zaitsev. What was the point in drafting them? Neither was a "holy crap, I can't believe this player is still available!" type of nab, they were both pretty much reaches where they were taken, and neither filled any foreseeable need. That's just a lack of strategy.

How much better would the Devils prospect pool look now if they just took the consensus best player at both those spots -- Sean Farrell instead of Edwards and Matvey Petrov instead of Vilen?

The Devils drafted for ability and with strategy under Ray Shero. It seems now, both are being eschewed for something else, and I don't have the insider knowledge to know what that is.

But it needs to end this year, with the 2022 draft.

 

[Triumph]

Why does Malek not? A euro goalie already past his initial draft eligible season. Giles Senn comes to mind from the Shero era.

As far as the process maybe it's just the covid effect.

Gilles Senn was drafted at age 21, he was a starter in the Swiss league, he signed an NHL contract 2 years later and ended up playing for Binghamton for two seasons. David Malek was drafted out of the Czech 2nd league at age 19, there's really no comparison.

 

[StevenToddIves]

jUraJ sLafKovSky iz nOt a toP 2 piCk beCuz I loOk aT sTatsiStiCs:

 

[Cheddabombs]

jUraJ sLafKovSky iz nOt a toP 2 piCk beCuz I loOk aT sTatsiStiCs:

I tend to not put much stock in these short tournaments, and think they're more of an accessible way to watch these prospects I'd otherwise never see.

But that is a rather strong list there. Pretty much everyone aside from Paajarvi is notable. Don't think it means too much but it's certainly neat

 

[goonybird]

Look at all those players who got points at the Kaapo Kakko Against Men's Open

 

[Fanatik]

AHL watchers will tell you differently, his breakout started before he went back overseas.

Thats totally fair. I was trying to get across the point that he wasn't seen as nearly as valuable before his KHL stint, even if he showed more at the end of the season. And then even a further jump after making the NHL.

Just trying to get across that time needs to pass, these kids I named before are only 19-20

 

[devilsblood]

Gilles Senn was drafted at age 21, he was a starter in the Swiss league, he signed an NHL contract 2 years later and ended up playing for Binghamton for two seasons. David Malek was drafted out of the Czech 2nd league at age 19, there's really no comparison.

Not sure who David Malek is, but Jakub Malek and Senn were both euro goalies drafted after their initial draft eligible season. Sure one was older, while the other played in a lesser league, but there are certainly similarities there, and JMalek had a nice season and it looks like he will be playing in Liiga next season.

We can also look to Schmid for similarities as he was taken out of the Swiss Juniors, though he was in his normal draft season.

Nothing about Malek appears out of the ordinary, and I doubt Fitz would have implemented something which would have made a goalie from a secondary Czech league more likely.

 

[devilsblood]

But this encompasses the very nature of what scouting is.

The Sharangovich pick is light years from Edwards or Vilen or Shlaine. Anyone scouting Sharangovich could see he had NHL caliber size/speed and a ridiculous shot. The upside was clearly there.

Shlaine was steadily improving to the point where we could one day envision him with a depth role in the AHL. That's it. There's nothing high end in this player, not a single tool or intangible.

Vilen and Edwards were not bad picks for the players they were so much as why they were drafted by the Devils. Neither one has any chance to crack an incredibly deep Devils LD pool -- even not counting Luke Hughes -- of Mukhamadullin/Okhotyuk/Bahl/Misyul/Zaitsev. What was the point in drafting them? Neither was a "holy crap, I can't believe this player is still available!" type of nab, they were both pretty much reaches where they were taken, and neither filled any foreseeable need. That's just a lack of strategy.

How much better would the Devils prospect pool look now if they just took the consensus best player at both those spots -- Sean Farrell instead of Edwards and Matvey Petrov instead of Vilen?

The Devils drafted for ability and with strategy under Ray Shero. It seems now, both are being eschewed for something else, and I don't have the insider knowledge to know what that is.

But it needs to end this year, with the 2022 draft.

How are you going to say the Devils should not have drafted another LHD, and then suggest the Devils should have drafted in his place another tiny winger?

And this was Eliteprospects draft write up of Shlaine:

Shlaine boats outstanding puck skills. He not only passes through layers, but consistently passes into space hitting teammates on their tape. His shot gives goaltenders grief, with changes in angle, quick release points, and precise shot placement. Shlaine employs a complex selection of dekes and shows a willingness to crash and attack rebounds.

We drafted him in the 5th round. Sounds fine.

 

[Bcap88]

Let's say Montreal takes Slaf and we take Wright. Do you give Jack a full camp on the wing?

Absolutely not, jack has looked terrible everytime he was saddled at wing. You roll Hughes hischier and Wright down the middle and figure everything out late. It just seems like everyone is against the idea of having 3 really good to elite centers lol

 

[Forge]

Does Slafkovsky play in the NHL next season or is he going to need time in Utica or another Liga season?

