If you’re a fan of Canucks, you probably haven’t read much about Juraj Slafkovsky.
But on Friday morning’s 32 Thoughts podcast, Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman talked about a conversation they had with Slafkovsky, who is expected to be selected second in this year’s NHL Entry Draft overall standings. in Montreal.
The 18-year-old, who is ranked first among European skaters by NHL Central Scouting, told Friedman and Marek in a previous conversation that some teams he spoke to asked him if the left winger had the ability to play center. . The two teams you remembered?
The New Jersey Devils, who currently have the second overall selection, and the Vancouver Canucks, who are scheduled to pick first in the 15th position.
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One of these things is not like the other.
Here is the full transcript of the conversation between Marek and Friedman.
Marek: An interesting note: we asked Slafkovsky why he is an extreme, but we also asked him to play central and he has played central before in his life. He said some teams asked him if he could play center-back right now or play center-back in the NHL. He was trying to remember and the two teams he gave us were New Jersey and Vancouver, as he was trying to remember which teams asked him if he would also play central.
Friedman: Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. I could be doing something with absolutely nothing here, something with absolutely nothing. But that’s what podcasting and sports talk are all about. You just said that two teams asked Salfkovsky about the center game.
Marek: At least two teams – he said there were a few teams, the ones he remembered, he thought were New Jersey and Vancouver.
Friedman: Okay, here’s mine. Where is the New Jersey national team?
Marek: Second.
Friedman: Where is Vancouver?
Marek: 15, just after the Winnipeg Jets and before the Buffalo Sabers.
Friedman: Why would the Vancouver Canucks ask Salfkovsky if he can play center fielder? They will not receive it at the age of 15.
Marek: Unless they’re going up. I think you should always do your due diligence. Like, “What would it cost to get into the top three?” I think everyone has these conversations. As you talked the other day, you know, Tom Fitzgerald of the New Jersey Devils making a list of “okay, for which teams would we be willing to change the second overall selection?” I think if you’re any team, you know, you’re the Los Angeles Kings or the Dallas Stars or the Washington Capitals or, in this case, the Vancouver Canucks, I think you see what it costs, right? And if you’re going to see what it costs and if you’re okay, I think you have an obligation to be as thorough as possible with your interviews.
Now, it remains to be seen whether this means that the Canucks are taking second place in the overall standings or not, and after using a phone call to a friend, we advise you not to hold your breath.
“Yeah, in case you’re exchanging,” an anonymous league executive told CanucksArmy when asked if it’s normal for a team drafting in the middle of the first round to interview a second overall selection. “You usually have quick meetings with the top 20 or so and then some guys you think will be in the mix around the time of your second or third pick.
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“Meeting with a number two projection doesn’t necessarily mean they’re negotiating for that selection. Sure it could be that! But it could also be a normal due diligence.”
Now, the Devils have been linked with Canucks striker JT Miller in the past, and as Marek mentioned, Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald would have made a list of players and league assets for whom his club would be willing to move the second overall selection. .
If the Canucks are on this list, you have to assume that Miller’s name is there.
That said, it’s likely to be prudent if you don’t expect the 6’4 Slafkovsky to wear the Canucks uniform soon.
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