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

[WinterLion]

Was it me or did he not play much in the 3rd last night?

 

[BLONG7]

Can you explain how it might help him? Beyond anything he's currently doing right now?

Sure..........................since there are none, or very few kids 6'4 and weighing 235 ish.............he should go down, amas some points, feel good about his game, might win a medal and come back with somebig time confidence.....
Just seems like a no brainer, as part of his development......Confidence would be key.
Comes back, plays a similar role but with more swagger and confidence, and eventually gets rewarded for good play by MSL.
Year one could then be cvonsidered a success. The process with him should flourish at the beginning of year 3.

 

[Habssince89]

Honestly I get how he's making it hard to send him down to the AHL but he should go to the WJC and obliterate the competition. Let him feel good like @BLONG7 said above me. What exactly is he missing when he takes a break from being on a team that is getting worse as we go along haha?

 

[417]

Sure..........................since there are none, or very few kids 6'4 and weighing 235 ish.............he should go down, amas some points, feel good about his game, might win a medal and come back with somebig time confidence.....
Just seems like a no brainer, as part of his development......Confidence would be key.

What if he goes down and things don’t quite go according to plan?

Different pace, new teammates, different coach, different role.

Could that not shatter his confidence?

Also if there are few, if any, kids who are 6’4 and 235lbs, who will be playing at the WJC…

How is he going to improve at using his size? Which is something the coaching staff has been trying to get him to do with more regularity IN the NHL, where even guys who are 6’ 190lbs are strong?

Comes back, plays a similar role but with more swagger and confidence, and eventually gets rewarded for good play by MSL.
Year one could then be cvonsidered a success. The process with him should flourish at the beginning of year 3.

I think it’s quite optimistic to expect this guy to leave to play for Slovakia for 4 weeks on their top line, come back to the Habs and just walk into the top line.

Not quite how things work imo.

Honestly I get how he's making it hard to send him down to the AHL but he should go to the WJC and obliterate the competition. Let him feel good like @BLONG7 said above me. What exactly is he missing when he takes a break from being on a team that is getting worse as we go along haha?

What if he “doesn’t feel good”?

Rather than ask what he’d be missing “taking a break” from a team that is getting worse

What would he gain playing a team that’s assembled for a short tournament? How is that going to help him against MUCH better competition ?

 

[ReHabs]

I think it’s quite optimistic to expect this guy to leave to play for Slovakia for 4 weeks on their top line, come back to the Habs and just walk into the top line.

Isn't that why he went 1OA and was drafted by the Habs in the first place?

 

[74 others]

He should go to the WJC. He is not making plays with the Habs from what I saw, he is a non-factor while he could make the difference there. People saying that it would have a negative impact on his development are wrong.

 

[KevSkillz4]

He should go to the WJC. He is not making plays with the Habs from what I saw, he is a non-factor while he could make the difference there. People saying that it would have a negative impact on his development are wrong.

Yesterday against Los Angeles he got two great scoring chance on PP and he show some great hands on 5v5 play too.

 

[417]

Isn't that why he went 1OA and was drafted by the Habs in the first place?

I know you’re being sarcastic (starting to know you lol) but the Habs have a much different timeline for Slafkovsky than fans do.

They’re not obsessed with immediate results.

He should go to the WJC. He is not making plays with the Habs from what I saw, he is a non-factor while he could make the difference there. People saying that it would have a negative impact on his development are wrong.

The coaching staff doesn’t seem to agree with you.

Secondly, Slafkovsky making a difference for Slovakia does absolutely nothing for the Montreal Canadiens.

It’s important for YOU…but it does nothing for the the Habs.

 

[nhlfan9191]

Why it has to be a so polarizing debate exactly? There is no wrong decision IMO, going to the world would be a nice opportunity for him to dominate this tournament, have fun with his countrymates, have a shot at a medal and give the fans an incredible good show. I really dont think Slaf would lose the good habits and the experience he gained so far at the NHL level by going there for 2 weeks. On the other side, if he stays with the Habs and keeps progressing well, thats fine too.

What would happen if he went to that tournament and didn’t dominate the way people think he will! Would our fanbase melt?

 

[DAChampion]

What if he goes down and things don’t quite go according to plan?

Different pace, new teammates, different coach, different role.

Could that not shatter his confidence?

That sounds melodramatic.

 

[Goldenhands]

What would happen if he went to that tournament and didn’t dominate the way people think he will! Would our fanbase melt?

He already proved his worth being Olympics MVP and one of the top scorers last WC against men. He would go there to have fun mostly, I dont really care if he doesnt destroy that tournament, team Slovakia isnt as stacked as team Canada, so producing at a 1PPG pace and having a decent run would already be nice, anything more than that would be great.

 

[417]

That sounds melodramatic.

What about the idea that he goes to the WJC and lights it up and then that somehow propels him to the Habs top line?

 

[Retired]

Was it me or did he not play much in the 3rd last night?

I was thinking the same. I actually thought he was very passive without the puck yesterday, and I think msl tried to ride his top lin to get back in the game. Playing with Evans in the 3rd obviously led to nothing…

 

[Habssince89]

What if he goes down and things don’t quite go according to plan?

Different pace, new teammates, different coach, different role.

Could that not shatter his confidence?

Also if there are few, if any, kids who are 6’4 and 235lbs, who will be playing at the WJC…

How is he going to improve at using his size? Which is something the coaching staff has been trying to get him to do with more regularity IN the NHL, where even guys who are 6’ 190lbs are strong?

