Wright, Slafkovsky, Cooley : Time to make that final decision

[Sorinth]

Who would you have taken instead? Obviously hindsight is 20/20 but there aren’t a lot of forwards that were projected 1st round, taken after Nichushkin that did anything special.

No idea who I liked back then, I think it was a year I didn't pay too much attention especially the top of the draft. But it's funny how you want to limit it to forwards to try and make it look better. But even then the next forward taken provided way more to the team that drafting team.

Dallas got essentially 3 years of bottom-six NHL play (27 points over 82 game average) and then lost him for nothing. Domi the next forward picked also gave Arizona 3 years but they were way more productive years (50 points over 82 game average) and they got assets that were eventually converted into a legitimate 1st line player. Like it's not even close, Arizona got way more out of that draft picking Domi then Dallas got from picking Nichushkin despite both guys not working out.

 

[NORiculous]

No idea who I liked back then, I think it was a year I didn't pay too much attention especially the top of the draft. But it's funny how you want to limit it to forwards to try and make it look better. But even then the next forward taken provided way more to the team that drafting team.

Dallas got essentially 3 years of bottom-six NHL play (27 points over 82 game average) and then lost him for nothing. Domi the next forward picked also gave Arizona 3 years but they were way more productive years (50 points over 82 game average) and they got assets that were eventually converted into a legitimate 1st line player. Like it's not even close, Arizona got way more out of that draft picking Domi then Dallas got from picking Nichushkin despite both guys not working out.

I said forward because if they wanted a D, they would have picked a D.

I don’t disagree with your Domi points but I do think it’s not as simple. Dal should have kept him, but yeah. Drafting big guys is a long term investment.

If the team gives up half way, it’s not the drafting team’s fault.

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

Shane Wright is 6 feet or 6'1'', 187 lbs. He is a complete player in the 3 zones, good skater, solid on his skates, accurate shot, etc.

Here is a copy-paste I saw :
"Shane Wright has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL."

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He can't bust. He will be similar to Bergeron. He has a decent size so there is no "smurfland" with him.

My choice is Wright, BPA, regardless of the position he plays.

 

[ReHabs]

I’d rather risk Wright underwhelming than do a galaxy brain move and pick Slafkovsky and his mega-wide range of potential outcomes.

You don’t mess around with the 1OA. You don’t draft projects.

 

[Sorinth]

I said forward because if they wanted a D, they would have picked a D.

I don’t disagree with your Domi points but I do think it’s not as simple. Dal should have kept him, but yeah. Drafting big guys is a long term investment.

If the team gives up half way, it’s not the drafting team’s fault.

Or they went with who they thought was BPA. Do you have anything to support the argument that they specifically wanted a forward?

I would also point out that even sticking with the player is far from a guarantee. Had Dallas kept him all this time it's more likely that he just never breaks out.

EDIT: And more importantly how likely is a project that takes 5+ years going to work out in Montreal, because you know the fans and media won't be that patient with him. So not only does he have to put everything together which is hard enough, he's got to do it a hostile environment.

 

[SlafySZN]

Wright seemed like intense nervous type on a Sportsnet interview this morning. A small sample size, 4 minutes but not sure if I like how he will fit in with the pressure he will be under in Montreal

Do you have a link?

 

[NORiculous]

Or they went with who they thought was BPA. Do you have anything to support the argument that they specifically wanted a forward?

I would also point out that even sticking with the player is far from a guarantee. Had Dallas kept him all this time it's more likely that he just never breaks out.

No just assuming. You can pick a D if you really want, I just thought it was less interesting and less probable.

This far out it easy to pick better players though, but it was not that easy picking a guy that would have a better career then Nichuskin, even Domi and a bunch of the other forwards that did better so far.

 

[Canadienna]

Wright seemed like intense nervous type on a Sportsnet interview this morning. A small sample size, 4 minutes but not sure if I like how he will fit in with the pressure he will be under in Montreal

I'm gonna go full armchair psychologist but there was a tsn prospects video a while back where they joked about them having to go to AZ. All the other guys laughed but Wright kinda got huffy and said something like well it's still the NHL.

Idk I just got vibes from him that he's a little socially awkward, and maybe a little uptight.

OTOH I'm fully aware I'm trying to gauge a human beings personality from 10 seconds of video, and could be way off.

I joked earlier about it coming down to what animal they best think describes them, but I actually wouldn't be surprised if it comes down to personality.

 

[Lshap]

I’d rather risk Wright underwhelming than do a galaxy brain move and pick Slafkovsky and his mega-wide range of potential outcomes.

You don’t mess around with the 1OA. You don’t draft projects.

I agree with you, except there seems to be a dead-heat for 1OA between Wright and Slaf. I have no expertise; I'm just hoping our scouts get it right this time... or at least don't get it wrong.

