#1OA Juraj Slafkovsky - Huge Disappointment

[Kegs]

Juraj skates a lot better than Stone. You think Brady's skating is any better?

It took Stone 5 years after his draft to really establish himself in the NHL. In his 3rd year, he was still an AHL player, playing at roughly the same pace Juraj is playing in the NHL. Obviously not all players have the same trajectory, but I don't think it's a good comparable.

Imagine comparing a 6th round draft pick to a first overall pick?

Slav is fine. We over value draft position. Doesn’t seem like it was a great draft year. Even if he is a 50 point nhl player who plays responsible it’s a win for the habs. Huge disappointment is crazy. He clearly isn’t yakupov.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

He got 50 points last year and will likely get 50 this season. Not bad. A disappointment for not taking the next step but that's not uncommon for younger players. I think that contract will be money well spent when it's all over.

Exactly, and I think we sleep on this a lot around here...development is rarely linear, the 'sophomore slump' is often a thing (and it doesn't have to be the raw 2nd year), and big guys especially take some time to really grow into their games...especially guys who base their games on power. I wouldn't want to be within 50 feet of a full man strength 25 year old Slafkovsky.

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

 

[Bouboumaster]

2 goals in two games (at this point) since the NHL restarted

 

[OilersFanatics505]

And shooting at near 23%

They don’t ask how, they ask how many…

 

[Oscar The Grouch]

2 goals in two games (at this point) since the NHL restarted

**crickets**

 

[admiralcadillac]

**crickets**

People will post again once he doesn’t score in a game.

 

[JianYang]

Exactly, and I think we sleep on this a lot around here...development is rarely linear, the 'sophomore slump' is often a thing (and it doesn't have to be the raw 2nd year), and big guys especially take some time to really grow into their games...especially guys who base their games on power. I wouldn't want to be within 50 feet of a full man strength 25 year old Slafkovsky.

Big guys generally do indeed take longer, and the older habs fans should know better than most what can happen when a big guy with potential is traded too early.

Once upon a time, they traded Eric desjardins and John leclair for Mark recchi. As a comparison, even leclair who took a few years to unfold was still playing college hockey at slafkovsky's current age.

A more famous big man case is Joe Thornton. His first three seasons featured point totals of 7, 41 and 60. Like slafkovsky, he joined the nhl immediately after the draft, and he was considerably more hyped than most #1s in the 90s.

No draft classes are created equal, and 2022 had no consensus #1, but most importantly, it's way too premature to start counting the chickens regardless.

 

[Julien LG]

We are considering a 20 years old 6'4 winger to be HUGE disappointement because he is not consistent?

He's going to finish with 50 pts again this year after doing it last year. Consistancy Will come. Lets talk Slaf in 2 years. Everyone agreed when he was draft that it takes more time for the big guys, yet 2.5 years later, he's done while the 2nd overall pick is in the ahl? Oh right, defensemen Takes time, lets wait.