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

[River Meadow]

At first I was so excited that we got a first overall pick, for once in my lifetime

Now coming to this thread I surely underestimated what this board was getting into

It's called Habs, sir.

 

[Ezpz]

The earlier exchange in this thread of "this is wild overreaction, Habs fans would lose their minds over Lafrienière's first two seasons" immediately being countered with something like "well so what Lafrenière is a bust" was extremely funny to me. The takeaway there being "yeah he's a bust just like Laf is a bust" instead of "Laf struggled for a couple years before settling in" is hilarious to me.

I guess all I can really say is I don't think anything we've see so far should change your read on this player unless you somehow convinced yourself he was ready to be an instant star player in year 1. I will certainly admit that I had (and still maintain some) hope he could step in and have something like a Brady Tkachuk/Andrei Svechnikov type rookie year, but if that's not the case I don't think it really tells us anything we didn't already know.

I'm also not really sure why there's so much does he/doesn't he look like a 1st overall pick discussion. It's just odd to me given it would be the same argument no matter who we picked. Cooley is playing a year in college and the other three top picks look like they will be in the AHL/OHL this year. I get that it's disappointing we tanked and didn't get an instant star/generational talent but it is what it is.

Laf has yet to settle in. He's the worst performing first overall going back to the 60's--despite being presented as NHL-ready. Nobody is saying Slaf is a bust. People are getting hyper-defensive that the common sentiment is that Slaf shouldn't start the year in the NHL. Like we're supposed to pretend he's ready because of his draft position? He would be cut next week if he were a third round pick. He's not a bust but he's not a first overall that's going to take the league by storm as a rookie.

 

[River Meadow]

You probably have different standards on what being ‘’good’’ is for a 18 years old, first time in north america after 2 pre-seasons game should be. And we have other standards.

There’s a way to say you are not sure about him or a way to say what you like or don’t like in his game. The ones who get called out are the ones who constantly comment negative things or are insufferable everyday with their exaggerating, dramatic comments.

Kovalchuk, Ovechkin, etc, all say hi.

 

[Mrb1p]

You probably have different standards on what being ‘’good’’ is for a 18 years old, first time in north america after 2 pre-seasons game should be. And we have other standards.

There’s a way to say you are not sure about him or a way to say what you like or don’t like in his game. The ones who get called out are the ones who constantly comment negative things or are insufferable everyday with their exaggerating, dramatic comments.

Im sure about Slaf. I think hes gonna be a 60-80 points two-way beast.

I still can see that hes not been good and can understand that for some people, what he has shown, isnt good enough. He is a far cry from the best games Ive seen him play right now, there is really no need to excuse him.

Weve seen 18 years old come in and look better than Slaf, that is a lame excuse. Mesar and Beck are a good example.

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

At first I was so excited that we got a first overall pick, for once in my lifetime

Now coming to this thread I surely underestimated what this board was getting into

It will be more of the same if we get Bedard and he doesn't dominate in his first 2 pre-season games.

 

[morhilane]

Drouin was supposed to play instead of Slaf yesterday. Slaf was expected to play tonight, probably with Dach. But I agree, the lines were ugly. Only the first pre-season games though, perfect time experiment to see different players in different situations.

There was an article in La Presse this morning about pre-season lines/pairs and they usually don't last very long into the season. The majority are dismantled by November.

Also, MSL have, in both games, played the "NHL vets" line as a defense line meant to shelter the none NHL players from the opposing team NHL players. Slaf was on both those lines. I personally think this says a lot more about how he sees Slaf than what people extrapolate from his on the ice play.

 

[River Meadow]

It will be more of the same if we get Bedard and he doesn't dominate in his first 2 pre-season games.

Absolutely.

Plus Bedard is a smurf...

 

[Redux91]

Many can't accept these simple facts.

I do understand it though... it hurts. We wanted to see the 1st OA pick come out and be a BOSS af

Annnnd everybody in management and their mothers told you to check back in in 4 years

People just cannot get over the fact that there was no generational talent this year and we didnt luck out
They cant reconcile the fact NOBODY really got anyone that's gonna blow the doors off the hinges for a couple years

Wright plays tonight at 10 , you tell me if he looks like he's gonna score 60 points this year

 

[Twisted Sinister]

It will be more of the same if we get Bedard and he doesn't dominate in his first 2 pre-season games.

Well, let's be honest. Wright is the guy most people wanted. I think people are unfortunately going to give Slaf a lot less rope

 

[SlafySZN]

Im sure about Slaf. I think hes gonna be a 60-80 points two-way beast.

I still can see that hes not been good and can understand that for some people, what he has shown, isnt good enough. He is a far cry from the best games Ive seen him play right now, there is really no need to excuse him.

Weve seen 18 years old come in and look better than Slaf, that is a lame excuse. Mesar and Beck are a good example.

