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

[417]

Discourse will not stand.

Slafkovsky shall not be questioned!

Question him all you want....just be prepared to be challenged if you're telling me what he's going to top out as after 2 preseason games.

So you are just blowing smoke up peoples skirts.

I don't need to address that, I've had these conversation with folks here.

I don't need to go find the posts, you got a search function, hike that skirt up and go see for yourself.

 

[417]

Kovalchuk, Ovechkin, etc, all say hi.

Light work

 

[River Meadow]

Light work

Keep going.

I think there's a ton of more posts you can take entirely out of context.

I think I mentioned somewhere that unless Slaf is the second coming of Gretzky, he is a bust.

 

[RealityHurts]

You might be right, we will see, but I think Hughes only commented on his first 2 games, he also commented on his 2 inter squad games, which ones he said he looked pretty good, the foward with the most scoring chances.

I think Slaf's level will go upward from now.

I mean, it's pretty low. I don't see how it could go downwards aha

Not being toxic, just stating it how it is

 

[417]

Keep going.

I think there's a ton of more posts you can take entirely out of context.

I think I mentioned somewhere that unless Slaf is the second coming of Gretzky, he is a bust.

Man that nothing lol it's been nothing but far-reaching conclusions since his performance in his 2nd rookie game tournament.

Stop acting like I'm fabricating this narrative, I've spent way too much time trying to talk a lot of you off the ledge since the rookie tournament.

Also I didn't take your comment out of context...you said what you said, i’m just holding up the mirror.

Don't blame me for the reflection.

 

[River Meadow]

I mean, it's pretty low. I don't see how it could go downwards aha

Not being toxic, just stating it how it is

Fair point.

Man that nothing lol it's been nothing but far-reaching conclusions since his performance in his 2nd rookie game tournament.

Stop acting like I'm fabricating this narrative, I've spent way too much time trying to talk a lot of you off the ledge since the rookie tournament.

Also I didn't take your comment out of context...you said what you said, i’m just holding up the mirror.

Don't blame me for the reflection.

What are you defending though exactly?

Hughes himself said the same thing many realistic posters are saying... he hasn't looked great in these 2 pre-season games.

Everyone was salivating after the 1st rookie tournament game at minimum, and most were super pleased with how he played the rookies tournament.

All of this is 100% in line with our own GM's thoughts.

If you're going on a crusade, then add Kent Hughes to your list.

 

[417]

Fair point.

What's fair about that exactly?

Slafkovsky couldn't go lower? That's not a complete exagerration if his play so far?

Why you guys acting like he's been the worst player on the ice? Lol

 

[River Meadow]

What's fair about that exactly?

Slafkovsky couldn't go lower? That's not a complete exagerration if his play so far?

Why you guys acting like he's been the worst player on the ice? Lol

It's not so much that he is looking terrible, more so that he isn't looking great...

When you factor in his draft position... and you factor in, other 2022 draftees Mesar and Beck looking dynamite... it only compounds it.

 

[Goldenhands]

I mean, it's pretty low. I don't see how it could go downwards aha

Not being toxic, just stating it how it is

He looked pretty good the inter aquad game I watched, 1st exhibition game was pretty decent as well, 2nd was average but didnt get much puck touches and the whole team was flat. Personally I still saw alot of positives and Im optimistic he will find a way to impact the game more in the upcoming games.

 

[417]

What are you defending though exactly?

Not defending anyone...i’m challenging the gross exagerrations about his performance at camp.

Hughes himself said the same thing many realistic posters are saying... he hasn't looked great in these 2 pre-season games.

Except that wasn't the entirety of his quote was it?

See the difference with what Hughes has said and what you and many others have said...

Is that he understands that that's restricted to his performance over both games.

He hasn't used his performances in those two games to say he needs to “go to the AHL for the whole year and dominate” or “he's not ready” or “he's not like Ovechkin and Kovalchuk at 18”

The difference ain't that subtle man.

One is pragmatic

The other is emotionally based.

Everyone was salivating after the 1st rookie tournament game at minimum, and most were super pleased with how he played the rookies tournament.

All of this is 100% in line with our own GM's thoughts.

If you're going on a crusade, then add Kent Hughes to your list.

Nah...he gets it.

He's not putting a ton of stock into freaking preseason games .

 

[dcyhabs]

Im relieved...

I really hope he should not be in the discussion. Quite a distance between ceiling and floor for Slaf but I expect Slaf’s floor is well above Stevenson’s ceiling.

