Saying that Slaf will be bad after 2 pre-season games is obviously wrong; and saying that 2 pre-season games are absolutely meaningless is also wrong.
2 preseason games, good or bad, are completely meaningless in the grand scheme of things.
Yes, 100%
I've watched Slaf closely in the Development camp, in Rookie tourney and intra-squad games, so it's more than 2 pre-season games. And honestly, I'm a bit worried. He hasn't been bad at all, but he certainly hasn't stood out. He hasn't looked any better than Mesar or Beck. Heineman (older) looks definitely better than Slaf.
Veterans like Armia, Drouin or Hoffman can take the camp lightly and don't give best effort, but certainly not the rookies; usually rookies should give their best shot in pre-season to impress the Management. Based on that thought, I'm bit disappointed that it's the best shot that Slaf could do at time being.
I think because of all of the offseason talk surrounding picking this player, whether for or against, it's set up a level of expectation that's unfair.
Ultimately, the legitimacy of picking him 1st will never be confirmed on such a small sample. So why do some people, not saying you specifically here, continue to make career outlooks based on such small and irrelevant samples.
Does anyone seriously think the the Montreal Canadiens organization, specifically the coaching staff, is going to evaluate Slafkovsky's chances of making this team based exclusively on how he looks at preaseason?
I get we as fans can't think further than the next shift...but the coaching staff have a much, much broader view.
Few years ago, I've also watched Kotkaniemi in development camp and pre-season. And I did raise the flag; I was concerned. Same thing happened when I saw Galchenyuk in his first games in NHL. I saw Galchenyuk lacking the IQ, about the same feeling that I have now towards Slaf. Galchenyuk didn't take the best decision with puck, so is Slaf now. I even dare to say that Galchenyuk has shown more promising flashes than Slaf now. In KK, I found that his reaction is slow, same thing with Slaf now. In my book, the smartness, the offensive awareness is the most important attribute. I fail to see this in Slaf. Suzuki wasn't so good in his debut neither, but we can see that Suzuki is smart.
A few years ago, Nick Suzuki looked small, timid and weak as a 19 year old at training camp.
Fast forward 2 years later, and he was our #1C and best player in the bubble playoffs.
Lesson to learn: comparing player's performance at training camp is pointless and trying to extrapolate performances on such a small and irrelevant sample is also pointless.
Allow HIM to develop at HIS own speed and on HIS timelines...not yours, or mine or anyone else's.
Jealousy, envy, resentment, etc...name whatever adjective some Habs fans feel like they need to have towards Slafkovsky, are NOT related to HIS development.
Those feelings belong to you (us).
On the scale from 0 to 10, where 0 means no worry at all and things will be fine, and 10 means extremely concerned and prospect will certainly fail, I am now at 6.
After seeing him in Development camp, rookie tourney and intra-squad games, I definitely think that Slaf should start in AHL.
It's odd to me that anyone could come up with a score based on such a small sample.
But either way, where and how he finishes this year, will be more important and telling then where he starts.
