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

[Habs Halifax]

He plays a lot better on the D side of the puck than I expected for a rookie. He's pretty tenacious with his stick on the forecheck or when pressuring guys. He's not an Anderson that will impose his will on you physically (yet at least... he is 18 after all) but he reminds me a lot of first-year-he-was-here Armia in that regard.

Do you know what Slaf's major flaws are? Two things come to my mind. Time/Experience, and Talent to work with.

Sky is the limit for his potential if he is obsessive at improving. I love how the Habs are grooming him with his development and opportunity as he earns things along the way. This is not a spoiled opportunity without earning it in terms of development strategy. Habs new management are smart... not dwelling on either lows or highs.

 

[Adam Michaels]

I really don't know what to think about this kid

He looked like easily one of our best players last night, I was hoping MSL threw him out to start 3v3 because he looked ready to feast. But at the same time, he still left himself open to get rocked a few times. So he's playing really well, but he's still not making the corrections he needs to make.

I see the flashes though and it's possible he ends up even better than Suzuki and Caufield.

He is making corrections to his game. He's improving the more the season goes on. He uses his stick and body positioning better than when he was earlier in the season. He's already improved along the boards. He comes out of those battles with the puck more often now.

He got rocked like 3 times so far. It's not like he's getting rocked every other game. He definitely needs to be more aware. But that also comes with some more experience.

The part that had me annoyed wasn't that Slaf wasn't used at 3v3 in OT. It was the fact he was on the bench for the 5-on-3 the Habs had for close to 2 minutes. And to make it even worse, it was Armia who was on the ice instead of him.

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

He is making corrections to his game. He's improving the more the season goes on. He uses his stick and body positioning better than when he was earlier in the season. He's already improved along the boards. He comes out of those battles with the puck more often now.

He got rocked like 3 times so far. It's not like he's getting rocked every other game. He definitely needs to be more aware. But that also comes with some more experience.

The part that had me annoyed wasn't that Slaf wasn't used at 3v3 in OT. It was the fact he was on the bench for the 5-on-3 the Habs had for close to 2 minutes. And to make it even worse, it was Armia who was on the ice instead of him.

That too, especially with Caufield out, Slafkovsky has the next best 1 time threat on the team. He should've been out there for the 5on3 and the 4on3 in OT. You could see it in his behavior he really wanted to rip one in

 

[Hannibal]

His flashes are already better than what Kaako and Lafreniere showed. Both 2 high pick wingers that Slaf was compared too.

 

[26Mats]

Anderson won’t be dealt unless some team massively overpays - HuGo’s focus has been on trying to get the team bigger without sacrificing pace

Yet Hughes said at the start of the season in a press conference whether he'd trade Anderson for a prospect. And his response was: or a pick.

And, numerous times he brought up Anderson's name when reporters didn't even ask him about him, saying things like, we finished last in the league, we're going to have to make changes, we like Josh Anderson, but we're going to have to make changes.

 

[26Mats]

That too, especially with Caufield out, Slafkovsky has the next best 1 time threat on the team. He should've been out there for the 5on3 and the 4on3 in OT. You could see it in his behavior he really wanted to rip one in

He was finally out ther on the 4 on 3 in OT but kept missing the net. It was a start, good experience for him. He should have been out there earlier for one. He may steal Monahan's spot - or take it over if Monahan is moved.

 

[Tyson]

A future star power forward. The kid can play

 

[Vachon23]

 

[Habs Halifax]

That too, especially with Caufield out, Slafkovsky has the next best 1 time threat on the team. He should've been out there for the 5on3 and the 4on3 in OT. You could see it in his behavior he really wanted to rip one in

Yeah, I loved it when he skated in and just ripped it. Ability to identify situations like this is important.

He wants the puck on his stick. All he is missing is experience/time and talent to work with. He's also use to being the go to guy (pre NHL) and with the Habs, he not a go to guy just yet.

 

[417]

KK and Chucky should have played at least another year outside the NHL. Chucky just to give him more time to heal up (and that made a difference later) and KK so he could see more games. Slaf just needs games at this level, his progression is self-apparent.

I don't think things would have changed with Galchenuk if he played another half season in the OHL, because he would have still been left stuck behind David Desharnais and shuffled back and forth between wing/center, he'd still have certain off-ice issues, etc.

Kotkaniemi? Maybe...but I also don't think another year in Assat would have drastically altered the career trajectory he's been and is currently on.

