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

[Kennerback]

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.

Most annoying thing I’ve seen Wright do is directing veteran Kraken players where to go when the puck is in their zone during an NHL game. It’s not a one-off, he’s done it a few times.. My problem is the fact his Defensive play is one of the main factors he’s not an NHL regular yet. With that said, if the attitude is the only issue and the hockey is great, I’d take Wright (and Drouin) on my team in a heartbeat.

 

[Jaaanosik]

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.

Slaf can joke, laugh at himself and be open about it, not being embarrassed.
That's a very good starting point in understanding where he is and what needs to be done.
Example... mom texting him about shooting. That shows his drive to work hard on his flaws.
Having said that, hockey is an entertainment business.
Slaf allowing others to laugh with him is great for the business.

 

[Jaaanosik]

Most annoying thing I’ve seen Wright do is directing veteran Kraken players where to go when the puck is in their zone during an NHL game. It’s not a one-off, he’s done it a few times.. My problem is the fact his Defensive play is one of the main factors he’s not an NHL regular yet. With that said, if the attitude is the only issue and the hockey is great, I’d take Wright (and Drouin) on my team in a heartbeat.

Bad attitude can break the locker room. It's not black and white on taking them.

 

[Kennerback]

Bad attitude can break the locker room. It's not black and white on taking them.

To me, the attitude needs to be really bad or it needs to be a media fiasco for me not to take them. Team leadership can deal with a problem player off the ice. I prefer a good hockey player over a great human being. But just to be clear, I don’t mind poor attitude (off the ice) if it‘s not affecting the play on the ice.

 

[Tyson]

MSL is starting to feel the frustrations of losing and the rookies will be held accountable while the vets will continue their mediocre play without account.

Can we all agree that Drouin is done as a hockey player?

 

[le_sean]

Slaf can joke, laugh at himself and be open about it, not being embarrassed.
That's a very good starting point in understanding where he is and what needs to be done.
Example... mom texting him about shooting. That shows his drive to work hard on his flaws.
Having said that, hockey is an entertainment business.
Slaf allowing others to laugh with him is great for the business.

He’s just naturally like that. Even the day of the draft, the interviews, etc. It’s genuine. Nothing about Wright seems truly genuine. And I get it, he’s been under a lot of scrutiny and pressure since he was a kid. It’s a good way to protect him. But will that fit here? Who knows.

 

[Skip Bayless]

MSL is starting to feel the frustrations of losing and the rookies will be held accountable while the vets will continue their mediocre play without account.

Can we all agree that Drouin is done as a hockey player?

Drouin is gonna have to become some sort of defensive minded fwd à la Dominic Moore if he wants to stay in the NHL.

 

[Jaaanosik]

To me, the attitude needs to be really bad or it needs to be a media fiasco for me not to take them. Team leadership can deal with a problem player off the ice. I prefer a good hockey player over a great human being. But just to be clear, I don’t mind poor attitude (off the ice) if it‘s not affecting the play on the ice.

This would not work long term, maybe short term, one playoff run.
Long term, too much inside disturbance, friction will destroy any team.

 

[Goldthorpe]

Can we all agree that Drouin is done as a hockey player?

I think he's done with the habs for sure. For the rest, that's Drouin'. Who knows, he may want to try his luck on a smaller market, with less pressure, and changing his role. I wish him the best, to be honest. He's one among a long string of french canadian players who suffered from their time in Montreal, for various reasons.

 

[jrom]

He’s just naturally like that. Even the day of the draft, the interviews, etc. It’s genuine. Nothing about Wright seems truly genuine. And I get it, he’s been under a lot of scrutiny and pressure since he was a kid. It’s a good way to protect him. But will that fit here? Who knows.

I think the CHL "exceptionnal player status" is putting these players on a pedestal and not really helping them beyond playing a year earlier and getting coached to be a robot in interviews.

In terms of mental fortitude, handling pressure / criticism, drive to keep improving, it's on each player to succeed but as a teenager it's easier to "slip" when practically all the feedback you hear is from fawning TSN guys, how you're the next #1OA, etc.

 

[Colezuki]

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.

Every time I watched him I got the opinion he was happy when he scored a pt or 2 but didn’t care if they won. I think wright will be a player everyone looks at and says how great he is but I don’t think he ever wins anything

 

[WeThreeKings]

The funny thing is.. we left the draft with Dach, a 6'4 center who can skate, has silky hands, a high-end passer, and is actually really good on the wall and defensively.

Then you grab Owen Beck who, unlike Wright, is actually the top defensive and face-off center in the OHL and has started to add layers upon layers to his offensive game.

Real masterclass by the Habs to grab a unique powerforward winger at 1, then add Beck and Dach down the middle.

 

[Et le But]

The funny thing is.. we left the draft with Dach, a 6'4 center who can skate, has silky hands, a high-end passer, and is actually really good on the wall and defensively.

Then you grab Owen Beck who, unlike Wright, is actually the top defensive and face-off center in the OHL and has started to add layers upon layers to his offensive game.

Real masterclass by the Habs to grab a unique powerforward winger at 1, then add Beck and Dach down the middle.

