Byfield vs Slafkovsky

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Who do you think has the higher upside?

[Axeman33]

Upside is an imaginary idea of what they might be. At the end of the day, upside means nothing.

Better question is who do we think will end up with the better career. For me, I think it's really early to tell, as both are still trending upward. If I had to gamble, I'd probably stick with Byfield by a hair. I just don't trust Montreal as much as far as player development goes. Not just Slafkovsky, but those around him.

[Pengwin7]

Owning both - I like the full range of skills I'm seeing from Slafkovsky.
Mostly - better shot, better decision-making.
I've started pushing that Slaf has 100pt upside - as Suzuki/Caufield start to really gel with him.


Byfield has really started coming on - but I don't see the dynamic LA center in their pipeline to get Byfield to that upper-echelon.
Kopitar has the two-year extension coming... and he'll be age 37 to start next season... and 38 for the season after.
That might be it for a guy with a cup ring. Not really anything left to play for - unless he absolutely just LOVES playing.
$120m in career earnings for Anze! That's an OK career, LOL.
He's already a first-ballot HHOF-er, IMO, with 1211pts in 1373gp and a cup ring or two.

(So - a bit of my weight is team dependent.)

[IRSlotsFull]

If you look at their stats for the season, they're nearly the same player - 20 goals, 14 ppp, 30 and 35 assists, 152 and 161 shots... slafvovsky with the edge in hits 152 to 66, but plus/minus (if your league has it) wildly in byfield's favor 19 to -19.

As for what their future holds, for who has the 'higher upside' ?

Short term I'd go Byfield - LA is better than MTL, though their age (Kopitar's specifically) will rend than team shortly where the youth of the Canadiens should see a better long term return - in forecast for 'what they have now' anyway.

Fantasy, I think it's if +/- or hits matter more... Byfield would be my pick of the 2 for next year, but that's why we have trades & weekly moves.

Goodluck!

[Axeman33]

Owning both - I like the full range of skills I'm seeing from Slafkovsky.
Mostly - better shot, better decision-making.
I've started pushing that Slaf has 100pt upside - as Suzuki/Caufield start to really gel with him.


Byfield has really started coming on - but I don't see the dynamic LA center in their pipeline to get Byfield to that upper-echelon.
Kopitar has the two-year extension coming... and he'll be age 37 to start next season... and 38 for the season after.
That might be it for a guy with a cup ring. Not really anything left to play for - unless he absolutely just LOVES playing.
$120m in career earnings for Anze! That's an OK career, LOL.
He's already a first-ballot HHOF-er, IMO, with 1211pts in 1373gp and a cup ring or two.

(So - a bit of my weight is team dependent.)

Byfield IS that dynamic center he's lacking. He is just getting the game down from the wing first.

[Pengwin7]

^BUT... a lot of players who shift from wing-to-center get a LOT of (fantasy) stats pulled back when they do that shift.
There's a lot of offensive-focus that gets pulled back when a young kid starts needing to constantly think about that two-way game.
It's a hard transition.

For fantasy, if apples are close to apples, I'll take a winger over a winger-shifting-to-center any day.

[Pengwin7]

If you look at their stats for the season, they're nearly the same player - 20 goals, 14 ppp, 30 and 35 assists, 152 and 161 shots... slafvovsky with the edge in hits 152 to 66, but plus/minus (if your league has it) wildly in byfield's favor 19 to -19.

Slafkovsky, age 20, just finished NHL s2.
Byfield, age 22 in Aug, just finished NHL s4.
There's a developmental curve here, in real-NHL game and statistically, that is favoring Slafkovsky.

Slafkovsky also passes the eye test for me.
(I like Byfield too... don't get me wrong - but what Slaf is doing in s2 is > Byfield in s3.)

[zambronies]

Slafkovsky, age 20, just finished NHL s2.
Byfield, age 22 in Aug, just finished NHL s4.
There's a developmental curve here, in real-NHL game and statistically, that is favoring Slafkovsky.

Slafkovsky also passes the eye test for me.
(I like Byfield too... don't get me wrong - but what Slaf is doing in s2 is > Byfield in s3.)

Yep. This right here. I prefer Slaf of the two.

[senryu]

I think you have to go with Slaf given better production at a younger age. Still could go either way.

[Dave Muir]

That’s a tough one… Slavkoski had very little value until last December when he started to figured out how to be effective with his body. Many people in Mtl were saying it was another bad pick. But now he seem to be trending in the right direction in accelerate.
But I still prefer a little bit Byfield here. I could change very quick if Slaf continue his progression next year…

[jman]

Slafkovsky, age 20, just finished NHL s2.
Byfield, age 22 in Aug, just finished NHL s4.
There's a developmental curve here, in real-NHL game and statistically, that is favoring Slafkovsky.

Slafkovsky also passes the eye test for me.
(I like Byfield too... don't get me wrong - but what Slaf is doing in s2 is > Byfield in s3.)

I'd take Slaf for this reason too.

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Appreciate all the responses! I ended up trading Byfield for Slaf so now I’m hoping he takes another step in his development next season.

[Belexus75]

I didn’t get in here fast enough but I firmly believe that this will come back and bite you in you know what as soon as next year and then will keep biting you even more in years to come.

[[email protected]]

I didn’t get in here fast enough but I firmly believe that this will come back and bite you in you know what as soon as next year and then will keep biting you even more in years to come.

Hopefully not haha.