I'm bringing him over. If he's in the ahl all year, so be it, but I'm not keeping him in Liiga

Let's say Montreal takes Slaf and we take Wright. Do you give Jack a full camp on the wing?

No, you just roll them all at center.

 

[Billdo]

I'm bringing him over. If he's in the ahl all year, so be it, but I'm not keeping him in Liiga



No, you just roll them all at center.

I'd keep all 3 at center and move Mercer to RW permanently.

 

[Triumph]

Not sure who David Malek is, but Jakub Malek and Senn were both euro goalies drafted after their initial draft eligible season. Sure one was older, while the other played in a lesser league, but there are certainly similarities there, and JMalek had a nice season and it looks like he will be playing in Liiga next season.

We can also look to Schmid for similarities as he was taken out of the Swiss Juniors, though he was in his normal draft season.

Nothing about Malek appears out of the ordinary, and I doubt Fitz would have implemented something which would have made a goalie from a secondary Czech league more likely.

Whoops, somehow my brain combined David Volek and David Maley into one guy.

Schmid was already committed to Lethbridge when he was drafted. He wasn't an overage selection, and he played for Switzerland at basically every major international tournament up to that point, U16, U17, U18, Schmid got some time. He ended up 6th on the CSB European goaltenders list in the 2018 draft.

Malek played one game for the Czech U20 squad at something that wasn't the WJCs but other than that he has no appearances listed on eliteprospects for the Czech team at any age.

Senn was 21 so he was likely not ranked, but his selection is not some random, out of nowhere pick, the Devils needed goalie depth in the minors - they didn't pick a goalie who wasn't a nepotism pick between 2011 and 2014 - and someone that old is a better shot to be helpful to the organization quickly. He also started some games for Switzerland in international tournaments over the years.

 

[Billdo]

Absolutely not, jack has looked terrible everytime he was saddled at wing. You roll Hughes hischier and Wright down the middle and figure everything out late. It just seems like everyone is against the idea of having 3 really good to elite centers lol

We only have one though. Nico is a 3C at best and Wright remains to be seen in that scenario.

 

[Forge]

I'd keep all 3 at center and move Mercer to RW permanently.

Agreed

 

[BurntToast]

I tend to not put much stock in these short tournaments, and think they're more of an accessible way to watch these prospects I'd otherwise never see.

But that is a rather strong list there. Pretty much everyone aside from Paajarvi is notable. Don't think it means too much but it's certainly neat

If you add up all the tournaments, Slaf played more internationally, than for TPS. That add’s another wrinkle to his TPS numbers. I know he is ranked all over (pre WC),but many of the Junior prospects are having lack luster playoffs. I know the OHL missed an entire year but this entire draft was effected by Covid. You will still have guys fall through the cracks.

 

[glenwo2]

I'd keep all 3 at center and move Mercer to RW permanently.

What's wrong with putting Mercer at Center on the 4th line?

Have the Super Friends (McLeod and Bastian) on his line and it should be interesting.

Of course that all depends on what is done about Miles Wood.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

jUraJ sLafKovSky iz nOt a toP 2 piCk beCuz I loOk aT sTatsiStiCs:

You understand how people talk on the internet now.

 

[Bcap88]

I'd keep all 3 at center and move Mercer to RW permanently.

I think Mercer looks better at wing anyways

 

[Xirik]

So with the Combine going on do you think our Preference for Slaf would change if he can't do a pull-up?

 

[Goptor]

He's right. the past two draft picks felt like late Lou drafts such as 2014. The only pick outside the top 20 that you can really be happy about was Daws in the 3rd round. A lot of the picks felt like Josh Jacobs where the best you can say about him on draft day is that he'll likely give you a lot of games in the AHL and work with your other prospects.

2021 was really bad considering the pandemic would cause some very talented players to fall through the cracks. They loaded up on bottom pair/line grinders and physical types instead of putting in the extra work and finding the high skill players.

 

[My3Sons]

He's right. the past two draft picks felt like late Lou drafts such as 2014. The only pick outside the top 20 that you can really be happy about was Daws in the 3rd round. A lot of the picks felt like Josh Jacobs where the best you can say about him on draft day is that he'll likely give you a lot of games in the AHL and work with your other prospects.

2021 was really bad considering the pandemic would cause some very talented players to fall through the cracks. They loaded up on bottom pair/line grinders and physical types instead of putting in the extra work and finding the high skill players.

I think that reflects the difference between Shero and Fitz. Shero wanted fast skilled players and didn’t seem to care about physical stature. Fitz seems to have a “compete” mantra based on last season’s draft videos and when in doubt seems to like bigger players but can look past that. I agree that the value picks in later rounds seem to be smaller skilled players - especially European wingers.