Juraj Slafkovsky - Unicorn

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

So Primary points means someone is more productive? Why then, did you use PPG in the argument here?

Because not all 2022 draft picks have played the same number of games. It was literally a screenshot from nhl.com.

Remove the secondary points from your calculation above and then share what the PPG is, if you want to stick with one argument.

Its not my calculation, it's from nhl.com. There is no way to filter out the secondary assists and show a primary PPG view with their website.

But since you're being so obtuse, I put it in a spreadsheet and did the work for you.

You are reaching and shifting and reaching some more.

I am done with this conversation, it's obvious you're not interested in honest discussion.

 

[bottomofthefoodchain]

He is certainly a special player. Usually 1st overall picks are good.

 

[Junohockeyfan]

He's a promising young player, but I still don't think the Habs made the right pick. Slaf wasn't a bad pick, and they certainly dodged a bullet with Wright, but I think they missed an opportunity to draft a dynamic top line center in Cooley, which has been a need in Montreal since I can remember. Cooley + Caufield would have been a pretty dangerous duo, and would have allowed Suzuki to eventually slot in as a 2C, which is a better fit for him.

That doesn't detract from the fact that Slaf is playing very well, and he does in fact have an extremely rare and valuable combination of skills. But he also gets to play with arguably the best linemates of anyone from his draft, and is still only 5th in PPG among 2022 picks (with 2 of the guys ahead of him being defenseman).

View attachment 815898

Among guys already in the NHL, I would probably rank Slaf 4th or 5th in a redraft. Cooley, Nemec, and Mintyukov have all shown more promise IMO (and that's not a knock and Slaf). I think he would be battling it out with Jiricek for that 4th spot. I know that makes it sound like I am hating on the kid, but that draft is looking pretty strong, especially among D.

In 2 years you will be admitting you were wrong. Just as you did with your incorrect take on Monahan’s value!

Slaf will likely be the best player from this draft due to his unicorn size and skill. Just a joy to watch him develop at such a rapid pace.

I think we will need to wait on Nemec vs Jiricek. Good chance Jiri becomes the best D from that draft class. Give it a few years and we can reassess. But i am rarely wrong, if ever!

 

[waitin425]

Because not all 2022 draft picks have played the same number of games. It was literally a screenshot from nhl.com.


Its not my calculation, it's from nhl.com. There is no way to filter out the secondary assists and show a primary PPG view with their website.

But since you're being so obtuse, I put it in a spreadsheet and did the work for you.

View attachment 816002

I am done with this conversation, it's obvious you're not interested in honest discussion.

Thanks for sharing. So he moved from 5th to 3rd by the metric you used in your argument and previously in the old Slaf thread.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

I mean, between you and him, that makes zero, and despite you being generally a good user here, it doesn't seem you're able to have a rational discussion about this.

I have shared my opinion and backed it up with data. What is irrational about my discussion points in this thread?

 

[Junohockeyfan]

Zero chance the Habs would not take Slaf 1OA if they had a redo today... If anything, he's shown their assessment & rationale for picking him 1st to be bang on.

He has the highest ceiling of that draft class, and has the attitude & work ethic to reach it (& the personality to handle playing in an intense hockey market).

100% agree. Hughes forecast of Slaf’s progression has been bang on thus far.

I was wrong about the Habs rushing him. He gets better every game both offensively and defensively.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Thanks for sharing. So he moved from 5th to 3rd by the metric you used in your argument and previously in the old Slaf thread.

He's third in primary points/gp, yes. Like I said, he's a really promising young player. But there are ~3-4 guys playing in the NHL today that I would take ahead of him. I could be wrong, and he could end up the best player from his draft, but it would surprise me.

 

[Oscar The Grouch]

He's Alexei Pochahovsky reincarnated.

 

[Devilmademedoit]

this guy did go first overall for a reason

 

[Maitz]

There will be no clear #1 player from 2022 just because all the top 6-7 players brings something so much different to the table while not being exceptionnal. Slaf has 60-70 pts potential while bringing physical presence and will be cluth comes PO time. Nemec and Jiricek are potential top 2 RD. Cooley has top line upside but I doubt the defensive game and size, clearly the most talented of the bunch and then you have Wright that I still believe can be a very good 2nd two way C on a good team and Gauthier that has 30-40 goals upside and physical presence.

 

[Miller Time]

I have shared my opinion and backed it up with data. What is irrational about my discussion points in this thread?

Cherry picking data in an attempt to prop up an otherwise specious argument & then doubling down instead of acknowledging that the bad take has been refuted is pretty irrational

 

[waitin425]

He's third in primary points/gp, yes. Like I said, he's a really promising young player. But there are ~3-4 guys playing in the NHL today that I would take ahead of him. I could be wrong, and he could end up the best player from his draft, but it would surprise me.

