Prospect Info: [2022 - 1st OA] Juraj Slafkovsky (LW) Part 2

[MonkeyBusiness]

The guy has no fat to lose lol. We aren't talking about David Savard here. The main question for him is his hockey IQ. Will he be another Anderson for us or a legit star like Rantanen? I don't like the Armia comparison because the dude has zero intensity and is soft as baby shit which Slaf isn't. Slaf may have some better puck skills than Anderson but Anderson also has better skating so that's a more appropriate comparison. He's a young guy playing in a men's league, it's tough to gauge if he's gonna have good or bad hockey IQ right now.

Good post. I believe Slaf's skating is bound to get better. He moves very well for someone his size, although his stride does seem to be a bit choppy. I think a few tweaks here and there and he could become quite explosive. He's already capable of blowing by defenders (mostly by using his incredible strength as a complement). I had never seen him play (aside from highlights) before the game vs Buffalo and I have to agree with Estimated_Prophet that his game resembles that of Jagr. The style is uncanny, and it will be exciting to see how he progresses.

 

[BLONG7]

Keep thinking back to what Hughes said, along the lines of this kid to them, showed more promise to grow in to a star, Not what he was going to be at 18-19-20 but what he would become at 21-22-23.............
Patience is not something we as a group do very well with but we have to give this kid some time......

Stay tuned.

 

[BehindTheTimes]

This take, from both of you is ridiculous. Slafkovsky routinely makes terrific and seemingly simple plays. You take a few attempts at stuff that fog wrong in a prospects tournament meant to try things and project it as recurring bad decisions.

He set up quite a few quality scoring chances that weren't converted. In the game he played, he could have easily had at least three primary assists.

Easily.

Sure he does. IQ is not his strength, nor has it ever been. He continually makes poor decisions.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Sure he does. IQ is not his strength, nor has it ever been. He continually makes poor decisions.

Terrible.

Take a lap.

 

[Schooner Guy]

I could be wrong but wasn’t he weighed at 228 at the rookie mini camp shortly after the draft?

Here it is



So measure 227 just 2 months ago. So ya, he didn’t gain 11 pounds of muscle in 2 months lol

Pro hockey players are always at their lightest at the end of a season. Add to this that Slaf is an 18 year old kid who hasn't stopped growing into his huge frame.

 

[morhilane]

The guy has no fat to lose lol. We aren't talking about David Savard here. The main question for him is his hockey IQ. Will he be another Anderson for us or a legit star like Rantanen? I don't like the Armia comparison because the dude has zero intensity and is soft as baby shit which Slaf isn't. Slaf may have some better puck skills than Anderson but Anderson also has better skating so that's a more appropriate comparison. He's a young guy playing in a men's league, it's tough to gauge if he's gonna have good or bad hockey IQ right now.

Anderson has no agility/mobility and balance on skates. He's only the better skater if you think straight speed is the only thing that matters. It's not.

And after that first rookie game, I'm starting to think Slaf is faster than Anderson in term of peak speed. It's just that Slaf use speed, increasing/decreasing it, to manipulate defenders so he's not always going full throttle like Anderson.

 

[StCaufield]

When was the last time a first overall pick had so many questions and not a for sure top 6 player? This goes for anyone in this past years draft I’m not hating. There’s nothing ever for sure with this team lol other than injuries

 

[BehindTheTimes]

Terrible.

Take a lap.

Great, now the echo chamber can like this gem of a post.

 

[Galaxydoggystyle]

Scott Stevens was one of the best defensemen ever IMO. A monster.

In todays standards he is a pathetic cheap shot artist.

 

[Speatleysson]

Lmao, I'm 205. Slaf 100% has 20+ lbs on me

How do you know? Have you stood next to him?

He's tall but slender. I'd believe 215, but zero chance he's 238. I think someone in the Mtl media put that out and people ran with it.

Look at luke kuechly or dk metcalf; they're both the same height and weight with similar bmi... its pretty obvious that Slaf is a lot lighter (which is a good thing for an nhl player).

 

[morhilane]

When was the last time a first overall pick had so many questions and not a for sure top 6 player? This goes for anyone in this past years draft I’m not hating. There’s nothing ever for sure with this team lol other than injuries

Guy Lafleur wasn't up to what people expected in his first 3 seasons. Habs fans being impatient insatiable armchair GMs/scouts isn't new.

I'm sure Crosby/McDavid wouldn't have avoided them, we always find something to complain about.

I personally only have one question about Slaf: why his IQ is so irregular. And it's more about his knowledge, than execution. It's like he skipped basic to read the higher level manuals only. But I don't mind him as the #1 in this draft class.

 

[Adam Michaels]

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Eric Lindors' career was ruined by the kinds of cheap shots that get people 10 game suspensions now, not sure that's a relevant worry in todays NHL.

They get 10 game suspensions with those hits, but those hits still occur. And the player who gets hit still has his career derailed because of it.

The point is to not put yourself in a position where your career is affected and is then mired by injuries.