 

[Lshap]

I'm gonna go full armchair psychologist but there was a tsn prospects video a while back where they joked about them having to go to AZ. All the other guys laughed but Wright kinda got huffy and said something like well it's still the NHL.

Idk I just got vibes from him that he's a little socially awkward, and maybe a little uptight.

OTOH I'm fully aware I'm trying to gauge a human beings personality from 10 seconds of video, and could be way off.

I joked earlier about it coming down to what animal they best think describes them, but I actually wouldn't be surprised if it comes down to personality.

It's good to remind ourselves how young these prospects are. They're kids, really. Teams really need armchair psychologists!

 

[BenchBrawl]

Has Pierre McGuire said who he would pick 1st overall?

 

[WeThreeKings]

Has Pierre McGuire said who he would pick 1st overall?

No.. just said he would consider Wright and Slaf.

 

[BenchBrawl]

No.. just said he would consider Wright and Slaf.

Thanks!

 

[The Last Red]

No.. just said he would consider Wright and Slaf.

He's really going out on a limb there, isn't he?

 

[salbutera]

Has Pierre McGuire said who he would pick 1st overall?

Slaf w the same enthusiasm as he had for Brady Tkachuk pre 2018 draft, when asked who he’d pick if he was Habs GM, but he did say Wright will also eventually be a good player.

He also said this draft is the weakest since 1999, with not much depth

Someone had posted a Seravalli podcast w McGure last week or early this week

 

[JeffreyLFC]

Lecavalier is involved because he was the 1 overall. He's got perspective on what it takes to survive and thrive in that pressure.

MSL obviously needs to know if they can learn, grow in his system fit what they are building.

Of course they are involved.

Lecavalier know exactly how hard it is to deliver on the pre draft hype and how hard it was also post draft. He was called by his owner the MJ of the NHL when he was drafted. Funny enough he was kind of a mix of both Wright/Slafkovsky in term of playstyle.

 

[The Last Red]

Slaf w the same enthusiasm as he had for Brady Tkachuk pre 2018 draft, when asked who he’d pick if he was Habs GM, but he did say Wright will also eventually be a good player.

He also said this draft is the weakest since 1999, with not much depth

Someone had posted a Seravalli podcast w McGure last week or early this week

Yeah but we're picking first so not that big of a deal . . .

 

[salbutera]

Yeah but we're picking first so not that big of a deal . . .

Habs also have 13-other picks this draft, doubt they will able to convert them to 2023 picks…

 

[BenchBrawl]

Lecavalier know exactly how hard it is to deliver on the pre draft hype and how hard it was also post draft. He was called by his owner the MJ of the NHL when he was drafted. Funny enough he was kind of a mix of both Wright/Slafkovsky in term of playstyle.

I wish a Lecavalier was available this year.

Slaf w the same enthusiasm as he had for Brady Tkachuk pre 2018 draft, when asked who he’d pick if he was Habs GM, but he did say Wright will also eventually be a good player.

He also said this draft is the weakest since 1999, with not much depth

Someone had posted a Seravalli podcast w McGure last week or early this week

Thanks! I love Pierre, he's hilarious but I value his opinions.

 

[Tyson]

I have a vision of Nichuskin personally.

Nichuskin was drafted 9 years ago and has had some very average seasons including one season where he scored ZERO goals in 57 games.
He finally put it together this year but the top pick in the draft cannot develop this slowly.

 

[Sorinth]

Nichuskin was drafted 9 years ago and has had some very average seasons including one season where he scored ZERO goals in 57 games.
He finally put it together this year but the top pick in the draft cannot develop this slowly.

Agreed, at the end of the day you can't draft a project with the 1st OA pick in Montreal because if the kid will have to start putting up good if not great numbers fairly quickly or fans/media will get on his case which will make development so much harder for the player.

 

[Team_Spirit]

Nishuskin the big winger 10th ov
Bennet Doug Gilmour's heir 4th ov

Both needed 9 years to have a 20g season.

 

[KevSkillz4]

I think comparing Slafkovsky to Nichushkin... is a bad comparison. The skillset of Slafkovsky is more impressive than Nichushkin at the same age. Slafkovsky looks more powerful too. Better passing ability.

Hockey IQ of Slafkovsky is pretty underrated too, this guy have high hockey IQ.

 

[Hacketts]

Why?

Because he's lived in the Boston area for more than 20 years.

 

[SlafySZN]

I think comparing Slafkovsky to Nichushkin... is a bad comparison. The skillset of Slafkovsky is more impressive than Nichushkin at the same age. Slafkovsky looks more powerful too. Better passing ability.

Hockey IQ of Slafkovsky is pretty underrated too, this guy have high hockey IQ.

I see him more as a Svechnikov even if i don’t like comparison for players.