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

[MonkeyBusiness]

Beautiful, early season Slaf would have gotten rocked and potentially concussed. Hopefully it doesn't happen and he stays healthy and on the ice. Not all hitters are going to be as clean as Luke Schenn was when he hit him.

 

[Kennerback]

So far so good.

My only concern is that he gets knocked on his ass more than I’d like to see.

Size alone won’t protect him. Just ask Lindros and Primeau.

Beautiful, early season Slaf would have gotten rocked and potentially concussed. Hopefully it doesn't happen and he stays healthy and on the ice. Not all hitters are going to be as clean as Luke Schenn was when he hit him.

He likes to skate with the puck. You can't miss him on the ice. He's got a target on his back.

He absolutely needs to continue working on this at practice. It needs to be drilled into his brain.

 

[le_sean]

Some twisted logic, right?

I think it just shows how NA-centric scouting services are, that they cannot accurately equate production and performance in NA Junior leagues to professional Euro leagues. And also, regardless of the level of competition, that the Olympics and World Championships were strong tournaments for a 17 year old to stand out in.

 

[Paddy17]

He does keep his head up most of the time. The biggest danger is that he reaches a lot, and so leans down and gets his head lower and offers it as a first point of contact.

 

[Kennerback]

Slaf has a good motor.
Good Vision.
Good Strength.
Good Puck Control.

He tends too hold onto the puck too long
tries to do too much
think the game a step too slow

His weaknesses as I perceive them are all related to experience. I think he can and will fix those things in his game with TOI and proper coaching.

I think the Jagr comparisons are a bit off. I would probably put Slaf topping out as a 70-80 point power forward.

IMO the key to unlocking all his skills is using his body when he has the puck much more than he does now. Suzuki has all his other skills and more. But Suzuki can't drive the net with someone on his back like Slafkovsky can. That's when he really looks special.

Holding to the puck too long is a problem when he waits that extra quarter second instead of shooting.

 

[waitin425]

IMO the key to unlocking all his skills is using his body when he has the puck much more than he does now. Suzuki has all his other skills and more. But Suzuki can't drive the net with someone on his back like Slafkovsky can. That's when he really looks special.

Holding to the puck too long is a problem when he waits that extra quarter second instead of shooting.

Yeah...Suzuki's biggest asset is by far his intelligence. He sees the game at an elite level. Watching him, I sometimes wish he would play with some urgency to his game and I legit worry about his motor. What he lacks in speed he makes up for in spades with his iq.

If Juraj had Suzuki's IQ.....dear god would that be something sexy

 

[FF de Mars]

The other thing to consider is that Suzuki was being offered the captaincy and was anointed as a 1st line center.

If Hughes didn’t think Wright would be better than Suzuki, why would he use the #1OA on a 2nd line center? (Instead, he used Romanov as a chip for that player). As Hughes had stated, if it was close, position would factor in.

It was an easier choice for Seattle because he was easily the best of the rest.

Yeah the meta leaned towards Slaf at the draft. I loved it when they drafted Slaf, he's my favourite player on the Habs, I'm just saying you can't judge the draft that early; which is why Expat is holding to his opinion and we can't blame him for it, afterall Wright scored a nice goal against us, who knows? But really it doesn't even matter! You wouldn't want to wage war like Pericles, would you!

 

[Spring in Fialta]

So in the end he'll end up being right that the player isnt a 1C and shouldnt be in your top 6 unless you have a real 1C above? Damn, good for him.

I genuinely hope this is sarcasm. I can't seriously think that you believe that the fifty or so posts a day you'd spam about Danault could be boiled down to 'he's not a number 1 center' (which everyone agreed with) when it came to eating the biggest L anyone's ever eaten on this board.

 

[Habs Halifax]

IMO the key to unlocking all his skills is using his body when he has the puck much more than he does now. Suzuki has all his other skills and more. But Suzuki can't drive the net with someone on his back like Slafkovsky can. That's when he really looks special.

Holding to the puck too long is a problem when he waits that extra quarter second instead of shooting.

Not sure if he is a puck hog type that draws attention type but it's very possible. But yeah, if he can use his body and edge work better, things will open up a bit more.

When I look at a guy like Matthews, I noticed a big difference last season at age 24. Not like he was soft from 18-23 but the area I noticed as a huge difference last season was his physical play and puck pressure. It really opened things up even more for him IMO.

