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

[ReHabs]

Goal Goalgoal

What, he’s so selfish he doesn’t pass ?

 

[Sagikev]

What, he’s so selfish he doesn’t pass ?

He doesn't have to

 

[Sherwoo9]

The last forward drafted 1st OA to have done so was Nico Hischier. Judging by the names to have been drafted recently, they've mostly disappointed (in the last 5 drafts). But if you look before that, you have incredible players such as McDavid and Matthews that went first overall and who had a ton of success in their rookie years. I don't think looking at the past necessarily is a good indicator of the future. Lafrenière has been lackluster so far, but that doesn't mean he won't step up in the next few years. Jack Hughes came off mediocre rookie and sophomore seasons to show that he can be a star in this league, if only he can stay healthy. I think looking at the draft only shows that there is no sure-fire way of predicting a player's trajectory. Unless you're a special talent, such as McDavid.

I would add that it would be best to compare mostly with the “first forward drafted in drafts where there wasn’t a clear cut #1 generational talent”, then you can add the likes of Beniers, and Svechnikov as good comparables… and absolutely need to discard the McDavid, Eichel, Matthews, Laine’s of this world… even as 2nd overall were much more hyped than this year’s possibles 1st OV.
What I think is that anything over 0.4ppg will be a success rookie season. And I won’t judge half a season in the AHL as a failure neither. The best possible version of this kid is a long term project and it should be treated accordingly

 

[ChesterNimitz]

I look forward to seeing How Slaf reads the game when he is facing an NHL line up.
Most NHL players don't put out their total effort in the pre season.
I remember Guillaume Latendresse saying how intimidated he was when he stepped on the ice against Buffalo in his first NHL regular season game, the game was so much faster when the pre season ended.
Sh@t isn't real yet for Slaf, it will be soon enough.

Slafkovsky has played in the Olympics and at the WHC and excelled. While not the level of the NHL play, I don't think he will be surprised nor will he underestimate the challenges he is facing. That 1OA target pinned on his back will make him a target all season. But this kid is big, fast and skilled. He will do just fine. Great pick.

 

[Frank Drebin]

Hughes only looks better than Lafreniere because he has been given better opportunities. For the most part Lafreniere has played with buttcracks. Hughes has been given good linemates, 1st line minutes, and PP time.

Oh great. I hope to read this every day for the next 5 years if Slaf isn't a stud

 

[HabsForHire]

None sense..

People seriously underate his hockey iq.. he may take high risk opportunities sometimes but it doesnt erase all the high level skills he actually can pull off with ease.. among other things.. aside of his body being huge to protect the puck his hands are so skilled he could probably dangle a few player and get out of the corner even if he was smaller.. creating amazing lanes by actracting opposing players .. dont attack and he can burn you anyways.. he is raw for a potential superstar.. but in general head and shoulders above most.. non-pun intended..

I was going to use the "head and shoulders" joke too haha
But he needs to absolutely dominate to stay imo, not just be ok like KK was. There's nothing wrong with AHL

 

[ReHabs]

I was going to use the "head and shoulders" joke too haha
But he needs to absolutely dominate to stay imo, not just be ok like KK was. There's nothing wrong with AHL

Yeah I’m of the school of thought that a top pick who is considered as a future part of a winning core needs to dominate at every level before being expected to dominate in the NHL

Not sure what the correlation is between dominating at AHL (if they played there) but surely it’s pretty tight

 

[Mrb1p]

Hughes only looks better than Lafreniere because he has been given better opportunities. For the most part Lafreniere has played with buttcracks. Hughes has been given good linemates, 1st line minutes, and PP time.

Hughes is a top 10-15 player in the NHL.

Lafrenière, while nowhere near the bust some people claim he is (Hint: He's already a top 6 player if he werent behind two top 20 LW.), isn't in the same league as Hughes.

Lafrenières main draw is his overall impact on the game, he's not unlike Slaf in that sense. He belongs to the Corey Perry, Jamie Benn, Tkachuks, and co. Hughes is an offensive dynamo that brings a+ zone entries, he belongs to the Mackinons and Kanes.

Both are invaluable, but Hughes may be the 3rd or 4th most valuable asset in hockey. Lafrenière isn't top 15.

What, he’s so selfish he doesn’t pass ?

If you'd be the greatest goalscorer since Ovechkin, you wouldn't pass either

*Leaf nation in shambles*

 

[MD thaivuN]

Bustbustsky!

BustBustBusty

 

[Mandala]

The only place he haven't dominated offensively last year is Liiga playing for TPS when he was used on the bottom 6 with grinders playing a defensive trap system. That was about 21 games of his 31 Liiga games. The last 10 (post-olympics), he had a ppg of 0.6. He dominated everywhere else he played last year.

Lookin at the RHP/Beck/Slaf line in scrimmage, Slafkovsky wouldn't be staying long in the AHL if he was sent down.

I think that playing in the NHL is an higher level of play. Be patient and let him make mistakes and try offensive tricks. He has a lot to learn and nothing to gain playing in the AHL for the mandatory fight against a goon. No need to risk a concussion, let him learn in the NHL. If he gets 7-10 goals this year, do not panic. The Habs wanted a power forward and not the most talented player in the draft, they got him, take your time to develop him.

