Is Slafkovsky the worst #1 pick ever ?

[ReHabs]

The bar you've set for veterans may be a bit low.

It's more about the rookies -- last year we read a lot about Slafkovsky's learning and adaptation curve (such claims continued into this season). It's entirely fair to say rookies are in a state of flux. It's so rare for rookies to top-out their career output in their rookie season, that itself says a lot about how rookie seasons are not an ideal reference point.

In any case, I think it's fair to say Slafkovsky is playing as well as he's ever played in Habs colours and brings a physical presence that is extremely attractive. Cooley does not possess these dimensions to his game.

 

[tarheelhockey]

How exactly is it gaslighting?

Well, you see, there’s a very good argument that it is in fact gaslighting. It involves a lot of specific details and subtle turns of logic, but the architecture of the theory rests on a firm foundation of not knowing what the word gaslighting means.

 

[Breakfast of Champs]

he'll likely be on par with kakko and laf. not what youre hoping for but not a bust either.

He has 4x as many pts as Kakko this year.

Btw, Kakko is looking a lot like a bust

 

[Lshap]

It's more about the rookies -- last year we read a lot about Slafkovsky's learning and adaptation curve (such claims continued into this season). It's entirely fair to say rookies are in a state of flux. It's so rare for rookies to top-out their career output in their rookie season, that itself says a lot about how rookie seasons are not an ideal reference point.

In any case, I think it's fair to say Slafkovsky is playing as well as he's ever played in Habs colours and brings a physical presence that is extremely attractive. Cooley does not possess these dimensions to his game.

As you know, Slafkovsky only played 39 games in his rookie year. Add this season's 33 games and he still hasn't played a full NHL season. As you said, his career is still mostly flux.

I was as disappointed as you were by Slaf's first 50 games. Since November the improvement is hard to deny. I'm still tempering my optimism, but it's cool to watch him developing in front of our eyes and reminding us just how little we know about how/when these kids progress.

 

[MXD]

He's not even tracking to be the Habs' worst #1 OA, let alone the all-time worst #1OA

 

[ryan callahan]

Slafkovsky had 10pts in 39gp, on pace for the worst top drafted forward scoring pace in the past 23+ years with 21 pts, and was -13 in his rookie season.

Remind me where I said that Slaf has performed well relative to the average NHL player over a period of more than 10 games? Putting words in my mouth there buddy.

 

[hawksrule]

Haven’t seen him much this year, but he was quite good against Chicago the other day.

 

[PizzaAndPucks]

He's been playing better it seems latley. Way to early to call him a bust. It's way to early to even say who will be the best of player of that draft.

 

[BlueBaron]

Jumping the gun on this one but he probably hasn't had an ideal development path. That said big players take longer, I'm sure our OP thought the same of Byfield. I'm not exactly rooting for him but it's too soon.

 

[CauZuki]

Haven’t seen him much this year, but he was quite good against Chicago the other day.

He's been playing much better and with more confidence , he's no Bedard but he is really coming into his own at 19. Should be a very good 1st line player by the time he turns 22/23 (I think that's the goal anyways). The team is not expected to make the playoffs this year but it's been fun seeing drafting and developmental success rather than failures.

 

[BLONG7]

Awful thread..............troll job well done...

 

[nbwingsfan]

People talking **** on Slafkovsky and acting like Bedard, Fantilli and Cooley haven't been net negatives to their teams is seriously amazing.

Is this a real post? Bedard has been a negative for Chicago?

I truly beg you aren’t basing this off of +/-… are you?

 

[CanadienShark]

There is something off about Slafkovsky’s game and, being brutally honest, I don't feel like that feelings has gone away yet. Him playing with more impetus and presence is a welcome change but that something is still off.

Obviously as Habs fans we’re rooting for him but I simply feel like he made such a bad impression, and there are such relevant prior disappointments with the Habs rushing top drafted forwards and mismanaging "projects", that it’ll take a lot to change my feelings toward his potential and upside... He's doing better but 12pts in 33gp (on pace for 29 point season) is not something you want to see from a top drafted forward in his sophomore season. Whatever his path and wherever he ends up -- he is not taking the typical route.

I find two parts of the bolded hard to believe, let alone the rest.

 

[CanadienShark]

Do they have either a true franchise 1C or s franchise 1D?

Rebuilding without them is pretty terrible, building a low ceiling team

I think recent winners like St Louis or Vegas have proven otherwise.

 

[thebestnic]

he'll likely be on par with kakko and laf. not what youre hoping for but not a bust either.

This guy is clueless

 

[ijuka]

I think recent winners like St Louis or Vegas have proven otherwise.

Eichel is not a 1C?

True, you could say that Vegas didn't have that phenomenal D when they won, and that Theodore probably isn't a premier 1D. But Vegas mostly won with forward depth and goaltending.

 

[CanadienShark]

Eichel is not a 1C?

True, you could say that Vegas didn't have that phenomenal D when they won, and that Theodore probably isn't a premier 1D. But Vegas mostly won with forward depth and goaltending.

Eichel is borderline, just like ROR for St Louis. I agree that depth is what carried them.

 

[Osakahaus]

Glad to still see him getting back on track. That injury has absolutely derailed him

 

[PolishPrince21]

DiPietro!-

 

[CauZuki]

Glad to still see him getting back on track. That injury has absolutely derailed him

Fair point , he's also you know...19.

 

[Desert Panther]

Seems to have no particular talent, no skill, no speed, big with no big man qualities, doesn’t produce points, his shot is bad, his passing is average… Is he the worst first pick ever ?

Patrik Stefan and Alexandre Daigle come to mind a lot more quickly as top overall bust picks.

 

[IWantSakicAsMyGM]

Eichel is not a 1C?

True, you could say that Vegas didn't have that phenomenal D when they won, and that Theodore probably isn't a premier 1D. But Vegas mostly won with forward depth and goaltending.

You could also say that activating Mark Stone off LTIR just in time for the playoffs and going into the playoffs $9m over the regular season cap helped too.

Also, was Theodore really their 1D, or was that Pietrangelo? Because Pietro played more minutes per game and in all situations, while Theodore was EV and PP only.

 

[abo9]

Patrik Stefan and Alexandre Daigle come to mind a lot more quickly as top overall bust picks.

Obviously lots of time for slaf

But daigle led his NHL team in pts 2-3 times over his disapointing career

Still very much a bust, especially relative to hype, but if Slaf ended his career now, he'd be much worst

But then again, Hughes would have been a worst bust had he retired at 19 lol

A little early to say

 

[GreatSaveEssensa]

People talking **** on Slafkovsky and acting like Bedard, Fantilli and Cooley haven't been net negatives to their teams is seriously amazing.

How can one lead their team in goals, assists and points and be a net negative to the team? The stupidness is astounding on HfBoards sometimes.

 

[CanadienShark]

How can one lead their team in goals, assists and points and be a net negative to the team? The stupidness is astounding on HfBoards sometimes.

Uh... By hurting your team more than helping? That's the whole idea behind the word "net."

The bolded is ironic.