If Slaf keeps working on skating, situational awareness, and how to use his physical strength as he fills into his fame, he is going to be a force to deal with. I expect his shot to improve as well and it's pretty good at age 18 already

 

[Mrb1p]

I genuinely hope this is sarcasm. I can't seriously think that you believe that the fifty or so posts a day you'd spam about Danault could be boiled down to 'he's not a number 1 center' (which everyone agreed with) when it came to eating the biggest L anyone's ever eaten on this board.

Yes, it can be boiled down to exactly that lmao. Have you ever read a post I made? Ideal 3C, meh 2C, very f***ing bad 1C.

 

[Skip Bayless]

Slaf has a good motor.
Good Vision.
Good Strength.
Good Puck Control.

He tends too hold onto the puck too long
tries to do too much
think the game a step too slow

His weaknesses as I perceive them are all related to experience. I think he can and will fix those things in his game with TOI and proper coaching.

I think the Jagr comparisons are a bit off. I would probably put Slaf topping out as a 70-80 point power forward.

He's not aggressive enough in his positioning. He's too selfless, always trying to give the easiest option to his teammate, but it causes him to get the puck in positions where he can only be a vessel to the real threat.

Very reminiscent of guys like Armia and Eller.

It's not an IQ thing, it's just a reflex that is going to be hard to beat. It will take confidence and concrete results when he does get those chances to get inside and shoot.

 

[Spring in Fialta]

Yes, it can be boiled down to exactly that lmao. Have you ever read a post I made? Ideal 3C, meh 2C, very f***ing bad 1C.

I'd say I wouldn't be going on a limb to say that describing your activity and opinions as that regarding Danault to be profoundly misleading and something that the entire board would disagree with you on but you keep doing you. Maybe one day the wind will turn in your favor and you'll herald some great player from the unknown and the balance of this board will be restored. I mean, I wouldn't bet on it, but maybe!

 

[Mrb1p]

I'd say I wouldn't be going on a limb to say that describing your activity and opinions as that regarding Danault to be profoundly misleading and something that the entire board would disagree with you on but you keep doing you. Maybe one day the wind will turn in your favor and you'll herald some great player from the unknown and the balance of this board will be restored. I mean, I wouldn't bet on it, but maybe!

Its mostly people like you that painted my argument as ridiculous. Yes, I was critical, but I was always eloquent as to what I thought Drano was, an offensive black hole that produced offense on the back of a grinding playstyle. The kind of player you might want being an answer to other teams top line, but not on your top line. Relying on him for offense was always going to end with a loss. Hes a 50 points guy in the 2nd highest scoring era ever for Careys sakes.

 

[Goldenhands]

Personally I accepted the fact that people will learn to appreciate Slafkovsky for what he is at their own pace. Even Expat will end up appreciating him in due time, it might take time, alot of time, probably some yrs, but he will eventually get there.

 

[BehindTheTimes]

Only time will tell. But early, it doesn’t look like a poor decision as well. But it’s still far to early. Jury won’t be out on the top 4 of the 2022 draft for several years as everyone was a project.

I don’t mean poor decision on taking Slaf, but on Wright sliding. Covid threw everything off and they punished a kid unfairly for his response. A couple GM’s will be looking for a mulligan imo and wish they didn’t judge an 18 year old on his quirkiness or interview, but rather his ability to process and play the game.

He’s going to be elite in this league and his play will do the talking.

 

[SlafySZN]

I don’t mean poor decision on taking Slaf, but on Wright sliding. Covid threw everything off and they punished a kid unfairly for his response. A couple GM’s will be looking for a mulligan imo and wish they didn’t judge an 18 year old on his quirkiness or interview, but rather his ability to process and play the game.

He’s going to be elite in this league and his play will do the talking.

I think Cooley will be better. And looks like Arizona think the same.

 

[Goldenhands]

I don’t mean poor decision on taking Slaf, but on Wright sliding. Covid threw everything off and they punished a kid unfairly for his response. A couple GM’s will be looking for a mulligan imo and wish they didn’t judge an 18 year old on his quirkiness or interview, but rather his ability to process and play the game.

He’s going to be elite in this league and his play will do the talking.

Thats precisely why he dropped, his game play has been inconsistent and disappointing, interviews probably only confirmed their fears.

 

[MasterD]

I don’t mean poor decision on taking Slaf, but on Wright sliding. Covid threw everything off and they punished a kid unfairly for his response. A couple GM’s will be looking for a mulligan imo and wish they didn’t judge an 18 year old on his quirkiness or interview, but rather his ability to process and play the game.

