Prospect Info: [2022 - 1st] Juraj Slafkovsky

[le_sean]

Even if he gets the best development in the world for god sake I still don't see it!!

What are his amazing skills?

His shot, hands and physical play

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Seems to be a coaching and system problem rather than a Slafkovsky problem. Get him good coaching and he will know where to be on the ice.

Remember that Liiga is quite structured and defensive, the NHL is a far more open and offensive league. So the fact you believe he thrives in that is a positive.

Might've been the same for Wright as he was also lights out in an international tournament.

 

[Belial]

Hearing Suzuki saying how he was so happy that Slaf was the pick and how Caufield texted him after the pick in excitement and happiness made me even more happy. The boys are excited!!

Amazing! And how many cups are we winning with one line?

 

[Paul Dipietro]

I was a Wright supporter, but if I’m being honest, the fact that two other clubs passed on him helps soften the blow quite a bit.

I’ve been intrigued about Slafkovsky for quite awhile now. I like the player, I really do. I just always maintained Wright was more of a sure thing. Slaf is a BIG gamble at 1. Boom or bust. But boy if he pans out….

It was almost a sure thing that NJ wasn't taking him, but Arizona was a shocker. It does indeed make me feel better on missing out on Wright, but I wasn't expecting to have to settle for a "let's wait and see" attitude after picking 1OA

I guess happily delusional could still be on the table for rounds 2-7

 

[Kents polished head]

Exactly. Was not my choice, but all we can do now is cheer for him to reach his top potential and hope for the best.

I've got to say, the kid is incredibly "attachant" like we say in French. He's going to be a fan fav in no time if he's just semi-decent.

 

[Sam de Mtl]

Amazing! And how many cups are we winning with one line?

I doubt they will play together any time soon. That is a really young line, especially for a team playing top opposition all game long.

I think they will be on different lines. Maybe in a few years when they are a little older.

 

[HostileCapSpace]

Add to that the fact that while he is a big player, he is not overly physical.

The same thing can be said about Dach, unfortunately. I'll be way more patient with Slaf though.

 

[FinnHab]

Hughes on Slafkovsky's key traits:

When we talk about his character, it's his desire to be a difference-maker. You see it in the way he plays, you see it when you speak to him that he's a very charismatic kid. I try to think about being an 18-year-old kid, and he left home at 15. I asked him if he lived in a dorm and he said, 'No.' I said, 'So, one of your parents moved with you?' and he said, 'No.' Then I said, 'How'd you cook?' and he said, 'With a stove.' He's very independent. He's confident without being arrogant, and we think that this is a kid that not only has the mindset that we're looking for, but we also evaluate where he is in his game and what he has in terms of natural abilities and where he could be if we help him along in the process.

 

[Belial]

His shot, hands and physical play

What shot? I didn't see a deadly shot on him whatsoever.


All you say is all hypothetical...

He's big but apparently not very physical.

This might be the definition of drafting a Unicorn just cuz he cooked himself scrambled eggs at 16 years old on a stove.

 

[Retired]

I’m still smiling… 3 decades (save a few years 15 ago) of « there must be no smiling, it’s all about the team, show no personnality, play your position, play 200ft, out-work other teams, say the right things… » I love this kid, seems to love the city, feeds off the fans, looks like a real gamer. So much potential growth. No wonder Suzuki and Caufield are stoked.

I’m also a big fan of physical hockey, and the prospect of icing big, fast and agile players takes me back to the Lemieux, Richer, Damphousse, Corson, Muller, etc. era, which I was really digging.

 

[No More Subban]

Amazing! And how many cups are we winning with one line?

Team is still rebuilding next year and probably another year after that. It's going to be a long process. Wright/Slaf were not going to change our franchise with just this draft.

 

[Saxon]

What shot? I didn't see a deadly shot on him whatsoever.


All you say is all hypothetical...

He's big but apparently not very physical.

This might be the definition of drafting a Unicorn just cuz he cooked himself scrambled eggs at 16 years old on a stove.

