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

[Scriptor]

I also thought a year of his ELC would expire whether he played in Laval. However, when I mentioned that, some posters replied with a section of the CBA saying that if he is sent to Laval, his ELC can slide.

From what I had read, the 10-game rule didn't apply to Slafkovsky, but the 39-game or less rule applied to slide a year towards UFA status.

Between the two, I think the staving off of the UFA status is more important when trying to keep a winning team together longer. Buying an extra RFA year will always help lower the cap hit on a longer term contract. An 8-year contract that buys up 5 RFA years and only 3 UFA years VS 4 RFA years and 4 UFA years can really impact the price tag of that contract!

Also, the ability to have Slafkovsky play 39 games in the NHL under St-Louis may be more beneficial for his development, depending on the stage of development he is really at (we'll see at Camp). In that sense, it makes the 39-game thing more valuable than the 9-game thing, IMO.

 

[Scriptor]

The org did repeat 50 times ahead of the draft they would pick the guy who would become the best at 22-23 not at 18-19 though.

When interviewed for 98.5FM's "Les Amateurs de Sports", Hughes repeated exactly the same thing. He hasn't changed anything from his outlook and said they would figure out something to surround Slafkovsky properly in all facets of his development as an 18-year-old.

Hughes said that Matheson asked him what they intended to do with Slafkovsky (indirectly offering to take him in at home, I think), but Hughes said they would need to talk with the player to determine what would be best, considering that Slafkovsky has been living on his own since the tender age of 14 or 15. Hughes used his kids as an example, where they weren't too keen on the rules when they returned home after having lived on their own.

If they offer a foster home to Slafkovsky and he's on board with it, now that's a different matter altogether, but, having myself lived on my own from the tender age of 16, I don't know if I would have welcomed that with open arms?

Hughes also said they would surround Slafkovsky properly, whether it was in Montreal or Laval, feeling the need t protect their investment that has been instantly famous since the draft.

Wouldn't want Slafkovsky to cozy up to the Russian mafia like the Kostitsyns

 

[Redux91]

The guy was listed at 220 when drafted in July... He is now 238 !!!!!

229, now 238

Itll always fluctuate, these numbers are never really "set" for good , like, he can be 240 friday, 237 thursday, 234 on a monday, 242 on a sunday like..
You're making a huge deal for nothing too soon right now

I cant understand posts like yours and people didnt see him FLY on the ice?

 

[Paddy17]

I've never seen a bunch of people more obsessed about weight outside of a weight watchers group.

 

[Xirik]

Don't most players lose weight during the season anyway?

 

[Scriptor]

‘’He’s very good along the boards, he can be elite in that aspect’’

…

‘’NO!!! That is so not true, 3 guys took the puck from him in two games!!’’

Definite flop in the making, then. Good catch.

 

[Scriptor]

So you've observed every player from this draft class play since draft day?

Interesting.

No, he based it on thinking that both Mesar and Beck, 26th and 33rd OA picks, I believe, were better than Slafkovsky over the two games that Slaf played. Now, imagine just how much better picks #3 to #25 will be (because Nemec also showed he needed to work on a lot of things, despite having some positive flashes as well).

Let's get back to this question of how good Slafkovsky is, compared to his peers, in four or five years. Before that, unless he outright sucks donkey balls for the first couple of years, the definitive story about Slafkovsky is far from written, or for any other picks from the 2022 drat, for that matter.

 

[Sterling Archer]

Easy response. No commitment.
If you had to win this year, with what you know now... Who’s the one guy you pick on your team (for this season alone)? Gallagher, Drouin, Hoffman or Slafkovsky. Tic, toc, tic, toc...

That's a false pretense. They aren't trying to win. They're trying to develop their youth.

And saying we'll see is by no means a cop out. I'm not psychic. I don't know if a forward or two will be traded. I don't know who will be on the IR list and able to play. I don't know who will play well and click with their line mates. I don't know whether the Habs have a plan to pump the value of excess wingers or not. I don't know the answer to a plethora of variables so I won't make a concrete statement about what will happen because the reality is, no one knows. Anyone who confidently states they do know what will happen is deluded and overconfident in their ability to predict the future, because it would be just that, a prediction.

 

[Scriptor]

Don't most players lose weight during the season anyway?

That was discussed yesterday on radio as well and the weight that had been measured at the combine was coming at the tail end of his season. It might not have reflected his initial weight at the start of the prior season. His prime time weight might ell level out to 225 lbs over the season, or it could just be natural weight for him with his bone structure after working out.

Either way, there doesn't appear to be much baby fat to get rid of, let's just say. I wonder what his BMI is at 238 lbs?

 

[Redux91]

Don't most players lose weight during the season anyway?

Logic has no place here
Be gone!

 

[Runner77]

Patience.........................is a virtue guys.

Patience is definitely not of the virtual world.

 

[BLONG7]

I've never seen a bunch of people more obsessed about weight outside of a weight watchers group.

Habs could have used their logo instead of RBC!!

 

[Goldenhands]

1. You didn't see much push back? Dude, @Goldenhands got absolutely rocked here for it. He himself can come in and verify that he was basically fighting against the tide. Him and I had multiple arguments of Slafkovsky vs. Cooley and Wright. I think he was too effusive in his praise in Slafkovsky and a bit blinded in some of the things that he needed to improve, just like the pro-Wright crowd was. This looks like a case of you only seeing what you want to see.