I’m not saying he has been incredible, he obviously can be way, way better and will gradually get better and better but he is not bad like some are trying to say, he did many good things and once he can connect with some players, be in a spot where he could play his game we’ll see way more flashes.

I don’t compare him with Beck, Mesar or other players. Especially in a camp, he’s way too much of a different type and style of player than both.

What i find ridiculous is the dramatic comments about how he’s armia/anderson and how he won’t ever be a great player, because of those 2 games…

 

[417]

Kovalchuk, Ovechkin, etc, all say hi.

Marian Hossa says hi too.

 

[Montreal Impact FC]

People forget so fast...

Suzuki was slow and no compete we said.. he played some junior and made the team..

Caufield spent 2 seasons in Wisconsin.. did people forget?

I understand the hype of being 1st overall.. but the guy needs time.. and it is actually the perfect season to let him grow away of the 1st team... this year we all know we will be again a bottom team.. I would send as many players as we can to Laval.. no player has ever downgrade or suffer for being sent to the AHL or Juniors unless he is whole different level of dominance on the other hand there is countless examples of the opposite players being rushed losing their identiry and never really being able to access their highest ceilling.. Slafkovsky isnt a generational player who will arrive and destroy the league like Crosby or Ovechkin or Malkin etc... and neither S.Wright BTW they never got advertised that way..

His combo of size and skill and personality tough makes him a extremelly valuable asset we couldnt bet against.. the management said it clearly but passionate fans dont listen.. we want the best player not at 18 but at 22-23 years old.. from the mouth of Kent Hughes..


Relax peeps.

 

[417]

Im sure about Slaf. I think hes gonna be a 60-80 points two-way beast.

I still can see that hes not been good and can understand that for some people, what he has shown, isnt good enough. He is a far cry from the best games Ive seen him play right now, there is really no need to excuse him.

Weve seen 18 years old come in and look better than Slaf, that is a lame excuse. Mesar and Beck are a good example.

And we've seen those same 18 year olds completely flame out later in their careers.

I see that Galchenyuk was just released from his 88th PTO.

Who cares what others looked like at the same age, THEY ARE NOT THE SAME PEOPLE .

And looking good at 18 years old, is not a guarantee for a fruitful career...for many, that will be the best they ever look.

 

[Mrb1p]

And we've seen those same 18 year olds completely flame out later in their careers.

I see that Galchenyuk was just released from his 88th PTO.

Who cares what others looked like at the same age, THEY ARE NOT THE SAME PEOPLE .

And looking good at 18 years old, is not a guarantee for a fruitful career...for many, that will be the best they ever look.

You have trouble grasping the narrative.

It is not about projection, or what he will be. Its about his play on the ice, no matter how you twist it, he has not looked good, full stop.

For someone that has been reading about him and that hasn't watched him at all, it is easy to see why its disappointing. The "18 years old" thing is irrelevant, he doesn't look good. The problem is that you reply to this with "Hes only 18!", when that is not a valid excuse at all for him looking bad.

The reply should be "While I agree that he hasn't looked very good, I think that...".

Instead of "He's been good tf u saying hes 18 bro lafreniere galchenyuk caufield bro i swear bro time he needs time bro great bro".

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

You have trouble grasping the narrative.

It is not about projection, or what he will be. Its about his play on the ice, no matter how you twist it, he has not looked good, full stop.

For someone that has been reading about him and that hasn't watched him at all, it is easy to see why its disappointing. The "18 years old" thing is irrelevant, he doesn't look good. The problem is that you reply to this with "Hes only 18!", when that is not a valid excuse at all for him looking bad.

The reply should be "While I agree that he hasn't looked very good, I think that...".

Instead of "He's been good tf u saying hes 18 bro lafreniere galchenyuk caufield bro i swear bro time he needs time bro great bro".

Some of us don't think he looks *bad* either. Him not looking ready for the show or less ready than 3 other of our forward prospects dosent mean he looks bad

 

[Mrb1p]

Some of us don't think he looks *bad* either. Him not looking ready for the show or less ready than 3 other of our forward prospects dosent mean he looks bad

That may mean you have some kind of bias. He hasn't done anything in these past two games, I can assure you he's looked, much, much, much better than he did in games last year than he did this year.

If its Drouin wearing the 20 yesterday, he's getting ripped to shreds, thats just how it goes. If its Beck ? Nobody says anything. If Slafkovsky is wearing wtv Mesars number is ? Were going crazy. Its the nature of confirmation bias.

 

[MonkeyBusiness]

Kovalchuk, Ovechkin, etc, all say hi.

Ovechkin couldn't play in the NHL when he was 18; the lockout happened during what would have been his rookie season. Kovalchuk was phenomenal, but is anyone expecting Slaf to be anywhere near the two?

 

[417]

You have trouble grasping the narrative.

