What? No hes not wtf.
Suzuki was a 1.6 ppg player in the OHL, the same ppg Slaf put up in a seriously inferior league in Finland.
Caufield was breaking scoring records left and right in the ncaa.
Both were at least as good as him at 18.
Liga is inferior to the OHL? If we project the careers of OHL players into the future sure. But no, the competition in Liga is not at all inferior to the OHL. It's quite the opposite. Regardless of individual skill, he was playing against men, and showed alright with 10 points in 30 something games. Not bad for a teenager.
Problem is, you're both wrong. Dachs the best player on the team. Slafkovsky has the highest ceiling. Suzuki is the best leader but won't remain their best player likely. Well, in terms of offensive production at least. Honestly, I could eventually see Dach surpassing Suzuki as 1C. And I could see Dach, Slafkovsky and Caufield all being better offensively, and in Dach and Slafs case, possibly all around. I don't think Caufield will ever be that all around dynamo, he has his lane, he'll stay in it.
Suzuki is great, terrific, a high floor kind of guy, no doubt. Super dependable. I bet there will be some seasons he even gets close to a PPG. He seems as stable as stable comes, and that's good for a leader. But being a leader doesn't necessarily make you the teams best player either. I kind of view Suzuki like Horvat in Vancouver, all though this season he's found a new level, which is I'm sure a bit surprising to everyone. Including Islander fans, who are now hoping Lou didn't sell the farm for a one year wonder.
Do you know Bergeron only scored at a PPG pace like twice in his whole career? I think the Bergeron compares were fairly apt, all though Suzuki will never be as dominant on faceoffs as Bergeron, that dude's in a different stratosphere, where only like him, Ryan O 'Reilly, Horvat and a few other players exist. And Suzuki, at least at this point in time, isn't quite there. But he could get there one day.
Dach though, Slaf.... those two could be, with the right development, absolute beasts.
So what I'm saying is, if, somewhere down the line, Suzuki starts getting 80 points a season, it will very likely be because he compliments the players around him, who facilitate higher scoring.
And you know the Habs are taking Bedard or Fantilli if they get either of those two picks. I'd be hoping for Bedard honestly, not just because he's ridiculous. But because he might end up on the wing theoretically.
Anyway,Habs got an absolute steal in Dach. In Slaf is the exact type of high ceiling player you take a chance on in that situation. I'm pretty sure 95% of the NHL teams would have done the same in that draft. You know the Devils were sitting their praying the Habs took anyone but Slaf. I doubt anyone behind the Devils even thought they'd have a chance.
So no, Slaf and Suzuki are not comparable as prospects really. Slaf is miles ahead of Suzuki in that regard. Not their "projectables.
I don't get all this Slaf hate either. The kid has looked like a talented 18 year old who can handle himself in the NHL. What an absolutely atrocious start to his career. huh?
