Is Slafkovsky the worst #1 pick ever ?

[jackjohnson]

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 ?

No, I could name 20 or more that are worst 1st picks. Seems like recentcy bias is popular around here lol. Alexander Daigle is the worst number 1 pick, then there is Stephan, Yakupov heck if you even talk about the last 5 or 6 years, Laferrenier is also probably worst.

 

[jackjohnson]

Yak put up some points in his first few years before completely cratering.

Yeah but dude hasn't even begun yet lol. Give him time before you label him a bust. Heck even NYR fans still want big returns for Laf and he also suck worst than Slaf

 

[tarheelhockey]

 

[ManofSteel55]

he kind of sucks but montreal didnt do him any favors by rushing him into the league last year

This. Not all #1 picks should be played as 18 year olds.

 

[WTFMAN99]

He should be in the AHL right now.

 

[AvsFan29]

Seems like anytime Montreal gets a top 5 pick, the draft class is absolute garbage

 

[Hunter368]

Way to early to say that about him, keep in mind there has been some really bad picks over years by teams in this range. That being said its certainly fair to be concerned, I've seen him play a fair number of his games (not all) and he certainly has the physical tools to be a top 6 forward but he seems to struggle from my POV with the hockey IQ. With physical tools alone he should have a NHL career at some level, albeit might not be at the level his draft position would normally be. We shall see moving forward, but way too early to write him off as one of the worst ever at this stage.

 

[Frank Drebin]

He looks awful and doesn't belong in the NHL.

The only entertainment I'm getting from Slaf is reading contrived positive reports about him, game-to-game on the Habs board: "Oh yeah, guys... I had tix tonight and saw him in person and... uh... he was skating in better places and uh... keeping his head up and stuff... yay!"

You'd think you are at one of those school talent shows where you have to endure 8 years old kids butcher their violins or sing like screeching cats, and some of the parents have that weird admirative look and insist that it's all amazing.

It's really something to witness isn't it.

I was reading about how he looked in the pre season and some of the positive things I read were that he seemed to have his head up more and his stick was on the ice more.

Msl is going to have a chat with him about trying to stay onside for breakaway passes today

 

[Icebreakers]

Seems like anytime Montreal gets a top 5 pick, the draft class is absolute garbage

Nah, they just made the wrong pick each time.

Could have taken Rielly over Galchenyuk

Tkachuk/Hughes over Kotkaniemi

Cooley over Slafkovsky.

 

[Frank Drebin]

Anybody who watched Slaf play in Liiga in his draft season could see that he wasn't NHL ready. But I guess Habs management weren't watching his Liiga games. This also explains why they drafted him first overall.

What the hell did any scouts see in him? Besides his manly figure and good looks.

 

[JoeSakic13]

OP is definitely Yakupov’s burner account.

 

[Frank Drebin]

Nah, they just made the wrong pick each time.

Could have taken Rielly over Galchenyuk

Tkachuk/Hughes over Kotkaniemi

Cooley over Slafkovsky.

Even if they got all three right, they're not franchise changing talents.

Reilly is the 5th or 6 best player on tml. Tkachuk may be the best player on Ottawa but he's surrounded by a lot of talent.

Cooley has played 5nhl games but I'm not sure he's a legit 1st line center.

Even if we had all three, how much better would Montreal actually be? And now of course we're winning games on the backs of Brendan Gallagher and Tanner Pearson. Yay

 

[NyQuil]

Seems like anytime Montreal gets a top 5 pick, the draft class is absolute garbage

Ottawa got Alexandre Daigle and Chris Phillips 1st overall.

What is sad is that Chris Phillips is still one of the best players of that draft year.

 

[Saga of the Elk]

Yakupov did a lot more in the NHL than Gord Kluzak or Michel Plasse.

 

[Strat]

 

[Frank Drebin]

he's never been the same since the schenn hit

You think that was a career changing hit? Dude got rocked like that half a dozen times last season. Hard to pinpoint it down to just one hit

Ottawa got Alexandre Daigle and Chris Phillips 1st overall.

What is sad is that Chris Phillips is still one of the best players of that draft year.

Ottawa had a perennial powerhouse through the 00s because they hit on other picks.

When you can't hit on either, your team is in big trouble

 

[Esko6]

Anybody who watched Slaf play in Liiga in his draft season could see that he wasn't NHL ready. But I guess Habs management weren't watching his Liiga games. This also explains why they drafted him first overall.

Yeah, I am totally losing my faith in scouting after seeing him be mediocre in Liiga and going first.

 

[PROUD PAPA]

I'd give it a couple more years yet.

 

[Nico Cauzuki]

Should've picked Wright, but the Habs got blinded by size.

Wright looks worst kid was useless in the OHL playoffs last year he plays like he doesnt even care

Jiricek,Nemec or Cooley would of been the better choices from what we've seen so far but i havent gaved up on Slaf just yet

Gorton and Bobrov draft picks dont look too good so far

Kakko #2
Lafreniere #1
Andersson #7
Slafkovsky #1
Reinbacher #5 over Michkov and Benson

 

[Frank Drebin]

Yeah, I am totally losing my faith in scouting after seeing him be mediocre in Liiga and going first.

The Habs would never pick a player they haven't scouted thoroughly.

They said as much with Michkov. : facepalm:

 

[Fire Sweeney]

Very weak-ass draft, kind of irrelevant where he was picked.

I for one think that Matty Poitras (pick#54) is better than Slafkovsky

 

[DaPhazz]

Nah, they just made the wrong pick each time.

Could have taken Rielly over Galchenyuk

Tkachuk/Hughes over Kotkaniemi

Cooley over Slafkovsky.

Rielly? That would've been another wrong pick. Give me Hampus or Forsberg.

Cooley? Ain't sure about that yet, and I'm patient, everyone should.

 

[TJHKY]

Slafkovsky #1
Reinbacher #5
Both bust. Montreal never know how to pick prospects.

 

[Divine]

So far, he's been the worst that I can remember.

I don't get how he's even comparable to Yakupov. Yakupov put up 31 points in 48 games in his rookie season. Unfortunate situation because I think if he wasn't drafted to Edmonton he would have succeeded.

That said, I'm not saying he can't improve - but so far, to me, he's been the worst.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Cooley? Ain't sure about that yet, and I'm patient, everyone should.

Have you watched Cooley? He's incredible.