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

[Sorinth]

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.

Are you sure about that, here's some quotes from 2013:

The Chelyabinsk, Russia, native possesses the size, strength, speed and skill to become an elite power forward in the National Hockey League, and many are saying he’s the best Russian talent available in the draft since Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin were the first two respective selections in 2004.

“Everyone recognizes what a tremendous talent he is,” said Tony MacDonald, the lead amateur scout for the Hurricanes. “He’s a very skilled guy – he’s got size, he’s got speed and he’s got skill. He has that ability to dominate.”

Nichushkin’s draft stock has risen now that scouts and front office personnel are armed with fresh knowledge of his contract situation, so much so that he could perforate the first four selections on Sunday based on his natural talent and high-end ceiling alone.

Official Site of the National Hockey League | NHL.com

The official National Hockey League website including news, rosters, stats, schedules, teams, and video.

www.nhl.com

 

[KevSkillz4]

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

I think that's the best comparison for Slafkovsky. I don't know if he can reach the level of Svechnikov, but in style... he play a similar game to him. That's more accurate than the Nichushkin comparison IMO.

 

[Mudz]

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.

oh he is definitely. He seems like a huge nerds too.


I like how Wright is saying Lecavalier told him what it was to be a first overall lol

Wright focused on 'positive conversations' with Habs, not draft rankings - TSN.ca

On Tuesday, Shane Wright flew to Saint John, N.B. where he was named the CHL's top prospect at the end-of-season awards ceremony. After returning home, the 18-year-old offered TSN an update on his latest talks with the Canadiens and the New Jersey Devils, who are in line to pick No. 2 next...

www.tsn.ca

 

[Milhouse40]

Do you have a link?

CHL Videos - Highlights, Features & Analysis | TSN

Get the latest CHL highlights, features and analysis for Canada's Premier Junior Hockey leagues. TSN is your source for coverage of the OHL, QMJHL and WHL.

www.tsn.ca

 

[KevSkillz4]

Are you sure about that, here's some quotes from 2013:

The Chelyabinsk, Russia, native possesses the size, strength, speed and skill to become an elite power forward in the National Hockey League, and many are saying he’s the best Russian talent available in the draft since Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin were the first two respective selections in 2004.

“Everyone recognizes what a tremendous talent he is,” said Tony MacDonald, the lead amateur scout for the Hurricanes. “He’s a very skilled guy – he’s got size, he’s got speed and he’s got skill. He has that ability to dominate.”

Nichushkin’s draft stock has risen now that scouts and front office personnel are armed with fresh knowledge of his contract situation, so much so that he could perforate the first four selections on Sunday based on his natural talent and high-end ceiling alone.

Official Site of the National Hockey League | NHL.com

The official National Hockey League website including news, rosters, stats, schedules, teams, and video.

www.nhl.com

Yeah i'm sure about that. Some scouts say that Slafkovsky play a similar game to Jagr. I think Slafkovsky have amazing talent. I think people don't know how good Slafkovsky is really is.

Right now the best comparable for him in style is Andrei Svechnikov.

 

[ReHabs]

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.

I don't understand why Slafkovsky is even in the top3. It genuinely doesn't make sense to me and perhaps I've been ranting and raving about it too much here the last few days but it's a question I cannot find an answer to. Nothing about his profile says he's a 1OA -- aka the ONE pick that shouldn't be a project, shouldn't be a bust, shouldn't by any means have uncertain outcomes.

The risk of him being the next Daigle is huge, the guy has produced 10 points in his league this season ffs.

 

[Sorinth]

I don't understand why Slafkovsky is even in the top3. It genuinely doesn't make sense to me and perhaps I've been ranting and raving about it too much here the last few days but it's a question I cannot find an answer to. Nothing about his profile says he's a 1OA -- aka the ONE pick that shouldn't be a project, shouldn't be a bust, shouldn't by any means have uncertain outcomes.

The risk of him being the next Daigle is huge, the guy has produced 10 points in his league this season ffs.

My best guess is that it's because he's the biggest mystery box, so if you don't like the other options you'll gravitate to the mystery box because it could be anything.

 

[Sorinth]

Yeah i'm sure about that. Some scouts say that Slafkovsky play a similar game to Jagr. I think Slafkovsky have amazing talent. I think people don't know how good Slafkovsky is really is.

Right now the best comparable for him in style is Andrei Svechnikov.

And the article I quoted compared Nichushkin to Ovechkin and Malkin in terms of upside so saying he didn't have similar upside at the same age is complete nonsense.

 

[ReHabs]

My best guess is that it's because he's the biggest mystery box, so if you don't like the other options you'll gravitate to the mystery box because it could be anything.

This is the sort of thinking degenerate gamblers get up to. I'm genuinely surprised at Bob McKenzie's list and all this noise about Slaf. I thought professional amateur scouts would be aware of the optics of 1OA.

Drafting a 1st overall bust is never going to be forgotten. Recall Doug Wickenheiser.... in 1980... we still hear about it.

 

[Saxon]

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.

The gifted are often socially awkward.