 

[Tyson]

This kid is going to be awesome.
The upside is intriguing.
He will get stronger, faster.
He needs time to adjust.

Joe Thornton as a 18 year old sat on the bench and scored I think 7 points his rookie season....

Patience.

 

[417]

It's not so much that he is looking terrible, more so that he isn't looking great...

Yeah...so?

Ok he hasn't looked great, something that could be said for a lot of players at camp.

So what?

When you factor in his draft position... and you factor in, other 2022 draftees Mesar and Beck looking dynamite... it only compounds it.

Maybe if you've got some kind of agenda or bone to pick, with that draft selection.

Personally, I don't really think Mesar and Beck have stood out more than Slafkovsky, sure a few more “wow” plays but not necessarily things that are translatable to the NHL right now either... it's just there were no expectations with them and it was the opposite for Slafkovsky.

That changes perception a whole lot man...

Next camp, the expectations for Mesar and Beck will be MUCH higher and I guarantee the same folks praising them this year, will be the same ones saying they're not ready or their ceiling might not be as high as they thought.

I seen this movie man lol

But it's also kind of ridiculous that Mesar and Beck standing out more than Slafkovsky is a bad thing lol

If it makes you feel better...just imagine we picked Beck or Mesar 1st and Sladkovksy 26th.

I bet the perception on Slafkovksy a whole lot different now lol

 

[River Meadow]

Yeah...so?

Ok he hasn't looked great, something that could be said for a lot of players at camp.

So what?

Maybe if you've got some kind of agenda or bone to pick, with that draft selection.

Personally, I don't really think Mesar and Beck have stood out more than Slafkovsky, sure a few more “wow” plays but not necessarily things that are translatable to the NHL right now either... it's just there were no expectations with them and it was the opposite for Slafkovsky.

That changes perception a whole lot man...

Next camp, the expectations for Mesar and Beck will be MUCH higher and I guarantee the same folks praising them this year, will be the same ones saying they're not ready or their ceiling might not be as high as they thought.

I seen this movie man lol

But it's also kind of ridiculous that Mesar and Beck standing out more than Slafkovsky is a bad thing lol

If it makes you feel better...just imagine we picked Beck or Mesar 1st and Sladkovksy 26th.

I bet the perception on Slafkovksy a whole lot different now lol

tbh, I agree with you.

I'm not too worried, I think I've said this before.

This is nowhere near close to Slaf's "final form".

With that said, it would be nice for him to show some more... for whatever reason, he's looked flat-footed and not super confident in these past 2 games. We know he can play a lot better, we have seen it recently...

 

[Kennerback]

This kid is going to be awesome.
The upside is intriguing.
He will get stronger, faster.
He needs time to adjust.

Joe Thornton as a 18 year old sat on the bench and scored I think 7 points his rookie season....

Patience.

True story: the GM was freaking out at how bad Thornton looked and how Sergei Samsonov was looking like a superstar.

 

[417]

tbh, I agree with you.

I'm not too worried, I think I've said this before.

This is nowhere near close to Slaf's "final form".

It really isn't.

And if you truly believe in “development” and you can't see the enormous canvas that there is to work with here, I don't know what to say.

With that said, it would be nice for him to show some more... for whatever reason, he's looked flat-footed and not super confident in these past 2 games. We know he can play a lot better, we have seen it recently...

I won't disagree he does look extremely tentative...then again, that's kind of normal.

But what encourages me, is that this, his tentativeness, seems to be in direct opposition to everything that was ever written about him.

I'm sure things are moving incredibly fast and the pressure is enormous...let’s do like 95% of other fanbases would do in this situation and allow him the time to adjust.

We don't need career projections after every single game.

 

[RealityHurts]

What's fair about that exactly?

Slafkovsky couldn't go lower? That's not a complete exagerration if his play so far?

Why you guys acting like he's been the worst player on the ice? Lol

He can really only go up from where he is right now. As of now, he's not an NHLer.

 

[417]

He can really only go up from where he is right now. As of now, he's not an NHLer.

Not sure I agree with that quite yet...

If we didn't know that he was our 1st overall pick, I don't think you'd be saying that.

Him not “looking like an NHLer” is directly tied to his draft slot. Has he “looked” worse than Armia? I guarantee you Armia is in the NHL this year.

Hell I spent last year watching

- Cedric Paquette
- Alex Belzile
- William Lagesson
- Lukas Vejdemo
- Laurent Dauphin

Play NHL games..so I don't wanna hear that Slaf couldn't play in the NHL this year.

