F Juraj Slafkovsky - TPS, Finland U20 (2022 Draft)

[Hisch13r]

Ah, I thought we were talking about WHJC U20s.

In U20 Liiga he's over PPG; seems fine to me.

This year he of course is. Being barely above PPG in the Finnish U20 for his D-1 and DY combined is not what you want from a potential 2nd overall pick. Last year though his production's pretty considerably worse than the rest in their D-1's and then this year it was also considerably worse. I don't see how this guy is seen as a slam dunk top 5 pick alone top 3 like some think he is. He's got the big boy bump and the shooting 29% in a 7 game sample bump.

 

[Ivo]

This year he of course is. Being barely above PPG in the Finnish U20 for his D-1 and DY combined is not what you want from a potential 2nd overall pick. Last year though his production's pretty considerably worse than the rest in their D-1's and then this year it was also considerably worse. I don't see how this guy is seen as a slam dunk top 5 pick alone top 3 like some think he is. He's got the big boy bump and the shooting 29% in a 7 game sample bump.

Let’s see how he does at the WC. If he can replicate his Olympic performance, that would indicate that his lack of production in Liiga was more due to circumstances than his ability. I mean, the best players from the continent played at the Olympics and he was the MVP. Sure, it is a short tournament, but if he can do it again, that would be quite telling for me.

 

[Sergei Shirokov]

How does Slaf compare to Svechnikov as a prospect? (I'm assuming not favourably?)

 

[Hisch13r]

How does Slaf compare to Svechnikov as a prospect? (I'm assuming not favourably?)

Svech might be 1 in this class. He's a clear step ahead

Let’s see how he does at the WC. If he can replicate his Olympic performance, that would indicate that his lack of production in Liiga was more due to circumstances than his ability. I mean, the best players from the continent played at the Olympics and he was the MVP. Sure, it is a short tournament, but if he can do it again, that would be quite telling for me.

I don't even think the Olympic performance was this monster performance. Sure it was pretty good. It wasn't this out of this world performance people rate it as because he had 7 goals in 7 games. He also had 0 assists and had a super sustainable SH% of 29%. If that's a more reasonable SH% and comes in at half that and he scored 3-4 with 0 assists in 7 games then people are not going as crazy over it.

 

[Hisch13r]

Not great.

 

[Kevin Musto]

Not great.

None of those players have Slafkovsky's upside.

You're getting too hung up on numbers.

Slafkovsky has physical gifts that those guys don't, and it makes his upside much higher. His size and wingspan allows him to do things those players couldn't dream of. And he's only now just starting to put it all together.

Slafkovsky's year-to-year growth will be more substantial than any player on that list.

 

[Hisch13r]

None of those players have Slafkovsky's upside.

You're getting too hung up on numbers.

Slafkovsky has physical gifts that those guys don't, and it makes his upside much higher. His size and wingspan allows him to do things those players couldn't dream of. And he's only now just starting to put it all together.

Slafkovsky's year-to-year growth will be more substantial than any player on that list.

Kakko didn't have Slaf's upside?

You're getting too hung up on his size. In doing so you're ignoring the constant mediocre production.

 

[bebl]

Again, totally different scenarios.

Barkov was considered the best Finnish prospect in years and was treated like that from the get go, placed on the same line as PPG Ville Nieminen on his draft season.

Rantanen had made his Liiga debut 3 years prior to being drafted, was given first line minutes, ”A” on his jersey and was on the TPS first powerplay unit on his draft season, due to TPS being weak team at the time. Also very pedestrian stats and play in the National team.

Kemell was Jyp’s main option on offence since the start of the season due to Jyp being broke and third weakest team in the league last season.

Laine played in the top lines and powerplay all season.

Kakko didn’t have as strong TPS team as this years was, so he got to play more top line minutes and powerplay as well.



Slaf had PPG of 0,32, if he was given nearly the amount of powerplay and top unit time as Rantanen or Kemell got he could’ve easily had 0,6ppg as well. Slaf also is much further ahead in his all around game than Kakko, Rantanen or Laine were so his usage hasn’t been nearly the same as their were.

do you consider Slafkovsky good all around player?