I think it’s quite optimistic to expect this guy to leave to play for Slovakia for 4 weeks on their top line, come back to the Habs and just walk into the top line.

Not quite how things work imo.


What if he “doesn’t feel good”?

Rather than ask what he’d be missing “taking a break” from a team that is getting worse

What would he gain playing a team that’s assembled for a short tournament? How is that going to help him against MUCH better competition ?

He would gain a short conditioning stint where he can assert himself and get reps in as a first liner, then he comes back to Montreal and hits the ground running. He's 18 and it's not necessary for him to stay in Montreal 100% of the time this is a pretty basic concept

 

[417]

He would gain a short conditioning stint where he can assert himself and get reps in as a first liner, then he comes back to Montreal and hits the ground running. He's 18 and it's not necessary for him to stay in Montreal 100% of the time this is a pretty basic concept

How is that a concept? Lol

I find it hilarious you think he’ll leave the team for 4 weeks, go “assert himself”, and come back to the Habs and walk on to their top line.

That's your concept?

That ain't a concept man, it's a fairytale.

Once more...this has more to do with YOU needing to be reassured, then it does his development.

You need to see him rack up points so that you feel better about him.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

How is that a concept? Lol

I find it hilarious you think he’ll leave the team for 4 weeks, go “assert himself”, and come back to the Habs and walk on to their top line.

That's your concept?

That ain't a concept man, it's a fairytale.

Exactly, the issue is not his confidence it is the fact that he doesn't understand the pro game and is lost on the ice. Playing in a junior hockey tournament won't change anything.

He still has severe tunnel vision and is not able to read the play at all at the NHL level. I think he absolutely should be in Laval where he can work on the pro game with a little more time and space to help ramp up his instincts. He made so many poor decisions Saturday that I lost count early, he even bangs his stick for pucks and has no idea how to read the play when he gets it and typically forces the same shot or pass that he had in mind when he called for it even though it has since evaporated as a viable play.

 

[417]

Exactly, the issue is not his confidence it is the fact that he doesn't understand the pro game and is lost on the ice. Playing in a junior hockey tournament won't change anything.

He still has severe tunnel vision and is not able to read the play at all at the NHL level. I think he absolutely should be in Laval where he can work on the pro game with a little more time and space to help ramp up his instincts. He made so many poor decisions Saturday that I lost count early, he even bangs his stick for pucks and has no idea how to read the play when he gets it and typically forces the same shot or pass that he had in mind when he called for it even though it has since evaporated as a viable play.

I'm not sure I see the same things you are.

But I do agree with the overall sentiment of your post that he needs to be playing and learning PRO hockey and every minute spent NOT doing that is doing a disservice to his development.

The things he need to improve on have to do with playing at the highest level, the pace, the awareness, the strength of the players he's facing, the speed of execution needed, the lack of time and space afforded in the NHL, etc.

 

[DAChampion]

What about the idea that he goes to the WJC and lights it up and then that somehow propels him to the Habs top line?

Also melodramatic.

 

[417]

Also melodramatic.

Soooo...back to my original point.

He ain't going anywhere.

Thanks for participating in my Ted Talk lol

 

[nhlfan9191]

He should go to the WJC. He is not making plays with the Habs from what I saw, he is a non-factor while he could make the difference there. People saying that it would have a negative impact on his development are wrong.

I don’t think anyone is saying going there would have a negative impact if he went, it’s more it wouldn’t make an impact at all. I don’t see the point in sending a player to that tournament unless you plan on sending him back to junior permanently. Slafkovsky is getting paid an NHL salary and has a permanent spot in the roster. I doubt he’d even want to go after being with the team for almost half a season. And the team uses him as a regular which means they think he’s a better option than anyone else we currently have in the system so they’d be weakening the team for no reason which isn’t good for the morale of the room.

 

[Runner77]

Soooo...back to my original point.

He ain't going anywhere.

He might be taking part in the revival of a comedy show.

 

[BLONG7]

He might be taking part in the revival of a comedy show.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh, Cousin Larry, don't be ridiculous!!

 

[BLONG7]

What if he goes down and things don’t quite go according to plan?

Different pace, new teammates, different coach, different role.

Could that not shatter his confidence?

Also if there are few, if any, kids who are 6’4 and 235lbs, who will be playing at the WJC…

How is he going to improve at using his size? Which is something the coaching staff has been trying to get him to do with more regularity IN the NHL, where even guys who are 6’ 190lbs are strong?

I think it’s quite optimistic to expect this guy to leave to play for Slovakia for 4 weeks on their top line, come back to the Habs and just walk into the top line.

Not quite how things work imo.


What if he “doesn’t feel good”?

Rather than ask what he’d be missing “taking a break” from a team that is getting worse

What would he gain playing a team that’s assembled for a short tournament? How is that going to help him against MUCH better competition ?

I think you are getting way ahead of yourself.....way over thinking this......
I simply stated what my 2 cents is, send him to the tourney, and I think he would be great while there, thus creating some confidence....I am being the optimist, and you are being the pessimist....

Pretty easy to agree to disagree, I just think he would benefit from going to the WJC.

Does anyone know if this has happened years past, where a team has let a kid go, and he lit up the tourney?
Just curious...

 

[BaseballCoach]

Isn't that why he went 1OA and was drafted by the Habs in the first place?

No, not realistically.

 

[HuGort]

Slafkovsky looked better on PP, been more difficult at even strength