 

[Sorinth]

This is the sort of thinking degenerate gamblers get up to. I'm genuinely surprised at Bob McKenzie's list and all this noise about Slaf. I thought professional amateur scouts would be aware of the optics of 1OA.

Drafting a 1st overall bust is never going to be forgotten. Recall Doug Wickenheiser.... in 1980... we still hear about it.

Well Bob doesn't curate the list, he's just gathering the data and providing it to the fans so optics has nothing to do with.

But your right that it's the terrible way of thinking, but it also shouldn't surprise anyone. Look at all the gems people are posting about former Habs scout Grant, or remember that Michel Therrien after being fired as coach of the Habs was given a position of scout, or how Bergevin himself started as a scout. Is it any surprise that we get some terrible takes from the "pros".

 

[Kaladin]

Yes and he also added it's pretty much a split between the two, that Slaf's size came up as a major reason for putting him first by the few who did and that both were seen as future 2nd liners.

Also, they have always got #1 right because it's usually close to unanimous, while such a tight finish has only happened once.

That's the part that we should all actually be upset about. Scouts universally seem to think these top prospects will end up as second liners. Habs really get the worst luck with this shit.

 

[Kaladin]

Yeah i'm sure about that. Some scouts say that Slafkovsky play a similar game to Jagr. I think Slafkovsky have amazing talent. I think people don't know how good Slafkovsky is really is.

Right now the best comparable for him in style is Andrei Svechnikov.

If Slaf truly is a Svechnikov clone - I'll freely admit I've never seen him play - then I may need to change my Cooley pick to Slaf.

Huge fan of Svechnikov.

 

[austin316]

Sure sounds like we're taking Slafkovsky. Better hope they're right...

 

[OnTheRun]

That's the part that we should all actually be upset about. Scouts universally seem to think these top prospects will end up as second liners. Habs really get the worst luck with this shit.

Scouts are more often wrong than right in their projections, that much isn't a big deal.
What sucks for us is it's pretty unusual to have the top2 ranked prospects with so many question marks on their resumes. Usually 1&2 are pretty much set in stone and the real draft start at pick #3 but alas this is just not that kind of year for us.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Yeah i'm sure about that. Some scouts say that Slafkovsky play a similar game to Jagr. I think Slafkovsky have amazing talent. I think people don't know how good Slafkovsky is really is.

Right now the best comparable for him in style is Andrei Svechnikov.

No it's not. Svechnikov is a more versatile shooter and dangler.

 

[HuGort]

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.

You probably right. But being Montreal you have to be watchful of this stuff. Being first overall Wright is going to be under intense pressure. A lot of stars have cracked here under the pressure. Ie. Roy, Lemieux,etc..

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

That's the part that we should all actually be upset about. Scouts universally seem to think these top prospects will end up as second liners. Habs really get the worst luck with this shit.

I disagree with them. Shane Wright's hockey IQ is very high, he could very well be first line material. Scouts are simply baffled because COVID slowed development for a lot of kids, so it makes it more unpredictable.

 

[Michelangelo]

Final mock draft from Chris Peters from DailyFaceoff.com

1. Montreal Canadiens: Shane Wright, C

There’s a lot of smoke right now and I certainly believe the Habs are considering Juraj Slafkovsky with this pick. Should Montreal select Slafkovsky, it’s going to create some draft day chaos. Despite that, I think we’ll see the Canadiens address the center position with one of the best pivots in the draft. Wright is no worse than second on just about any board you’ll see and while this season underwhelmed relative to expectations, perhaps the expectations were too high to begin with. I do think picking Wright is playing it safe, but sometimes safe pays off in a big way.

2022 NHL Mock Draft: Shane Wright tops final version

Chris Peters gives his final projection of how the picks will play out in Montreal for Rounds 1 and 2.

www.dailyfaceoff.com

 

[Goldenhands]

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.

You know your stuff buddy, I must admit that I underrated you a bit. I would add that Slafkovsky has much smoother hands than Nichushkin too. The way he overpower guys all over the ice is a pretty unique trait as well.

 

[HomaridII]

Lebrun in insider trading says Habs waiting for jersey to pick up the phone and ask what it would take to swap picks so they can take slaf.

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

Lebrun in insider trading says Habs waiting for jersey to pick up the phone and ask what it would take to swap picks so they can take slaf.

...a good RD prospect that can move the puck...

 

[Kaladin]

Lebrun in insider trading says Habs waiting for jersey to pick up the phone and ask what it would take to swap picks so they can take slaf.

To me, if this is true - this suggests that Habs want Cooley. Don't like Wright or Slaf enough to keep 1st overall but don't want to pick a player 1st that they can get 2nd + something extra.

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

To me, if this is true - this suggests that Habs want Cooley. Don't like Wright or Slaf enough to keep 1st overall but don't want to pick a player 1st that they can get 2nd + something extra.

...how does that have any bearing on Wright, Cooley, Nemec or whoever??...Jersey wants to ensure the get Slafkovsky, that's it...

 

[Goldenhands]

...a good RD prospect that can move the puck...

Like Jiricek maybe?