 

[Rusty7550]

I think that playing in the NHL is an higher level of play. Be patient and let him make mistakes and try offensive tricks. He has a lot to learn and nothing to gain playing in the AHL for the mandatory fight against a goon. No need to risk a concussion, let him learn in the NHL. If he gets 7-10 goals this year, do not panic. The Habs wanted a power forward and not the most talented player in the draft, they got him, take your time to develop him.

Agree with this. Imagine .... 1st overall pick in the AHL. That's not happening very often. Unfortunately, AHL is full of goons and career AHL players in their late 20s who just want to make a name for themselves by trying to injure a young prospects and 1st overall pick would be a great target. What if somebody breaks his leg? But hey, im not an expert. Hopefully coaches knows what's best for him.

 

[Mrb1p]

Agree with this. Imagine .... 1st overall pick in the AHL. That's not happening very often. Unfortunately, AHL is full of goons and career AHL players in their late 20s who just want to make a name for themselves by trying to injure a young prospects and 1st overall pick would be a great target. What if somebody breaks his leg? But hey, im not an expert. Hopefully coaches knows what's best for him.

Its not happening often because most 1st overall are from the CHL.

 

[Rusty7550]

Its not happening often because most 1st overall are from the CHL.

Of course, I know that. Still, there is a solid amount of 1st/2nd overall picks from Europe. Rags didn't send Kakko to the AHL but maybe they should ... I don't know.

 

[Xirik]

I think lots of people are stuck in there ways and thinking the AHL is still the same as it was in the early 2000s -early 10's. the goonery has drastically gone down over the last seven years.

Buffalo's Peterka played 70 games
Buffalo's Jack Quinn only played 45 because he got injured playing in the NHL not AHL
NJ holtz played 62 games.

Top players aren't really getting run at. It's basically = to the NHL in terms of amount of injuries.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

Hughes is a top 10-15 player in the NHL.

Lafrenière, while nowhere near the bust some people claim he is (Hint: He's already a top 6 player if he werent behind two top 20 LW.), isn't in the same league as Hughes.

Lafrenières main draw is his overall impact on the game, he's not unlike Slaf in that sense. He belongs to the Corey Perry, Jamie Benn, Tkachuks, and co. Hughes is an offensive dynamo that brings a+ zone entries, he belongs to the Mackinons and Kanes.

Both are invaluable, but Hughes may be the 3rd or 4th most valuable asset in hockey. Lafrenière isn't top 15.


If you'd be the greatest goalscorer since Ovechkin, you wouldn't pass either

*Leaf nation in shambles*

Are we talking Jack Hughes??? Quinn Hughes may be a top 15 player in the NHL. Jack is maybe top 50.

 

[Tyson]

Are we talking Jack Hughes??? Quinn Hughes may be a top 15 player in the NHL. Jack is maybe top 50.

Jack took major strides last year and if he stays healthy he scores 100+ points this year.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

Jack took major strides last year and if he stays healthy he scores 100+ points this year.

As long as Mercer is on his wing that would be good. He still has been put in a great situation while Kakko and Lafreniere have been screwed over.

 

[Scriptor]

That's awesome, when I became a a hard-core gymmer in Uni I felt so much better physically and mentally.

But yeah even at 10-12 hours a week in the gym I couldn't get shredded. Curse these fat genes.

You can't get shredded without altering your diet. You can train your abs all day long, but they will just get harder underneath fat and the fat layer is what you will see.

You need to lose body fat to become shredded

I tried to alter my diet, but the amount I would of had to cut would have been horrible in terms of diet an probably unhealthy.

I naturally am on the fatter side even going for the diet my shredded friends did for a long period of time I couldn't do it. I would of had to cut so hard that I would have hated my life and prbly be malnourished.

I did manage to go from fat to fit, so that's still a huge improvement.

Getting shredded is over-rated if it involves an unhealthy diet.

 

[BenchBrawl]

Put him on the damn 1st line to start the season, and tolerate all his mistakes as long as he learns.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Jack took major strides last year and if he stays healthy he scores 100+ points this year.

Jack had a good season last year yes but today he is not a top 15 player in the NHL. He has to have that 100+ pts season first.

 

[Sagikev]

Jack had a good season last year yes but today he is not a top 15 player in the NHL. He has to have that 100+ pts season first.

Jack is a lock to be a top 15 player at some point, he's just too good. It was always a matter of getting stronger with him. He was on pace for 93/94 points last season...

 

[Habs Halifax]

Jack is a lock to be a top 15 player at some point, he's just too good. It was always a matter of getting stronger with him. He was on pace for 93/94 points last season...

I'm aware of his direction but he's not a top 15 player today. Possible by the end of this season. We will see if he can sustain a full 82 game season.

Is Caufield a lock to carry forward his points under MSL?

 

[Sagikev]

I'm aware of his direction but he's not a top 15 player today. Possible by the end of this season. We will see if he can sustain a full 82 game season.

Is Caufield a lock to carry forward his points under MSL?

He's a lock for a goal per game!

 

[Habs Halifax]

He's a lock for a goal per game!

Hope so! Very curious to see what kind of season we have this year. What do the vets do and what do the youth do. Lots of question marks and hard to predict. I'm a huge fan of Caufield!

Not even going to guess on what kind of season I think Slaf has. I see a fair amount of up/down rollercoaster ride.

 

[Lebowski]

Are we talking Jack Hughes??? Quinn Hughes may be a top 15 player in the NHL. Jack is maybe top 50.

Jack is significantly better than Quinn in my opinion.