The question is, if playing in the NHL at least to start, is optimal.

But camp ain't done yet...and he will have every opportunity to show us whether he is or not.

Disclaimer: before someone chimes in with a smart comment about me comparing a 1st overall with the pupu platter of names I just listed, that wasn't the point.

 

[RealityHurts]

He looked pretty good the inter aquad game I watched, 1st exhibition game was pretty decent as well, 2nd was average but didnt get much puck touches and the whole team was flat. Personally I still saw alot of positives and Im optimistic he will find a way to impact the game more in the upcoming games.

I agree. I saw a lot of good things, but it looked like he was limit testing. Whether he becomes a great player or not will depend on whether he can heighten his game sense to a level where he's at the right place at the right moment and make the right decisions because he's got all the tools

Not sure I agree with that quite yet...

If we didn't know that he was our 1st overall pick, I don't think you'd be saying that.

Him not “looking like an NHLer” is directly tied to his draft slot. Has he “looked” worse than Armia? I guarantee you Armia is in the NHL this year.

Hell I spent last year watching

- Cedric Paquette
- Alex Belzile
- William Lagesson
- Lukas Vejdemo
- Laurent Dauphin

Play NHL games..so I don't wanna hear that Slaf couldn't play in the NHL this year.

The question is, if playing in the NHL at least to start, is optimal.

But camp ain't done yet...and he will have every opportunity to show us whether he is or not.

Disclaimer: before someone chimes in with a smart comment about me comparing a 1st overall with the pupu platter of names I just listed, that wasn't the point.

I 100% agree my expectations for him are higher because he's 1st OA. I'd say the exact same thing regardless tho, because he looks lost too often. A lost player doesn't belong in the big leagues til he sorts out what he needs to do.

Most of the players you named are fringe NHLers in my book.. they'll play some games but they aren't every day players. I have no doubts Slaf will eventually be a regular NHLer, but he's not there right now.

I just hope it's going to be as a top line forward given his draft position

 

[BehindTheTimes]

Or your evaluation of Wright is faulty.

If we regret the pick, it won't be Wright the regret....I'd bet on that.

Nemec gives me nightmares.

Nope, it will be Wright. I had Nemec ahead of Slaf too though, and Cooley.

Is this a joke? Lol

You’ve provided zero examples, so I’m thinking clearly not.

 

[417]

I 100% agree my expectations for him are higher because he's 1st OA. I'd say the exact same thing regardless tho, because he looks lost too often. A lost player doesn't belong in the big leagues til he sorts out what he needs to do.

Most of the players you named are fringe NHLers in my book.. they'll play some games but they aren't every day players. I have no doubts Slaf will eventually be a regular NHLer, but he's not there right now.

I just hope it's going to be as a top line forward given his draft position

Don't get me wrong, I have high expectations for him too, but my expectations have nothing to do with his developmental timeline.

Those 2 things aren't related

 

[417]

You’ve provided zero examples, so I’m thinking clearly not.

I did but I also didn't have too...do I have to provide you with an example of why water is wet too?

You got a search function right?

Use it.

 

[BehindTheTimes]

I did but I also didn't have too...do I have to provide you with an example of why water is wet too?

You got a search function right?

Use it.

You made a claim you can’t support. The same strawman arguments you’ve been using on here for years. Is that you LG?? Lmao, water is wet is short for I can’t f***ing support my argument so I’m going to try and spin my way out of it.

Not a single poster has done what you said, zero, zilch, nadda. A few have said he’s been underwhelming and he has. Too bad that upsets you.

 

[Naslundforever]

Jo should just walk off. stay safe, Jo.

 

[417]

You made a claim you can’t support.

This thread has 95 pages worth of evidence...look for yourself.

The same strawman arguments you’ve been using on here for years. Is that you LG?? Lmao, water is wet is short for I can’t f***ing support my argument so I’m going to try and spin my way out of it.

Again, I provided 2 of many examples.

Not a single poster has done what you said, zero, zilch, nadda. A few have said he’s been underwhelming and he has. Too bad that upsets you.

Yes several have, several of which I've actively participated in that very debate with.

I mean someones said he's the next Turner Stevenson for God sake lol

Upsets me?

Pfftttt lol I think you seeing my username upsets you more than anything, not even sure why.

Probably ate your food on here one point and you mad ever since.

That's a you problem lol