Watching his highlights trying to get excited, but it's tough when the vast majority of the highlights are plays that almost worked, and shots that didn't go in. I REALLY hope this kid serves me a huge plate of crow.

 

[Captain97]

Honestly I like this kids interview with the 690 guys. We just drafted someone with a big personality.

+ the comment about Montreal being an interesting place as people were both booing him and cheering for him when he first arrived (before the pick)

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Wow slaf could cook for himself at 15 years old? He truly is a prodigy/genius child. Incredible , cooking for yourself is the true trait of a 1st overall pick, unlike Shane square head wright who prob had his mom cook his food for him LOL what a bum !

 

[ohiohabsfan29]

Exactly. Was not my choice, but all we can do now is cheer for him to reach his top potential and hope for the best.

Exactly, definitely not my choice but all I can do is root for him and hope he's not a bust.

 

[Hannibal]

Amazing! And how many cups are we winning with one line?

Calm down bro. We are year 1 of a rebuild! Plenty of time to build a second line!

Some of you guys are incredible

 

[NotProkofievian]

Honestly I like this kids interview with the 690 guys. We just drafted someone with a big personality.

+ the comment about Montreal being an interesting place as people were both booing him and cheering for him when he first arrived (before the pick)

I really liked his answer to that. He said ''hockey is their passion, just like mine. I'll just do my best and I hope someday they will like me too.''

D'awwwww Juraj, we like you already. Go get 'em big guy.

 

[ohiohabsfan29]

Honestly I like this kids interview with the 690 guys. We just drafted someone with a big personality.

+ the comment about Montreal being an interesting place as people were both booing him and cheering for him when he first arrived (before the pick)

I keep hearing about his "big personality". As the great Billy Beane says in Moneyball, "We're not selling jeans here". Either he can play or not. I don't care if he can tell jokes or not.

 

[Saundies]

Honestly I think this is what tilted it in Slaf's favour: making a difference.

I wanted Wright but posters who watched him saying he did nothing to elevate his team in the playoffs. He didn't take over games and he wasn't gamebreaking type guy.

Slaf, in very limited and questionable circumstances, at least proved he could be that guy.

 

[le_sean]

What shot? I didn't see a deadly shot on him whatsoever.


All you say is all hypothetical...

He's big but apparently not very physical.

This might be the definition of drafting a Unicorn just cuz he cooked himself scrambled eggs at 16 years old on a stove.

His shot is really good, I’m not sure how you can see something else. Lots of velocity, doesn’t just aim for the top corner everytime. He can beat goalies from distance yet is very willing to attack the middle of the ice, which makes him a big threat.

 

[Belial]

Watching his highlights trying to get excited, but it's tough when the vast majority of the highlights are plays that almost worked, and shots that didn't go in. I REALLY hope this kid serves me a huge plate of crow.

Exactly FFS, I don't think I saw one damn goal with a nice wrister.

We're clearly missing something here and they think he's gonna explode soon...

 

[Andrei79]

Exactly FFS, I don't think I saw one damn goal with a nice wrister.

We're clearly missing something here and they think he's gonna explode soon...

Olympic game goals against the US and Latvia.

 

[Belial]

Calm down bro. We are year 1 of a rebuild! Plenty of time to build a second line!

Some of you guys are incredible

We're not year one of rebuild man!? What are you smoking?

Are you expecting 5 more years of us being last in the league?

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Wow slaf could cook for himself at 15 years old? He truly is a prodigy/genius child. Incredible , cooking for yourself is the true trait of a 1st overall pick, unlike Shane square head wright who prob had his mom cook his food for him LOL what a bum !

I made really good eggs benedict as a 12 years old, guess I shoulda been a hockey prodigy

 

[Retired]

I keep hearing about his "big personality". As the great Billy Beane says in Moneyball, "We're not selling jeans here". Either he can play or not. I don't care if he can tell jokes or not.

After watching at least 2 veteran players break down mentally no further than last year, maybe you should give « mental fortitude / attitude » some weight.