I don't want any part of these narratives about a player 2 preseason games into his career.

Good or bad.

Again, I don't have to put on a scout’s hat for every shift he has.

It is not about projection, or what he will be. Its about his play on the ice, no matter how you twist it, he has not looked good, full stop.

Yes it's 100% about projection. The organization told youit wasn't about now.

Why do you block your ears, cover your eyes and keep screaming (metaphor) about the now?

Why is it Kent Hughes literally says “we didn't draft him to be the best 18yr old”

And you're response is to constantly evaluate how he looks as an 18yr old and in comparison to other 18 year olds?

This ist a Slaf or organization problem..:this legit YOU.

For someone that has been reading about him and that hasn't watched him at all, it is easy to see why its disappointing. The "18 years old" thing is irrelevant, he doesn't look good. The problem is that you reply to this with "Hes only 18!", when that is not a valid excuse at all for him looking bad.

His age is irrelevant?

Come on man...you’re usually able to think more critically then this.

The reply should be "While I agree that he hasn't looked very good, I think that...".

Instead of "He's been good tf u saying hes 18 bro lafreniere galchenyuk caufield bro i swear bro time he needs time bro great bro".

But I did say that...i said no one looked good last night, no one got a passing grade from me.

So not sure what you're talking about

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Not really , I guess it depends on the expectations people have of him as a 18 year old and everybody has different ones especially at first overall pick.

 

[Captain97]

Kovalchuk, Ovechkin, etc, all say hi.

1. So you prbly just what little credibility you had as Ovi didn't play in the league at 18.

2. You picked one of the best players ever as one example and true a Phenom as the other. Not the best examples.

 

[417]

Watch what will happen next year at training camp with Beck and Mesar.

Their strong play at camp will raise the expectation be so high, they won't be match it.

Maybe then people will understand that our expectations don't drive individual players development timeline.

But who am I kidding

 

[Mrb1p]

I don't want any part of these narratives about a player 2 preseason games into his career.

Good or bad.

Again, I don't have to put on a scout’s hat for every shift he has.

Yes it's 100% about projection. The organization told youit wasn't about now.

Why do you block your ears, cover your eyes and keep screaming (metaphor) about the now?

Why is it Kent Hughes literally says “we didn't draft him to be the best 18yr old”

And you're response is to constantly evaluate how he looks as an 18yr old and in comparison to other 18 year olds?

This ist a Slaf or organization problem..:this legit YOU.

His age is irrelevant?

Come on man...you’re usually able to think more critically then this.

But I did say that...i said no one looked good last night, no one got a passing grade from me.

So not sure what you're talking about

Two games is all we have (Well for people who don't watch players pre-draft.), surely its not that hard to grasp that some are disappointed and would like to see "something".

I also just said I didn't really care what he looks like for the next two years, its not a me problem, its just a problem of Slaf being a raw prospect that would be picked in a top 5 generally and not first, picked first by a team that has had no luck at all offensively over the past 50 years. If we had the 4th overall last year and picked him up (assuming were in 2021, here.), no one would bat an eye at Slafkovsky, heck, he'd probably be in europe right now.

It comes with the territory for people, its just normal.

 

[Twisted Sinister]

Not really , I guess it depends on the expectations people have of him as a 18 year old and everybody has different ones especially at first overall pick.

-I have to say I don't think he looked great. Kind of lost out there. As you've said (I believe it was you), his passes have been pretty precise, but he's also made a lot of low percentage pass selections (hockey IQ) that don't get through.

-He doesn't seem to be carrying the puck for some reason, which is supposed to be one of his strengths. I don't know if this is a confidence issue or a coaching issue.

-For a big strong kid, I don't see him winning battles on the boards or in corners. NHL defensemen aren't giving him any room to play his game, which is something I was highly concerned about when we drafted him: That his game isn't translatable to the NHL.

-His puck protection game was better in game 1 than in game 2. In game 2, it seemed to disappear.

That's why I think his games haven't been great. But at the same time, I'm not shocked, given what I've seen of the player in the past.

 

[Mrb1p]

Watch what will happen next year at training camp with Beck and Mesar.

Their strong play at camp will raise the expectation be so high, they won't be match it.

Maybe then people will understand that our expectations don't drive individual players development timeline.

But who am I kidding

Thats very weird, its just normal for our expectations to be attached to the perceived value of a player.

Lets say youre in the market to replace your last car, bought 30k in 2010, If you pay 50k for a car, are you expecting a prius or a benz ? When you jump in the car and realize youve paid 50k for canvas seats and no center console would you feel disappointed? Of course, thats because your perceived value hasn't been met.

Then the market crashes a few years later and you replace you car for the same price and you get leather seats and a pano roof.

 

[OldCraig71]

Thanks to hurricane Fiona I haven't seen the kid play one single shift. Should I go back and read what posters are saying about him or should I just skip it?