The thing is, I never said Slaf had no weakness at all, I just thought he had no glaring hole in his game and that most of the flaws he was criticized for were overblown or I didnt agree with. Some were questionning his IQ while I was watching a kid with a good hockey head that was just trying stuff that didnt always work out. For all the great plays he made, there were few not working, but the ratio was much more positive and impressive. Some were calling him slow, or a bad skater, something I couldnt agree with, Slaf could really explode and reach an impressive top speed in few strides. The thing with his skating is that he tends to glide when properly positioned, but actives at the right time when he needs to. Some were saying that he wasnt playing like a powerfoward because he wasnt hitting everything, what I couldnt agree with either since a PF can use his power tools in many ways, he is not a prototype PF like Tkachuk, but still uses his body strength to over power his opponents all over the ice to retrieve or keep possession.

If you can point out flaws or things he needs to work on, such as his zone exits positionning, I have no prob to recognize them, but most flaws he was criticized for at that time were overblown or unfounded IMO.

 

[Adam Michaels]

Patience.........................is a virtue guys.

When my teacher told me I hadn't submitted my thesis by the deadline, I would tell her that patience is a virtue. It didn't fly with her.

 

[Sterling Archer]

When my teacher told me I hadn't submitted my thesis by the deadline, I would tell them that patience is a virtue. It didn't fly with her.

I tried the “all good things come to those who wait.” That didn’t work either.

 

[Justin11]

When my teacher told me I hadn't submitted my thesis by the deadline, I would tell her that patience is a virtue. It didn't fly with her.

Once told my dad the same thing on another topic, and he showed me the back of his hand.

 

[OldCraig71]

When interviewed for 98.5FM's "Les Amateurs de Sports", Hughes repeated exactly the same thing. He hasn't changed anything from his outlook and said they would figure out something to surround Slafkovsky properly in all facets of his development as an 18-year-old.

Hughes said that Matheson asked him what they intended to do with Slafkovsky (indirectly offering to take him in at home, I think), but Hughes said they would need to talk with the player to determine what would be best, considering that Slafkovsky has been living on his own since the tender age of 14 or 15. Hughes used his kids as an example, where they weren't too keen on the rules when they returned home after having lived on their own.

If they offer a foster home to Slafkovsky and he's on board with it, now that's a different matter altogether, but, having myself lived on my own from the tender age of 16, I don't know if I would have welcomed that with open arms?

Hughes also said they would surround Slafkovsky properly, whether it was in Montreal or Laval, feeling the need t protect their investment that has been instantly famous since the draft.

Wouldn't want Slafkovsky to cozy up to the Russian mafia like the Kostitsyns

I don't always agree with your views on certain topics but I have a new respect for you based on this bit of information.

 

[OldCraig71]

Patience is definitely not of the virtual world.

The virtual world has no weight of consequence attached, it's easy to say anything and hit send, the real world doesn't quite work that way lol. I am willing to wait and see how the kid performs because there is no pressure from our end. HuGo made the decision to draft him based on what they saw in him. It's "on them", didn't Bergevin say something like that at one time?

 

[Captain Mountain]

Koivu consults for and is a part owner of TPS Turku.

 

[Garbageyuk]

At this point, he is already big enough. The team needs to make sure his physical training is focused on getting the most out of his body, that his training centers around wiring his CNS to utilize all the muscle and size as efficiently as possible. Max out his speed, strength, and explosiveness.

On the skill/hockey side of training, just focus on developing the muscle memory, so that the skills and physical attributes are in synergy, so that he can operate at full speed without any hitches. Focus on the areas that will maximize his effectiveness as a hockey player with his physical attributes in mind. If all goes well, he really could be almost impossible to contain in some situations.

He’s the type of physical/athletic freak we don’t see too often in this sport. He’s still a bit of a risk, but he might just be that “unicorn” people would sarcastically call him leading up to the draft. Would be hilarious to watch the haters squirm as he became the very thing they would sarcastically claim others were anointing him.

 

[Kennerback]

For what it’s worth, Corey Pronman with a contrarian viewpoint. He apparently believes Slaf is not a total bust yet.

“Slafkovsky wasn’t all over the score sheet in his two games, but he stood out as you would hope the 2022 first overall pick would, particularly in his first game. There were times Slafkovsky physically overmatched his opponents with his massive frame. His speed, reach and skill combination also allowed him to generate a ton of clean entries. He got and generated plenty of scoring chances and overall was the most impressive pro prospect at this event, as somewhat expected.”

Standouts from NHL rookie camps: Who impressed in Buffalo, Penticton and Traverse City?

The prospects from each tournament who helped their chances of cracking the big club or gave strong impressions of future pro potential.

theathletic.com

 

[Goldenhands]

For what it’s worth, Corey Pronman with a contrarian viewpoint. He apparently believes Slaf is not a total bust yet.

“Slafkovsky wasn’t all over the score sheet in his two games, but he stood out as you would hope the 2022 first overall pick would, particularly in his first game. There were times Slafkovsky physically overmatched his opponents with his massive frame. His speed, reach and skill combination also allowed him to generate a ton of clean entries. He got and generated plenty of scoring chances and overall was the most impressive pro prospect at this event, as somewhat expected.”

Standouts from NHL rookie camps: Who impressed in Buffalo, Penticton and Traverse City?

The prospects from each tournament who helped their chances of cracking the big club or gave strong impressions of future pro potential.

theathletic.com

Martin Leclerc, Martin McGuire, Bob Hartley ect all agree with this.

 

[Kennerback]

Martin Leclerc, Martin McGuire, Bob Hartley ect all agree with this.

OK. Apparently I’m not completely losing my mind.

 

[Scriptor]

When my teacher told me I hadn't submitted my thesis by the deadline, I would tell her that patience is a virtue. It didn't fly with her.

Are you saying your teacher had no virtue? I say, that's slander, your Honour, slander, I say!

 

[WeThreeKings]

OK. Apparently I’m not completely losing my mind.

You are, have you tried Googling his Liiga stats1?1?1?1