But I digress, in agreement with Slafkovsky.

 

[le_sean]

Not the first time he’s done this either

 

[SlafySZN]

Not sure about his hockey iQ but some people were questioning his real life iQ and I find that so strange.
The guy is so self aware and can even laugh at himself while showing he is a confidant person and you can tell he knows how good he can be. The fact he even said that he needed an assist after wright scored or he would be labeled a *bust* just shows how mature he is and that he's not afraid to fail and says things as they are. How many first overall picks would refer to themselves (even jokingly) or even utter the words *bust* into existence.
This guys attitude is one of his strong points , I can see how he woo'ed people at the interviews

Perfect kid for our market. Doesn’t seem stressed or overwhelmed at all.

 

[Kennerback]

His assist yesterday was more impressive than his goals. Used his body to gain time and space then a perfect pass. Exactly what you want a power forward to do.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

His assist yesterday was more impressive than his goals. Used his body to gain time and space then a perfect pass. Exactly what you want a power forward to do.

Gotta give credit to anderson aswell for battling through 3 flames and getting his stick down. Real strong play by both of them

 

[MTL Dirty Birdy]

His flashes are already better than what Kaako and Lafreniere showed. Both 2 high pick wingers that Slaf was compared too.

I think within a year he will be way ahead of these guys.

Gotta give credit to anderson aswell for battling through 3 flames and getting his stick down. Real strong play by both of them

Is it just me, or did our two thoroughbreds look good together??

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

I think within a year he will be way ahead of these guys.


Is it just me, or did our two thoroughbreds look good together??

They are pretty good together , suprisingly, but the real danger for other team is when Monahan is centering them

 

[MonkeyBusiness]

That too, especially with Caufield out, Slafkovsky has the next best 1 time threat on the team. He should've been out there for the 5on3 and the 4on3 in OT. You could see it in his behavior he really wanted to rip one in

I was getting really angry at the line management yesterday. I really don't understand the decision to play the first PP unit for more than 2 minutes in overtime; I think Slaf and Anderson deserved their chance to end the game in OT. Also, like you say, not playing him on 5 on 3 was frustrating.

 

[Ajhccwrs]

SLAFGOATSKY, excellent game for him!!

Hes forcing their hand to give him more responsibilities!!

 

[AHShadow]

His assist yesterday was more impressive than his goals. Used his body to gain time and space then a perfect pass. Exactly what you want a power forward to do.

You know what's even more impressive?

Marc-Antoine Godin from the Athletic highlighted in his article this morning, but he practiced the exact same move a few days ago in practice with Adam Nicholas only to replicate it exactly in-game to tie the game.

Now that's what we call development!

 

[Jaaanosik]

You know what's even more impressive?

Marc-Antoine Godin from the Athletic highlighted in his article this morning, but he practiced the exact same move a few days ago in practice with Adam Nicholas only to replicate it exactly in-game to tie the game.

Now that's what we call development!

I was more impressed by the sequence prior to the goal:



This was a decent hit when Slaf was already leaning to the right.
He did not get down, sustained the hit and continued with the play.

 

[MTL Dirty Birdy]

They are pretty good together , suprisingly, but the real danger for other team is when Monahan is centering them

100%. We can now say we have a legit top 6….. how long have we waited for that?!?!

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

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I was more impressed by the sequence prior to the goal:



This was a decent hit when Slaf was already leaning to the right.
He did not get down, sustained the hit and continued with the play.

Yeah the dude is just naturally strong like an ox. He had no balance and didn't even fall there. Once he learns how to plant the legs and get his ass out watch out.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

KK would have been launched out of earths atmosphere being hit like that on one leg for balance

 

[Tyson]

Yeah the dude is just naturally strong like an ox. He had no balance and didn't even fall there. Once he learns how to plant the legs and get his ass out watch out.

Hughes said he drafted Slaf based on him becoming a great player down the road. The improvements we have seen are eye opening.
Wait until he matures and gets experience. He will be a handful for the best of the best Dmen.

 

[Chr1s97]

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I was more impressed by the sequence prior to the goal:



This was a decent hit when Slaf was already leaning to the right.
He did not get down, sustained the hit and continued with the play.

Yes thats why size always matters to me…. Not saying that I will always pick size over talent, but if you can get both in a player go for it…. Even Anderson if you pay attention he get push left and right 2-3 times like a pinball before getting to the net & Slaf just ate the checc like it was nothing, so strong for an 18yo boy