 

[Kevin Musto]

Kakko didn't have Slaf's upside?

Correct.

Slaf is the best player in this year's draft. If Kakko were in this year's draft, he'd be #3 at best.

 

[bebl]

Slafkovsky problem is really mediocre hockey IQ. It's pretty frustrating to watch him play because he is big, good skater, has good shot but he constantly makes poor choices with puck and doesn't understand how to use his speed and big body as advantage.

 

[bebl]

Correct.

Slaf is the best player in this year's draft. If Kakko were in this year's draft, he'd be #3 at best.

You mean has best potential? Kakko was arguable best player in Liiga in his draft year and Slafkovsky is just depth guy.

 

[Hisch13r]

Correct.

Slaf is the best player in this year's draft. If Kakko were in this year's draft, he'd be #3 at best.

lol Kakko was easily the better prospect. If 2019 Kakko was in this draft he might be #1 over Wright.

 

[brakeyawself]

Correct.

Slaf is the best player in this year's draft. If Kakko were in this year's draft, he'd be #3 at best.

I think Kakko would be like 6th honestly haha. As a Ranger fan.

I don't know if Slaf IS the best prospect this year, but he's certainly the best winger prospect. And I would say the best power winger to be in a draft class since Laf and Svechnikov. If you want to consider Laf a power winger, which I guess he sort of is.

Yea, I get the concerns. He's a kid. He has every tool you want except the stuff he can actually learn. To me, that's much safer than drafting say Geekie, who still hasn't learned how to skate. I actually think Cooley might turn out to be the best forward. Think Nazar might end up having the highest offensive ceiling. Wright still seems the most sure thing to me, even with his issues. But Slaf could just as easily end up the best player in the draft in the long run. It's a crapshoot when looking down the road. And you don't pass up on a winger like this with the 2nd pick when that's the exact player your team needs. When you are totally set at center and D for the foreseeable future, but don't have a dominating winger, or even really, more than two surefire top 6 wingers, in Holtz and Bratt.

It may take Slaf 2-4 seasons to really figure things out. That's fine.

I would trade Kakko and Kravtsov for him right now. Heck, once I get a chance to see him in an NHL game, I might wish to trade Laf for him with how he's developing. lol.

 

[Hisch13r]

I think Kakko would be like 6th honestly haha. As a Ranger fan.

I don't know if Slaf IS the best prospect this year, but he's certainly the best winger prospect. And I would say the best power winger to be in a draft class since Laf and Svechnikov. If you want to consider Laf a power winger, which I guess he sort of is.

Yea, I get the concerns. He's a kid. He has every tool you want except the stuff he can actually learn. To me, that's much safer than drafting say Geekie, who still hasn't learned how to skate. I actually think Cooley might turn out to be the best forward. Think Nazar might end up having the highest offensive ceiling. Wright still seems the most sure thing to me, even with his issues. But Slaf could just as easily end up the best player in the draft in the long run. It's a crapshoot when looking down the road. And you don't pass up on a winger like this with the 2nd pick when that's the exact player your team needs. When you are totally set at center and D for the foreseeable future, but don't have a dominating winger, or even really, more than two surefire top 6 wingers, in Holtz and Bratt.

It may take Slaf 2-4 seasons to really figure things out. That's fine.

I would trade Kakko and Kravtsov for him right now. Heck, once I get a chance to see him in an NHL game, I might wish to trade Laf for him with how he's developing. lol.

Sharangovich is already there and Mercer's more of sure thing than Holtz at this point. We're also far from set at D. It hinges heavily on Severson re-signing.

 

[brakeyawself]

You mean has best potential? Kakko was arguable best player in Liiga in his draft year and Slafkovsky is just depth guy.

I don't think he was the best player in Liiga. He was the best prospect in Liiga sure. But that doesn't mean he was a better prospect.

