Is Slafkovsky the worst #1 pick ever ?

[GirardSpinorama]

Its pretty easy to say hes on track to be one of the worst first overall picks just because those tend to be so damn good. You do NOT need more than 1/2 seasons to see if he is gonna be better than Matthews, Stamkos, Tavares, Mack, Dahlin, even the lowest tier in Ekblad, RNH, EJ, Owens are significantly better.

 

[Montreal Shadow]

Its pretty easy to say hes on track to be one of the worst first overall picks just because those tend to be so damn good. You do NOT need more than 1/2 seasons to see if he is gonna be better than Matthews, Stamkos, Tavares, Mack, Dahlin, even the lowest tier in Ekblad, RNH, EJ, Owens are significantly better.

Yeah, doesn’t mean he’ll be a bad player. A regular 70pts guy is a very good player, just not a good 1st overall. When you got guys like Crosby, Matthews, McDavid, and Ovechkin, you’re in some elite company.

 

[LesCanadiens]

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 ?

This has aged as well.

He's been literally dominating in all those areas (but for his shot, for now). And on most nights is easily the best player on the ice for Montreal. And the best player period in some of those games.

A total beast of a player in all 3 zones. And the clip below is the shape of many things to come. That's Sidney Crosby he schooled back in the D zone. And he's JUST 19. Just think when he grows up...

 

[Lshap]

This has aged as well.

He's been literally dominating in all those areas (but for his shot, for now). And on most nights is easily the best player on the ice for Montreal. And the best player period in some of those games.

A total beast of a player in all 3 zones. And the clip below is the shape of many things to come. That's Sidney Crosby he schooled back in the D zone. And he's JUST 19. Just think when he grows up...

A bit early for a victory lap, although it's true Slafkovsky is improving exponentially. Whether or not he becomes a star, it's fair to say this thread title is looking sillier by the month.

 

[Cleatus]

This has aged as well.

He's been literally dominating in all those areas (but for his shot, for now). And on most nights is easily the best player on the ice for Montreal. And the best player period in some of those games.

A total beast of a player in all 3 zones. And the clip below is the shape of many things to come. That's Sidney Crosby he schooled back in the D zone. And he's JUST 19. Just think when he grows up...

If only he finished that, he'd no longer be a bust.

 

[TrufleShufle]

This has aged as well.

He's been literally dominating in all those areas (but for his shot, for now). And on most nights is easily the best player on the ice for Montreal. And the best player period in some of those games.

A total beast of a player in all 3 zones. And the clip below is the shape of many things to come. That's Sidney Crosby he schooled back in the D zone. And he's JUST 19. Just think when he grows up...

The rush was nice, but if that is considered "schooling," hopefully Crosby can even read by the time he graduates.

 

[LesCanadiens]

The rush was nice, but if that is considered "schooling," hopefully Crosby can even read by the time he graduates.

He did on that play. Maybe Sid will get him next time. Hope you understand my post was meant to strongly contrast the extreme ridiculousness of the OP. Of course Slaf would have to make miraculous strides to be anywhere near Crosbys career. Sid is one of the GOATS.

 

[TrufleShufle]

He did on that play. Maybe Sid will get him next time. Hope you understand my post was meant to strongly contrast the extreme ridiculousness of the OP. Of course Slaf would have to make miraculous strides to be anywhere near Crosbys career. Sid is one of the GOATS.

I'm talking about keeping it away from a forechecker. That's pretty basic stuff no matter the player on either side. The rush was nice though, and I tend to mostly ignore insane bashing or insane hype so I'm just commenting on the fact that the 2 second game of keep away is a long way from schooling.

 

[Dach Vader]

I don't know he's looked pretty good to me.

I think a lot of rival fans are going to want him on their team one day. He looks very good at 5v5 for a guy his age. No reason to think he is not going to level up again. This guy wants it. He's got a good head on his shoulders, very coachable, humble and willing. I really like this pick.

I'm sure this guy is going to tilt the ice one day.

 

[LesCanadiens]

A bit early for a victory lap, although it's true Slafkovsky is improving exponentially. Whether or not he becomes a star, it's fair to say this thread title is looking sillier by the month.

I'm taking the victory lap without reservation in context of this thread, which IMO was designed to troll, and should've been shut down right away, let alone been allowed to run over 50 pages. Just my opinion.

 

[NVious]

Hughes started terribly
Mackinnon had a great start but spent quite a few years looking like just a decent NHLer, hardly worthy of a 1st overall pic before he reached his potential


Development isn't linear and not everyone can be McDavid or Matthews, some guys take longer to develop. I guess only on the internet could a 19 year old already be the worst EVER lmao. Lafreneire is in year 4 and hardly any further along.

 

[ru4reals]

Pierre Luc-Dubois straight up for this bust. Kings will gladly take this guy off your hands. LOL.

 

[Danarqhy]

He's playing at a 50+ point pace over the last 20 or so games, which is not bad at all for a 19 year old. He might never be a 90 or 100 points offensive dynamo, but he seems like he was the correct pick at #1 at the very least. Nemec is super impressive too, but a 6,3 potential power forward with great playmaking is a pretty rare breed.

 

[MNRube]

He might never be a 90 or 100 points offensive dynamo, but he seems like he was the correct pick at #1 at the very least.

Cant agree. At all.

Nemec looks like a #1 or a premier #2. Even if Slaj becomes a 65 point two-way beast, he won’t be as valuable.