 

[Gustave]

How do you know? Have you stood next to him?

He's tall but slender. I'd believe 215, but zero chance he's 238. I think someone in the Mtl media put that out and people ran with it.

Look at luke kuechly or dk metcalf; they're both the same height and weight with similar bmi... its pretty obvious that Slaf is a lot lighter (which is a good thing for an nhl player).

What do you mean you don't believe he's 238? He's actually on record talking about it. Both him and JackEye acknowledge the weight.
'I want to dominate,' Canadiens' Slafkovsky says of rookie tournament

 

[Captain97]

How do you know? Have you stood next to him?

He's tall but slender. I'd believe 215, but zero chance he's 238. I think someone in the Mtl media put that out and people ran with it.

Look at luke kuechly or dk metcalf; they're both the same height and weight with similar bmi... its pretty obvious that Slaf is a lot lighter (which is a good thing for an nhl player).

Because I'm built very similarly to Suzuki I'm 5'10 205 (Suzuki is 5'11) and he makes Suzuki look tiny both in weight and height.

 

[cphabs]

In todays standards he is a pathetic cheap shot artist.

3 cups, over 900 career points, and being inducted into the HOF? In “today’s” game? The opposition coach would still have to take into account of him being on the ice if he somehow started his career over as drafted. He was also an outstanding leader. Ask anyone that played with him or against him…

 

[cphabs]

Sure he does. IQ is not his strength, nor has it ever been. He continually makes poor decisions.

No

 

[MTL Dirty Birdy]

Good post. I believe Slaf's skating is bound to get better. He moves very well for someone his size, although his stride does seem to be a bit choppy. I think a few tweaks here and there and he could become quite explosive. He's already capable of blowing by defenders (mostly by using his incredible strength as a complement). I had never seen him play (aside from highlights) before the game vs Buffalo and I have to agree with Estimated_Prophet that his game resembles that of Jagr. The style is uncanny, and it will be exciting to see how he progresses.

Even JAGR stated that he saw 17 year old self in him. Exciting times

 

[Paddy17]

He is nothing like Lindros or Crouse at all. Definitely closer to Rantanen but a Jagr lite is exactly his upside. He plays an identical style to Jagr but the execution still has a long way to go.

Sometimes he looks like Svechnikov, sometimes like Rantanen, and sometimes like Jagr, but most of the time he looks like Slafkovsky.

 

[Kennerback]

When was the last time a first overall pick had so many questions and not a for sure top 6 player? This goes for anyone in this past years draft I’m not hating. There’s nothing ever for sure with this team lol other than injuries

After seeing his first game earlier this week, to me, he’s for sure a top 6 player. It’s his floor.

 

[KevSkillz4]

When was the last time a first overall pick had so many questions and not a for sure top 6 player? This goes for anyone in this past years draft I’m not hating. There’s nothing ever for sure with this team lol other than injuries

Hmmm.... Slafkovsky looks like a sure top 6 player to me. 1st line potential is there, for sure.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Great, now the echo chamber can like this gem of a post.

Just tag Expat and you too, could get a like. As if they matter.

 

[Sagikev]

He was Slafsquatched

Slafsquashed

 

[ReHabs]

When was the last time a first overall pick had so many questions and not a for sure top 6 player? This goes for anyone in this past years draft I’m not hating. There’s nothing ever for sure with this team lol other than injuries

We're just unlucky or cursed. It was a legitimately bad draft year and now everybody wants to hype a player who would've not been 1OA in any other draft year.

That's fine, we should embrace what we have and not stress about it but the problem is many are now all-in on Slafokvsky as the Messiah and will fight any criticism of him no matter how mild.

 

[ReHabs]

Some things worries me a bit about him but he is such a raw hockey player and a rare physical specimen.

His low end is something like a Puljujarvi or a Lawson Crouse and if everything clicks he could be a Eric Lindros lite. Dont see any Rantanen in the way he plays.

He has the potential to be our Shaq where he just overpowers you with his physical gifts even if IQ is average-good.

Down for this gamble seeing there were no can’t miss #1 this last draft

This is a well-measured take. But are you sure you don't see any Jagr in Slaf?

 

[schwang26]

Keep thinking back to what Hughes said, along the lines of this kid to them, showed more promise to grow in to a star, Not what he was going to be at 18-19-20 but what he would become at 21-22-23.............
Patience is not something we as a group do very well with but we have to give this kid some time......

Stay tuned.

I do believe in that, however I have to say I thought Slafkovsky was somewhat average. I was expecting more physical dominance from him. He seemed like he wasn't sure what kind of game he should play. He passed too much and didn't dominate physically like he needs to. You can see he's a good skater and pretty good with the puck, but I have to admit, I was somewhat disappointed.
Now, I get that it's 2 games but I would've like to have seen him stand out more. It's not all about points in this tournament, but I think he got 1 assist on 10 goals. Not sure he starts in the NHL this year. Nothing wrong with that though. I trust they drafted the right guy.
Again though, they need to draft high in the right years.