Prospect Info: 2022 - 1st OA] Juraj Slafkovsky (LW) Part 4

[Habs Halifax]

100% agreed. It's not just about the points.

I noticed that he wins board battles more often now than he did before. Many times, he goes in the corner and is the one coming out with the puck. 21 games into his NHL career and he's already improved in that area.

Yup, I notice that as well. Better body position helps him exit those situations with the puck. His passing is actually very good too. Sees the ice well.

The other thing I ponder is I think he was use to being the guy his teammates passed to him obsessively in previous seasons. You see him screaming for the puck at times and I like this.

 

[Colezuki]

why is part 4 at 120 pages but P 1-3 had to stop at 40?

 

[stastny12]

This thread sucks again.

Let´s make it great again.

 

[yianik]

Louis wasn’t motivated enough. Yes, Sly sucks, no one thinks he was a good coach, but that doesn’t mean he’s responsible for every poor player that came his way.

Louis lacked drive and commitment to improve his game, didn’t have a single outstanding quality about his game and failed to make an impact. This isn’t unusual when the prospects upside is 3rd liner, it’s normal. The mistake was picking him.

Hard to figure out. I remember a close up of him during during a game and his eyes looked like he had a fire in him. I also saw a picture of him one day hanging out with other prospects and wow. The boys were in Ts and shorts and while the other 3 guys were toned and had muscle, Leblanc had stick legs and looked like he was a computer geek whose only exercise was hitting the keyboards. I couldn't believe it and wondered how often he worked out.

Too bad for us, but glad he figured out a path for himself.

 

[Ajhccwrs]

I've seen your comments about Slaf since the day he was selected over your saviour Wright.

You have nothing but back handed compliments for Slaf every time he does something. You ruin the vibes for him in his thread. I fail to see how you are a true habs fan.

Slaf was our selection. And yes he was who I wanted from day 1. He has steadily improved over the course of his time here. And has shown over and over flashes of an elite skill set. Which is accompanied by an elite body frame.

I for one just get tired of all the life you suck out of the Slaf forums.

It was a late hit and a dirty one and a charge I believe.

Go on and blame everything and everyone for Slaf’s setbacks, shortcomings, and struggles. That is surely the right path forward for his development.

It’s not like we can all root for his success while being allowed to be critical of how he’s coming along. He could’ve easily gotten injured last night and then all of you would’ve said that it was a filthy predatory hit and there was nothing wrong with rushing Slaf to the NHL. I know - it’s typical Habs fans. The Habs organization is never wrong.

I've seen your comments about Slaf since the day he was selected over your saviour Wright.

You have nothing but back handed compliments for Slaf every time he does something. You ruin the vibes for him in his thread. I fail to see how you are a true habs fan.

Slaf was our selection. And yes he was who I wanted from day 1. He has steadily improved over the course of his time here. And has shown over and over flashes of an elite skill set. Which is accompanied by an elite body frame.

I for one just get tired of all the life you suck out of the Slaf forums.

 

[BaseballCoach]

It was a late hit and a dirty one and a charge I believe.

Go on and blame everything and everyone for Slaf’s setbacks, shortcomings, and struggles. That is surely the right path forward for his development.

It’s not like we can all root for his success while being allowed to be critical of how he’s coming along. He could’ve easily gotten injured last night and then all of you would’ve said that it was a filthy predatory hit and there was nothing wrong with rushing Slaf to the NHL. I know - it’s typical Habs fans. The Habs organization is never wrong.

Neither Jake Evans nor Andrew Shaw was rushed to the NHL, and yet they both have/had issues protecting their own heads too.

I'm not ignoring the issue, but I don't think sending Slaf to AHL or Junior actually solves the problem. He needs to figure this out at his play level.

Slaf has 5 pts in his last 10 games, with 3 pts in his last 4 games.

He's now on pace for 30 pts in 77 GP.

And a bit more, if he gets more ice time than he averaged to date, which is likely.

 

[BenchBrawl]

Slafkovsky is the youngest player in the entire NHL. Let's wait and see,

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

The most valid reason for sending him down is the head down/puck watching thing. You don't want to see this kid get hurt.

 

[ReHabs]

Neither Jake Evans nor Andrew Shaw was rushed to the NHL, and yet they both have/had issues protecting their own heads too.

I'm not ignoring the issue, but I don't think sending Slaf to AHL or Junior actually solves the problem. He needs to figure this out at his play level.

Shaw retired early because of his head injuries. Can we please stop bringing up bad case outcomes as comparables to justify the present course of action?

I fail to see how you are a true habs fan.

That’s too bad you think that way.

The most valid reason for sending him down is the head down/puck watching thing. You don't want to see this kid get hurt.

These folks would love to see him continue this journey the Habs have laid out for him and then when he’s cut loose due to injuries and poor development they will turn on him with great viciousness and bile.

 

[Habs Halifax]

The most valid reason for sending him down is the head down/puck watching thing. You don't want to see this kid get hurt.

What do you think MSL/Hughes/Gorton think about this? Can't blame management obsessively anymore cause they are very respected over Bergevin and other coaches we had.

Now what? We know better than MSL/Hughes/Gorton?

 

[ReHabs]

Now what? We know better than MSL/Hughes/Gorton?