But yes, Slaf has a higher ceiling. And all the tools are there. The only issues seem to be experience related. Which to me, makes him a better prospect than Kakko was/is. As a Ranger fan, I would trade Kakko for Slaf in a second right now. Would I have done the same if we had yet to see either of them in an NHL game? I'd like to think so, but with the hype Kakko was getting, I'd probably think I was wrong and just go with the crowd on that one. And then 3 seasons into his career, I'm sitting there saying, jeez, we got a great 200 ft depth player with the 2nd pick who can't seem to provide a lick of offense, who always gets praised for his defensive play, yet is entirely afraid to make contact with opposing players, going forward and going backward. How does a supposed 200ft power forward get 8 hits in total during 43 games or whatever he played? Not that hits are the end all be all of stats. But seriously, he's so averse to contact, for a big kid who looks to have all the physical tools to lay folks out..... that part of his game probably bugs me more than his lack of offense honestly. Well, to be fair, it's probably a tie.

Anyway, Slaf is the 2nd best prospect in this draft. And yes, I think he's a better prospect than Kakko, who also has a higher ceiling.

 

[brakeyawself]

Sharangovich is already there and Mercer's more of sure thing than Holtz at this point. We're also far from set at D. It hinges heavily on Severson re-signing.

Yea I know we discussed this the other night. I disagree with everything you just said.

Devs have more than enough young Dmen right now. Don't think it's worth worrying about that they aren't "sure things". Most prospects aren't. That's like constantly worrying that there's going to be an earthquake or a planetary destroying asteroid Some things you just can't predict. And with NHL prospects, there really are almost no "sure things" ever. Like EVER. NHL has the second lowest prospect success rates in major sports, just ahead of MLB.

But their D prospects are developing nicely, there's no reason to think they will al bust. And Sharangovich looks like a nice player. Already there? Um....ideally he ends up a 2nd line winger, like Bratt. But Holtz is the only Devs winger with an actual 1st line ceiling. Alright Bratt I guess, can be a 1st line guy, even though he is kind of an offensive specialist, I'd prefer him on a 2nd line, same with Sharang. Whether Holtz makes it or not is a different story. But Slaf would immediately be the best winger prospect on the team with the highest ceiling. And his ceiling is at least a tier above Holtz I'd say.

Anyway, still think the Devs would be absolutely insane to pass up on Slaf for either of the Dmen in the top 5. They are absolutely fine for now at center and D. Not so much at wing and goalie. And Slaf has the potential to be a franchise forward let alone their best player. You roll those dice every time in a draft situation like this. Let someone else take the Dman that wouldn't even be your team's best D prospect.

 

[Hisch13r]

Yea I know we discussed this the other night. I disagree with everything you just said.

Devs have more than enough young Dmen right now. Don't think it's worth worrying about that they aren't "sure things". Most prospects aren't. But their D prospects are developing nicely, there's no reason to think they will al bust. And Sharangovich looks like a nice player. Already there? Um....ideally he ends up a 2nd line winger, like Bratt. But Holtz is the only Devs winger with an actual 1st line ceiling. Alright Bratt I guess, can be a 1st line guy, even though he is kind of an offensive specialist, I'd prefer him on a 2nd line, same with Sharang. Whether Holtz makes it or not is a different story. But Slaf would immediately be the best winger prospect on the team with the highest ceiling. And his ceiling is at least a tier above Holtz I'd say.

Anyway, still think the Devs would be absolutely insane to pass up on Slaf for either of the Dmen in the top 5. They are absolutely fine for now at center and D. Not so much at wing and goalie. And Slaf has the potential to be a franchise forward let alone their best player. You roll those dice every time in a draft situation like this. Let someone else take the Dman that wouldn't even be your team's best D prospect.

ahahahahahh You did not just say Bratt's a 2nd line wing. Ok now I know just to not take anything you say seriously.

 

[brakeyawself]

ahahahahahh You did not just say Bratt's a 2nd line wing. Ok now I know just to not take anything you say seriously.

I said ideally, he's a 2nd line wing. He can score and put up points. That's great. So can Jeff Skinner. Sure he can be your teams 1st line winger, I don't know why anyone would settle for that though. Bratt's ceiling is no where near Holtz, and Holtz and Bratt's are well below Slaf's ceiling. And Bratt is not exactly a "complete player". Bratt wouldn't even be a 1st line winger on a great many NHL teams currently. Some teams, he might not even be a top 6 winger. Avs, Panthers, Lightning, Canes, Leafs...

A bit of a fanboy eh?

