New Jersey Devils: Comparing Juraj Slafkovsky To Logan Cooley
The New Jersey Devils have a huge decision to make with the second-overall pick. There seem to be two forwards who make any sense to choose at this point. Logan Cooley seems to be the player with a higher upside. Some hope he could be a poor man’s Jack Hughes. He can be a playmaker to the tenth degree, and he was dominant at times with the U.S. National Development Program. Then there’s Juraj Slafkovsky. He’s dominated international play, usually the only time fair-weather fans pay attention to draft prospects until right before the NHL Draft.
These two are the only two forwards Devils fans will accept the team taking with the second-overall pick. They are incredibly different prospects but have an equal amount of hype. So, which one should the Devils take? Let’s take a look at the intangibles and the stats.
Better Scoring, Cooley vs. Slafkovsky
Slafkovsky and Cooley were in VERY different leagues last season. Cooley was competing with lesser competition while playing with USNTDP. Slafkovsky was playing in Liiga in Finland. One has men playing in a high-intensity European league and Cooley is facing the best of a young crew outside of Canada.
In Liiga, Slafkovsky had just 10 points in 31 games. He never looked that comfortable offensively, but he had a few shifts that looked phenomenal. Still, we’re looking at pure numbers right now. Slafkovsky had 10 points. That’s just not a good enough output when looking at the second-overall pick.
Where Slafkovsky’s numbers soared is on the international stage. It all started at the Olympics where he scored seven goals in seven games. Then at the IIHF World Championships, Slafkovsky had nine points in eight games. He showed his ability to be a playmaker there, putting up six assists and really laying down some pretty passes.
Meanwhile, Cooley had 75 points in 51 games playing for Team USA. He also had 36 points in 24 games playing against USHL competition. At the U18s, he had 10 points in six games, but that is really lower competition. The comparison is incredibly hard since the competition is so different, but Cooley did the best he possibly could, while Slafkovsky didn’t.
Advantage: Cooley
Higher Floor, Slafkovsky vs. Cooley
This one is a huge question, but you’re looking at two players who, again, showed very different skill sets in very different showcases throughout the year. This is also the first year we’re really going to see the impacts that the COVID-19 pandemic had on a young player’s development. This was another weird year, and these kids had two years of hockey being disrupted.
Still, we have to make these assessments. The Devils don’t get a do-over because the situation is harder than normal. So, it might be a question of “safe versus possibility”.
Slafkovsky is built like an NHL player. He has the size and he seems like he knows how to use it. His puck control is really good, and that is something that will translate to the NHL. Slafkovsky feels like the higher floor. However, what is that floor? Are we talking about Pavel Zacha as a floor? Would that be a good thing? In the worst possible scenario, if Slafkovsky turns into Zacha, then nobody is happy. However, if that is literally the worst thing to happen to his development, is that acceptable?
When it comes to Cooley, it seems like you’re banking on upside here. Cooley could be something great, but at his very worst he would have trouble staying in the NHL. If his skill doesn’t exactly translate, or if his scoring doesn’t continue against better competition, then his NHL career is short lived.
Neither of these is a likely scenario, but we are talking about “floor” here. It just seems like this one is pretty clear. Slafkovsky wins this one.
Advantage: Slafkovsky
Higher Upside, Slafkovsky vs. Cooley
Let’s look at the other side of this. A huge reason the Devils, or any team, gets excited about a prospect is because of what they could become. Teams had dreams of the best possible scenario. They hope every player they draft could turn into a superstar. Jesper Bratt was taken in the sixth round, so there’s a proof of concept there, but more often than not it doesn’t work out in the later rounds.
However, with the second-overall pick, the Devils hope this has an incredibly high likelihood of hitting. When looking at these two players and their possibilities, they are completely different. Cooley is often mirrored in a Jack Hughes-type player. Don’t get us wrong. Nobody thinks Cooley can be Hughes. However, he can be built in that mold.
On the other hand, Slafkovsky’s comps have been ALL OVER THE PLACE. You got some saying he could be Alex Ovechkin or Kaapo Kakko. Neither seems particularly fair, but it just shows that analysts have a hard time pinning him down. The rankings are all over the place.
This is clearly sitting on Cooley. He can be a very good player. While Slafkovsky can say the same thing, it seems like real-world comps to Slaf aren’t in the same conversation as Cooley.
Advantage: Cooley
Better Fit, Slafkovsky vs. Cooley
This one might seem a little obvious when it comes to the New Jersey Devils, but maybe not. Logan Cooley might be slotted as a center right now, and the Devils did ask Slafkovsky if he could play center, but both players likely have the ability to be flexible. It is pretty clear that it would be easier to move Cooley to the wing than it would be to move Slafkovsky to center, but both are at least possible.
Slafkovsky is a big-bodied wing, something the Devils desperately need. In fact, the Devils’ needs are as follows: goalie, then a backup goalie, then a top-six winger, and then right-handed defensive depth. Slafkovsky is the obvious choice when it comes to fitting the Devils’ need, but Cooley can fit it as well. If he hits his ceiling, his scoring would be a necessity for the Devils in the top six.
Meanwhile, Slafkovsky feels like he is close to jumping into the NHL. Cooley is heading to the University of Minnesota. That seems like a pretty good bet, while Slafkovsky’s goal is to make the NHL now. He had an interesting year in Liiga, so it’s not entirely surprising he wants to head to North America right away.
Next. Assessing Draft History Of Top Five Picks. dark
Cooley could easily fit into what the Devils want to do. If the Devils want to continue with the “Dawson Mercer” at wing experiment, then Cooley would eventually be their third-line center. It’s not a bad thing to have too much of a good thing, but it would come at the expense of a thing they need. They need someone with size on the wing like Slafkovsky. He would be the better fit.