Here is an idea: can we NOT do the appeal to authority thing one year into a rebuild with zero results? Have you forgotten the last ten years or something?

 

[Habs Halifax]

Here is an idea: can we NOT do the appeal to authority thing one year into a rebuild with zero results? Have you forgotten the last ten years or something?

You can but that may make you look like a fool. We are knowledgeable fans but we are not development coaches.

Would be pretty funny if Slaf gets sent to the AHL and then gets hurt. Wait, that's not really funny.

What is with the obsession with thinking the AHL is a solution for all development challenges? Like we rushed Mete and he could be a top 4D today if we didn't type thinking? Seems to me that the past 10 years and obsession with development management was overblown.

Slaf is a big boy and he will figure it out while MSL coaches him game/game. Said this before and will say it again... I trust MSL more than I trust myself. Others need to steer clear of trying to undermine his coaching and strategy.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

 

[BaseballCoach]

Shaw retired early because of his head injuries. Can we please stop bringing up bad case outcomes as comparables to justify the present course of action?

Agreed. But my point still stands that the guys with these bad outcomes were not rushed to the NHL, so I do not believe that sending a guy down ot Laval or the CHL will sollve the problem of NHL defenders catching him.

 

[OldCraig71]

The most valid reason for sending him down is the head down/puck watching thing. You don't want to see this kid get hurt.

I am beginning to wonder if he is a slow learner. He has been rocked too many times and surely the coaching staff and his teammates are talking to him about the issue. He continues to leave himself in vulnerable positions.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

LG, we've been watching rookies in the line up for a while. It's not abnormal that 18 years get rocked on more than one occassion while they learn the speed of the game.

I'm just nervous about it. He's an important cog going forward. And again, I'm not thrilled with the lack of ice time. I'd have preferred we started him in the minors, no need to rush.

That being said, I agree with you that he doesn't look out of place. I feel much better about the selection now that I've seen him play. I don't think he'll be a superstar or anything but he's got talent.

 

[Adam Michaels]

 

[BaseballCoach]

I am beginning to wonder if he is a slow learner. He has been rocked too many times and surely the coaching staff and his teammates are talking to him about the issue. He continues to leave himself in vulnerable positions.

Hold on.

The first time he was hit was not a head shot at all. He was at the end of a two minute shift with the Habs pinned in their zone, and he got the puck out to the redline when he relaxed reaching the bench and his pursuer pushed him and he fell into the boards.

The second time was a clear error on his part. He skated full speed into an almost stationary d-man. Obviously, the guy is not going to jump out of the way, but this was more him hitting the d-man in a stupid play than getting surprised by a hit while he was admiring the puck.

The third hit did not appear to cause a concussion but might be the only one where he was the prey. It was a rather common case of a second man hitting him while he was focused on dealing with the first pursuer. He'll learn but this is hardly repeated Poehling or Evans or Shaw type carelessness.

I'd have preferred we started him in the minors, no need to rush.

It's not rushing when the guy is your 5th or 6th most dangerous forward after just 241 minutes of play at age 18.

This is big talent.

 

[Bombshell11]

SLACOCKY

 

[Mrb1p]

That would be a good outcome.

 

[morhilane]

Tage Thompson NHL production over the years, he's now 25 years old:
2022-2023: 40 pts in 26 games (this include last night 6 pts..)
2021-2022: 68 pts in 78 games
2020-2021: 14 in 38 games (that's 30 pts over 82 games)
2019-2020: 0 (he played a single game)
2018-2019: 12 in 65 games (15 pts over 82 games)
2017-2018: 9 in 41 games
NCAA
NCAA (Slaf at 18 years old is here)

 

[ReHabs]

Tage Thompson NHL production over the years, he's now 25 years old:
2022-2023: 40 pts in 26 games (this include last night 6 pts..)
2021-2022: 68 pts in 78 games
2020-2021: 14 in 38 games (that's 30 pts over 82 games)
2019-2020: 0 (he played a single game)
2018-2019: 12 in 65 games (15 pts over 82 games)
2017-2018: 9 in 41 games
NCAA
NCAA (Slaf at 18 years old is here)

Tage Thompson is a great argument against rushing a player. Too bad for Slaf.

 

[nhlfan9191]

It's not blind sided, however I qualify this hit as predatory. It was clean because Schenn did a great job of targetting the chest but any hit that comes from the other side of the net while the player is going around is dangerous. With the net and the goalie blocking the view there is a possibility the player won't see the defender coming. When you look at the replay Schenn was preparing for that hit even before Slaf started in that direction. And Slaf was already battling the puck with another defender so no wonder he did not see him.

When you’re skating in the offensive zone, you should be prepared to be hit at all times. The only exception may be when you’re facing the boards. But even then, you have to be careful because so many guys make reckless plays. It’s important to be aware of your surroundings. There may be blind spots in certain situations, but that’s on the player with the puck to identify as he’s fair game for contact.

 

[JoelWarlord]

Tage Thompson is a great argument against rushing a player. Too bad for Slaf.

As if you wouldn't have been calling him rushed in 17-18 and 18-19, come on.

 

[jrom]

As if you wouldn't have been calling him rushed in 17-18 and 18-19, come on.

He’s both rushed, a bust, a disappointing 1st OA and “not someone worth tanking last year”.