Is Slafkovsky the worst #1 pick ever ?
- Thread starter HeussLenfoire
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- Jan 18, 2022
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Slaf has several things to improve before he can be expected to be a NHL producer. The problem is the opportunity cost and risk. Why would you draft such a project with the 1OA when there were more reasonable options available? Even Shane Wright has a more clear path to NHL production than the 'unicorn' Slafkovsky.
Anaheim4ever
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BB88
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How about compare him to the more recent ones and not go back 20-30 years?
Rantanen
Barkov
Laine
Kotkaniemi
etc
This is still the NHL. You don't just gift ice time to terrible players to justify their draft position.
Irishguy42
Mr. Preachy
Moose Head
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No you don’t. He should have stayed in Europe another year or two. The draft pick may or may not have been wise, but not sending him back to Europe or the AHL was certainly a mistake.
dirtydanglez
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Isaac Nootin
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Which would be great if he were drafted in the 4th round, like Josh Anderson.
Hischier and Hughes
“I love to hockey”
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they said the same thing about Jack when he was only 18-19!!
danisonfire
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aRielzinhooo
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Finnish league is nothing like it was when these guys played in there.
This comparison is just so funny. Jack had an elite pedigree and elite talent that was evident from day one in the NHL even before he put it all together to be an elite producer in year 3. You could elite player lying in wait. With Slaf he’s shown nothing more than just being a guy. People say Slaf looks so much better and the reason for that is now he simply completes passes and plays with his head up lol
At his age and skillset and physique, there ordinarily shouldn't be much to be worried about with a player like Slaf. What is terrifying is that they're keeping him in the NHL. He doesn't have the time and space in the NHL to make any sort of plays, he's not really developing that side of his game.
Rangers have arguably ruined Kakko and Laf by making them third liners. Usually a pick that high going to a bad team gets all the quality ice time they can handle and aren't blocked on the depth chart.
GeeoffBrown
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Imagine the weird reality where Atlanta picks Daniel OR Henrik?
Those two playing with Filip Chytil is arguably better linemate quality to start their careers than most high end NHLers. Rookies very often start lower in the lineup.
Barry Tallackson
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You could see jack has skill from day 1
SlafCaufield
formely KotkaCaufield
if Slaf wasnt making plays that should put up points id be worried but hes making things happen every shift
if Anderson had some finish, Slaf would have had two points last game and he had a few more the game bfore where if guys finished he'd be close to point per game right now
What would everyone be saying then? My point is that its not all up to him,, he can only do so much if others arent going to finish
if Anderson had some finish, Slaf would have had two points last game and he had a few more the game bfore where if guys finished he'd be close to point per game right now
What would everyone be saying then? My point is that its not all up to him,, he can only do so much if others arent going to finish
The point was not about the linemates, it was about the ice time. It has been well documented how unusual it is for a player picked as high as they were to not get PP time for the first 3-4 years of their career.
It's NOT relevant to pull up stats from before the millennium to support your dude. The league is completely different.
I feel kinda bad for Stefan. In a different world, he maybe gets less flack if Atlanta stayed put and took him at #2. Unfortunately they thought paying a small price to take him at #1 was worth the PR.
In a world where Brian Burke is more of a gambler, Pavel Brendl ends up going #1 to the Rangers, Stefan goes #2 to Atlanta, and Burke still ends up with the Sedins but at #3 and #4.
It was amusing to learn that Stefan's flub actually had an interesting butterfly effect. Edmonton earned a point for getting to (and eventually losing) in OT. That extra point was the difference between being slotted #5 and #6 going into the lottery. Chicago won the lottery from the #5 spot and got Patrick Kane. Edmonton got Kane's junior teammate Sam Gagner.
Thanks for this my man. This kind of stuff is most interesting in sports these days.
This one isn't quite as fun, but in their 1999 finale Vancouver gave up the game winning goal with four seconds left in regulation. If Vancouver had earned a point out of that game they would have flip flopped draft slots with the Islanders. Assuming the same lottery result, the 1999 draft order would have been:
1. Tampa Bay
2. Atlanta
3. NY Islanders
4. Chicago
5. Vancouver
In Brian Burke's book, he said Chicago actually approached him about trading #3 because they wanted both Sedins. Maybe in that universe, Chicago manages to talk Mike Milbury into dealing the pick? Or perhaps the twins get split up with Daniel on the Islanders and Henrik on the Blackhawks?
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Just getting back to Slafkovsky, it's just unfortunate that going #1 comes with certain expectations. If he had gone #2 to New Jersey I don't think he'd be as scrutinized.
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