I'm glad you are open to being surprised. 5/10 NHL scouts polled prior to 2022 draft won't be. All but one of the remaining had Wright.

I trust the scouts. They kind of know what they are talking about. I won't be surprised.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Cherry picking data in an attempt to prop up an otherwise specious argument & then doubling down instead of acknowledging that the bad take has been refuted is pretty irrational

What was cherry picked?

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

I'm glad you are open to being surprised. 5/10 NHL scouts polled prior to 2022 draft won't be. All but one of the remaining had Wright.

I trust the scouts. They kind of know what they are talking about. I won't be surprised.

History would tell us that we should have very little trust in the scouting ability of NHL teams.

 

[Lshap]

What you seem to describe in the first paragraph is what sens fan described zibanejad as.

Would you be happy with a zibanejad trajectory?

Absolutely – Zibanejad's been a damn good player!

 

[Miller Time]

What was cherry picked?

Linemates "since early November"
Points metrics & valuation

History would tell us that we should have very little trust in the scouting ability of NHL teams.

Or, a better understanding of what "scouting" actually is.

 

[Artaud]

I have shared my opinion and backed it up with data. What is irrational about my discussion points in this thread?

Your opinion is of no value if all you do is read box scores.

 

[waitin425]

History would tell us that we should have very little trust in the scouting ability of NHL teams.

and instead trust the scouting ability of those we find on this forum?

 

[jfhabs]

Sorry exaggeration. Turn him into an everyday player was the consensus, saying a minority hyped up the trade for the Habs POV is laughable.

Looks to me like you're bending all kinds of ways to make the whole fan base look worst than others.... suit yourself!

 

[Frank Drebin]

Thanks OP, for raising awareness. You can never be too early on stuff like this you know....

 

[Jeune Poulet]

There will be no clear #1 player from 2022 just because all the top 6-7 players brings something so much different to the table while not being exceptionnal. Slaf has 60-70 pts potential while bringing physical presence and will be cluth comes PO time. Nemec and Jiricek are potential top 2 RD. Cooley has top line upside but I doubt the defensive game and size, clearly the most talented of the bunch and then you have Wright that I still believe can be a very good 2nd two way C on a good team and Gauthier that has 30-40 goals upside and physical presence.

Completely agree with all of this, except I see Slafkovsky's potential as more likely in the 50-60 pts range.

It wasn't the best year to draft 1st overall but all the players you have named were fine prospects and they all still have some room to grow. This really was a crop of raw prospects.

I wanted Jiricek or Slafkovsky so I am happy. But I would have been fine with Cooley or Nemec.

No one has really separated himself from the pack yet.

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

Trust habs fans? The same fans that thought they stole Gurianov and Mr. St. Louis would make him an All-Star?

Sorry but it's hard to trust a fanbase with such blatant disregard for the truth.

Your fan base had Gurianov as an untouchable and a future star player not that long ago. So it's very odd for you to criticize habs fans for thinking that the Gurianov trade was a steal and that Gurianov could be an every day nhl player after he had a good start with his new team.

 

[Junohockeyfan]

Completely agree with all of this, except I see Slafkovsky's potential as more likely in the 50-60 pts range.

It wasn't the best year to draft 1st overall but all the players you have named were fine prospects and they all still have some room to grow. This really was a crop of raw prospects.

I wanted Jiricek or Slafkovsky so I am happy. But I would have been fine with Cooley or Nemec.

No one has really separated himself from the pack yet.

Glad we didn’t select Nemec. He looks like a 2nd pairing dman when he finally arrives. Too many holes to plug there. I like Jiri’s potential though.

Slafkovsky was the right choice. Pick the unicorn when there is no clear cut choice (like Cellebrini).

 

[wetcoast]

According to you maybe, but Habs management was pretty clear they didn't pick the guy they thought would be the best 18 year old, but the best 25 year old.

I don't think any of the top picks are taking victory laps, but the fact remains that a draft pick that Kent Hughes got roasted for is turning out nicely so far.

Don't get me wrong I think both guys will turn out okay but alot of NHL GMs are into self preservation and like take what they feel are more polished prospects with what they feel are guaranteed floors.

That being said some prospects develop more than others from draft day onwards and it's not a science more of an educated guess.

 

[Ivo]

I think a good role model and also a sort of best case scenario career for Slafkovsky should be someone like Marian Hossa. Fellow Slovak, big forward, good all over the ice. I don’t think Slaf will score as many goals, but he may become a similar puck-protection, two-way beast with a more physical game.

Now Hossa wasn’t a first overall pick (12th), but most years, you could be quite happy drafting a Hossa 1st overall. If you look at Hossa’s early production, he scored 1 point in 7 games at 18, 30 points in 60 at 19 and 56 points in his third season. After that he really hit his prime offensively, becoming a ~ppg player. I think this sort of career progression is realistic for Slaf, if he keeps improving as he has been.