He’s going to be elite in this league and his play will do the talking.

No matter what happens next, doesn’t represent what would have happened. Dropping at the draft might have been the kick he needed to wake up. Or not.

Either way, he got drafted, and drafted 4th OA. Still amongst the best of his year.

 

[SOLR]

I don’t mean poor decision on taking Slaf, but on Wright sliding. Covid threw everything off and they punished a kid unfairly for his response. A couple GM’s will be looking for a mulligan imo and wish they didn’t judge an 18 year old on his quirkiness or interview, but rather his ability to process and play the game.

He’s going to be elite in this league and his play will do the talking.

Don't think they did at all. He's an awkward personality = predictably less success in team environments.

 

[BehindTheTimes]

Thats precisely why he dropped, his game play has been inconsistent and disappointing, interviews probably only confirmed their fears.

Don’t agree with that at all.

 

[JoelWarlord]

A couple GM’s will be looking for a mulligan imo and wish they didn’t judge an 18 year old on his quirkiness or interview, but rather his ability to process and play the game.

They did, they just came to a different conclusion than you. Setting aside Slafkovsky entirely because I really can't be bothered to argue Slafkovsky vs. Wright's hockey sense for the billionth time, it doesn't make any sense to levy that criticism against the Devils and Coyotes. Simon Nemec and Logan Cooley are not players deficient in processing speed or ability whatsoever, this is a false dichotomy.

It's a dead horse at this point, but the "he dropped because of a bad interview" narrative is missing the point. He didn't drop because he was a little shy or didn't have the right answer for what kind of animal he wants to be or whatever weird question they asked. He dropped because he produced like draft year Nick Suzuki and has all of draft year Nick Suzuki's flaws, but was stunned when confronted with these flaws and struggled to accept the criticism.

Suzuki went 13th overall and put in 2+ years of hard work to improve his pace and learn to attack the middle to become a great NHLer, and if Wright was shaken by having those same flaws pointed out it would make teams rightly question his profile. Where would Suzuki be today if he bristled at the suggestion he needed to play with more pace and drive the inside?

 

[Goldthorpe]

I'm sure I'm going to attract the haters with this statement, but I see some Drouin in Wright attitude (no, they don't play the same at all). Drouin was a very talented, very promising and kinda cocky prospect who had trouble adapting his game at the pro level and who clashed with his coaches. A feel Wright is kinda facing the same situation - and I absolutely wish he proves me wrong and manage to succeed.

 

[Habs Halifax]

I'm sure I'm going to attract the haters with this statement, but I see some Drouin in Wright attitude (no, they don't play the same at all). Drouin was a very talented, very promising and kinda cocky prospect who had trouble adapting his game at the pro level and who clashed with his coaches. A feel Wright is kinda facing the same situation - and I absolutely wish he proves me wrong and manage to succeed.

It's all about complacency and if they are obsessed to improve or not. Development from age 18-21 is more important than 15-17. Most of the growth you see in top NHL players comes in the 3 years after they are drafted and the good ones work very hard behind the scenes to improve whatever flaws they got.

Drouin coasted a bit in his junior days. Great skater with very good skill. Problem is he stopped working hard after he was drafted. He got a little scare by being demoted to the AHL and after taking some time to report, he played much better when he was on a mission. His age 20 back half and his age 21 seasons were progression but once he got the big deal with the Habs, he just faded and faded away. It actually got worse each year with Montreal. Even at center in his 1st season, he had more intensity/energy

Not so sure Therrien, Julien, and Ducharme were the right coach for Drouin. Cooper was getting some results but Tampa had cap issues and it was an easy decision to flip him for Sergachev.

With Wright, he may have some energy to prove doubters wrong after going 4th OA. The problem with this is where was his energy in his draft year and do you need others to motivate you or can you motivate yourself by having high standards? I do see what you see... complacency

 

[le_sean]

Don’t agree with that at all.

He might reach a nice potential in Seattle, but it’s clear the kid wasn’t able to take criticism. The reports are he couldn’t handle it in interviews and then you see his childish reaction to dropping to 4th. I can’t imagine him having to answer the media here. Meanwhile Slafkovsky thrives in front of the camera. So if the Habs deemed their potential to be equivalent, other factors such as adaptability will play heavily in decision-making.

 

[GHJimmy]

Are you winning son?

He has the tools and sometimes lack consistency, he's so good at forechecking, he masters that pretty well, imagine when he matures that