Welcome to another installment of 'Names To Know', a look-ahead at prospects who the Columbus Blue Jackets could select in the upcoming NHL Draft.
Previous Names To Know
With two of the first dozen selections — picks #6 and #12 overall — the Blue Jackets have quite a few different options. There are plenty of names to be considered ahead of the July 7 date in this wide-open draft.
Let it be noted that, barring an unforeseen slide, Juraj Saflovsky will be off the board well before the Blue Jackets make their first pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. According to most mock drafts, he is slated to be picked with either the second or third overall pick. That being said, even though it is highly improbable and somewhat unprecedented, it is not impossible for a top prospect to slide down, late in the draft process. There is also the possibility that Columbus could fall in love with Saflovsky's potential and move up to select him.
Slafkovsky plays for TPS in Liiga (Finland's top professional hockey league). This past season fell short of what many expected as the left-hander registered just ten points in 31 regular-season games and one point in four playoff contests. However, he had plenty of success on the international stage, being named MVP of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics as he helped lead Slovakia to a bronze medal, posting seven goals in seven games.
Measuring 6-foot-4 and 218 pounds, Slafkovsky is one of the largest skaters in this draft, although he will have to increase his tenacity and aggression if he ever wants to take full advantage of his size. Albeit, one of the reasons he has not fully developed his physicality is that, even with his large stature, he regularly displays his ability to beat defenders with speed and finesse.
The Slovakian winger is ranked in the top five by almost every scouting service, including a couple of them that have him as their top prospect. One such example is The Athletic's Corey Pronman, who has Slafkovsky taking over the top spot in his latest prospect rankings, released on Tuesday. The following is his analysis.
Analysis: Slafkovsky has all the assets you’re looking for in a top NHL forward. He’s a 6-foot-4 winger who can beat opponents with speed and skill. He possesses outstanding puck skills and can put pucks through legs and sticks at a very high rate. Slafkovsky can use finesse, or power and quickness to get around defenders. Slafkovsky can also set up and finish plays well. Physically, he won’t run over guys but his compete is good enough. He projects as a top-line winger with the potential to pop and become a true star in the NHL.
One of the players that Slafkovsky has been compared to is Rick Nash - a fixture of Blue Jackets hockey. It remains to be seen whether the 18-year-old will go on to have a career that resembles # 61's, but he does possess a similar body type and skill set.
His biggest strengths are his puck handling and protection, and while he is not considered a plus skater, his size, quickness, and puck skills keep this from being too much of a concern, especially with him being so young and having time to develop that part of his game. Another strength he has become known for is his ability to shoot with accuracy from tight spaces and under pressure.
Again, Slafkovsky looks to be selected well before the Blue Jacket's 6th overall pick, but they may fall in love with him enough to be tempted to move up in the draft to select him. But wherever he goes, he projects to be a force on the offensive side of the ice.
Mock Draft Results
- Sportsnet - 3rd
- The Athletic - 2nd
- Tankathon - 2nd
- NHL.com - 2nd
- Sporting News - 3rd