Cooley is over 0.5PPG now. He also plays a more valuable position and is tougher than his frame suggests.

i doubt CBJ would take Slafkovsky for Jiricek straight up either. Top pair D are worth their weight in gold - especially when young and RHS.

An argument can made that Mintyukov also looks like a more valuable asset at this time.

I don’t see Slafkovsky ending up a Top 5 player from this class. Not the worst #1 overall ever though, that’s for sure

 

[Joe Sakic]

I can tell you all, very sincerely, that 88 games into his career, it's over. GG. Goodnight sweet career. It is with astute and distinguished accountability that I can firmly tell you that no player (in the history of the NHL) has improved after 88 games played in the league.

Let's also take a moment to mention that he is already 19 years old (past his prime). It's a fairly well known fact that a player's prime is 15 - 18 years old. He will only go downhill from here.

If they're lucky, the Habs can perhaps fetch a 4th rounder for him if they act fast. Good luck.

 

[Hostile Offer]

Cant agree. At all.

Nemec looks like a #1 or a premier #2. Even if Slaj becomes a 65 point two-way beast, he won’t be as valuable.

Cooley is over 0.5PPG now. He also plays a more valuable position and is tougher than his frame suggests.

i doubt CBJ would take Slafkovsky for Jiricek straight up either. Top pair D are worth their weight in gold - especially when young and RHS.

An argument can made that Mintyukov also looks like a more valuable asset at this time.

I don’t see Slafkovsky ending up a Top 5 player from this class. Not the worst #1 overall ever though, that’s for sure

It's way too early for a re-draft. The only thing that matters for the Habs is that Slaf is producing and taking massive strides in his development this year.

 

[Schennanigans]

I think for worst pick you gotta look at who they could’ve had. And so nobody is touching daigle as the worst one.

 

[luiginb]

Montreal forced him last year, you can take a kid who's 0.32ppg in Liiga and expect him to be good in the NHL. I'd have kept him there till he got to be at least ppg.

 

[Frank Drebin]

Cant agree. At all.

Nemec looks like a #1 or a premier #2. Even if Slaj becomes a 65 point two-way beast, he won’t be as valuable.

Cooley is over 0.5PPG now. He also plays a more valuable position and is tougher than his frame suggests.

i doubt CBJ would take Slafkovsky for Jiricek straight up either. Top pair D are worth their weight in gold - especially when young and RHS.

An argument can made that Mintyukov also looks like a more valuable asset at this time.

I don’t see Slafkovsky ending up a Top 5 player from this class. Not the worst #1 overall ever though, that’s for sure

Mintyukov was never a consideration for 1OA so he was never the correct pick.

It was between Wright, Cooley, Slaf and Nemec. Right now I wouldn't trade Slaf for Cooley or Wright. With Suzuki and Dach I really don't see Cooley forcing his way into the top 6 there.

At the very least Slaf is not looking like a terrible pick. Way too early to make any kind of definitive statements past that.

 

[Dirtyf1ghter]

LNH : Le bilan de mi-saison du Canadien de Montréal | RDS

Caufield a retrouvé dernièrement sa touche offensive avec 12 points, dont 6 buts, à ses neuf derniers duels.

www.rds.ca

 

[Frank Drebin]

@LesCanadiens , yeah I was wrong on my assessment of this kid. Hope that makes your day

 

[LesCanadiens]

@LesCanadiens , yeah I was wrong on my assessment of this kid. Hope that makes your day

It does, actually brother-Hab. And like one song says: Takes a man to admit he's wrong. And lord knows we've all been wrong about prospects. Welcome to the Slaf show. What a show it's becoming.

 

[MNRube]

Mintyukov was never a consideration for 1OA so he was never the correct pick.

It was between Wright, Cooley, Slaf and Nemec. Right now I wouldn't trade Slaf for Cooley or Wright. With Suzuki and Dach I really don't see Cooley forcing his way into the top 6 there.

At the very least Slaf is not looking like a terrible pick. Way too early to make any kind of definitive statements past that.

I was replying to someone who said they made “the right pick”

Nemec is clearly looking better. Cooley is scoring more and plays a more premium position.

Of course it’s too early to say anything definitively. But the early returns suggest he isn’t going to prove the right pick

 

[Frank Drebin]

I was replying to someone who said they made “the right pick”

Nemec is clearly looking better. Cooley is scoring more and plays a more premium position.

Of course it’s too early to say anything definitively. But the early returns suggest he isn’t going to prove the right pick

It's way too early to say anything definitive either way.

Let's leave it at that

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

He's playing at a 50+ point pace over the last 20 or so games, which is not bad at all for a 19 year old. He might never be a 90 or 100 points offensive dynamo, but he seems like he was the correct pick at #1 at the very least. Nemec is super impressive too, but a 6,3 potential power forward with great playmaking is a pretty rare breed.

I think Cooley was the pick, and I do expect the Habs to regret not taking Cooley at the end of the day. That's not a slight against Slaf, who should become a 30g 60p PWF. His progression has been good this year, but he's playing a much easier position with much better (and more consistent) linemates. And Cooley's still outproducing him.

Cooley has twice as many primary points at 5v5:

Slafkovsky
4g 13p 7 primary points
1.16 p/60
0.63 primary p/60

Cooley
4g 15p 14 primary points
1.46 p/60
1.36 primary p/60