If Bratt and Sharangovich are enough to prevent a GM from taking Slafkovsky, then the Devs really need a new GM.

And that's fine, I stopped taking you seriously the second you insisted the Devs should take Jiricek ahead of Slafkovsky and that the Devs don't have good enough D prospects. With Hughes, Mukham, Walsh, Bahl in their system and a year into signing Hamilton. So at least we know where we stand.

 

[BKarchitect]

Using Liiga stats to prove some sort of heirarchy or predictor of a prospects success in the NHL is just dumb. Complete lacking context and all a full table of prospect stats at that level at draft year tells me is that there is no correlation between a better PPG and being a better NHL player.

I think actual scouts are going to be a lot more focused on Slaf’s tools, physical abilities, dramatic second half improvement and a draft season that spanned a remarkable number of domestic and international leagues and tournaments, many with excellent showings. Talk about a kid who put in the work this year and got so much better for it by the end of the season …his list of comps on EP for just 21-22 is insane.

 

[bebl]

Using Liiga stats to prove some sort of heirarchy or predictor of a prospects success in the NHL is just dumb. Complete lacking context and all a full table of prospect stats at that level at draft year tells me is that there is no correlation between a better PPG and being a better NHL player.

I think actual scouts are going to be a lot more focused on Slaf’s tools, physical abilities, dramatic second half improvement and a draft season that spanned a remarkable number of domestic and international leagues and tournaments, many with excellent showings.

I agree with this but if he so f***ing amazing player why he is not produced more? Can people explain this to me? He got enough icetime to produce. His linemates were not the best but with his skill set he should not be dependent on linemates. Has anyone here even seen him playing on Liiga? I love to see country like Slovakia produce good prospects but he has some big holes in his game and some people here just ignore them completely. "He is better all around player than Kakko and Rantanen in draft year" bullshit, for example both of them played some games on center position in their draft year.

 

[Baaaaaaaaaaaaah]

I get the concerns, and he definitely isn't a sure fire bet.

But 7 goals in 7 games at Olympics against men has to be given some real weight. And probably the most weight.

 

[Eggtimer]

All this talk in his low production numbers is creeping me out. I really hope he has a monster WC . Devils really need a player like this but cannot have him under produce and be a Zacha or Kassian type player.
Sucks that Devils can’t see if they can sign Nuke and or trade for Jesse Puljujarvi prior to draft then take Jiricek.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Slafkovsky problem is really mediocre hockey IQ. It's pretty frustrating to watch him play because he is big, good skater, has good shot but he constantly makes poor choices with puck and doesn't understand how to use his speed and big body as advantage.

I don’t think you’ve actually watched him. His speed and shot are far from his biggest strengths. His biggest strengths are his hands, his size and ability to use it and his hockey IQ. He is very good at using his body not sure what you more talking about. Literally every single scouting report out there agrees that he’s good in battles and at using his body.

 

[Forge]

I get the concerns, and he definitely isn't a sure fire bet.

But 7 goals in 7 games at Olympics against men has to be given some real weight. And probably the most weight.

So does a nearly unsustainable nearly 30% shooting percentage

 

[Hins77]

Using Liiga stats to prove some sort of heirarchy or predictor of a prospects success in the NHL is just dumb. Complete lacking context and all a full table of prospect stats at that level at draft year tells me is that there is no correlation between a better PPG and being a better NHL player.

I think actual scouts are going to be a lot more focused on Slaf’s tools, physical abilities, dramatic second half improvement and a draft season that spanned a remarkable number of domestic and international leagues and tournaments, many with excellent showings. Talk about a kid who put in the work this year and got so much better for it by the end of the season …his list of comps on EP for just 21-22 is insane.

Sure, there is few player like Sebastian Aho with bad stats in the liiga and become superstars in the NHL, but there is more bust than superstar in this category. Versus, there is some bust with good scoring rates in the liiga like puljujarvi/kakko? But, more likely, you gonna hit an nhl player when they have good stats in liiga, than the opposite. So basically, odds are against Slaf. And I don’t want to talk about olympics. When Tambellini, Manninen, Hartikainen are top scorer from this tournament, it doesnt impressive. I suspect an equal caliber in Liiga.