Still not sure about Slafkovsky (I like the player the more I see him but I do wonder if one of the two defensemen were the real smart choices in this draft), but the Dach trade alongside it showed real foresight.

 

[SwedishFire]

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

Oilers fans coming in... I dont know. Interrest about how Slaf is doing.

Its easy to be smart in aftrthand, you often dont trade away no 1 picks,you use it. BUT you could had traded down while being top 5-10, and get two R1 picks in top 10? I think Nemec will be a real homerun pick.

 

[SwedishFire]

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 Wright has some problems about thinking before talking, and is a bit impulsive. Emotional unmature. Doesnt aware of consecvenses ofwhat he is saying or sometimes doing. Montreal did right not picking him.

 

[SlafySZN]

Oilers fans coming in... I dont know. Interrest about how Slaf is doing.

Its easy to be smart in aftrthand, you often dont trade away no 1 picks,you use it. BUT you could had traded down while being top 5-10, and get two R1 picks in top 10? I think Nemec will be a real homerun pick.

I’m very pleased with Slafkovsky. I like how he keeps improving!

When i said Cooley would be better i was talking about Wright

 

[Andrei79]

Oilers fans coming in... I dont know. Interrest about how Slaf is doing.

Its easy to be smart in aftrthand, you often dont trade away no 1 picks,you use it. BUT you could had traded down while being top 5-10, and get two R1 picks in top 10? I think Nemec will be a real homerun pick.

To be quite honest, I feel what the Habs did was a decent value play, limiting risk and coming out with another good talent in Dach. I mean, this isn't a case of trading away Barzal for a bust or missing an obvious case of trading down. You're basically asking what seems to be a competent management group to forgo their due diligence, trade down based on speculation about the future, while inventing a scenario where they get two top 10 picks when there wasn't even a team that held two of them. Oh... and somehow being lucky enough to get guys better than Slaf.... when your homerun pick was Nemec. By your logic, wouldn't your play actually have been to keep the no.1 and draft Nemec ?

 

[nhlfan9191]

Most annoying thing I’ve seen Wright do is directing veteran Kraken players where to go when the puck is in their zone during an NHL game. It’s not a one-off, he’s done it a few times.. My problem is the fact his Defensive play is one of the main factors he’s not an NHL regular yet. With that said, if the attitude is the only issue and the hockey is great, I’d take Wright (and Drouin) on my team in a heartbeat.

Wasn’t Wright being a “complete” player one of the big selling points on him? Especially with his production being just alright last season for a high end draft pick in his position. It seems like there’s a lot off with Shane Wright at the moment.

 

[KevSkillz4]

The funny thing is.. we left the draft with Dach, a 6'4 center who can skate, has silky hands, a high-end passer, and is actually really good on the wall and defensively.

Then you grab Owen Beck who, unlike Wright, is actually the top defensive and face-off center in the OHL and has started to add layers upon layers to his offensive game.

Real masterclass by the Habs to grab a unique powerforward winger at 1, then add Beck and Dach down the middle.

Amen.

 

[Nedved]

MSL is starting to feel the frustrations of losing and the rookies will be held accountable while the vets will continue their mediocre play without account.

Can we all agree that Drouin is done as a hockey player?

Next season, when he settles in, I can seem him putting up 60 points beside Dach.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

The funny thing is.. we left the draft with Dach, a 6'4 center who can skate, has silky hands, a high-end passer, and is actually really good on the wall and defensively.

Then you grab Owen Beck who, unlike Wright, is actually the top defensive and face-off center in the OHL and has started to add layers upon layers to his offensive game.

Real masterclass by the Habs to grab a unique powerforward winger at 1, then add Beck and Dach down the middle.

I really love this draft class as Hutson, Engstrom and Rohrer are all legitimate prospects as well and great value for where they were drafted. Even Guindon, Davidson and Nurmi look like strong selections as well. Tourigny may be a wasted pick as I believe they wanted him for Laval like they did with RHP and Simoneau......looks like the kid has other ideas.

 

[BehindTheTimes]

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

Not sure, the “he stopped working hard after being drafted” narrative is true. By most accounts I’ve read he is a very hard worker in the off-season and highly dedicated to his training. It just doesn’t seem to translate to the ice. I have accused him of dogging it before too, but those close to Drouin say his routine is challeging and he brings it, so I’m not sure we can paint everyone with the “if he tries hard, he will succeed brush.”

 

[cphabs]

Maybe he was right on draft day!

Maybe we'll indeed see Slaf-Suzy-Caufield, and sooner than we expected

He's getting better consistently so far, it's fun to see his progression. Can't imagine him at 24 with all of his man strength.. Holy cow.

In three years he will be 21… spooky

 

[Egresch]

Tourigny may be a wasted pick as I believe they wanted him for Laval like they did with RHP and Simoneau......looks like the kid has other ideas.

Actually, Habs scout Krupa helped to arrange his contract in Dukla.Trencin. I think they are fine with his way.

 

[HabzSauce]

Not sure, the “he stopped working hard after being drafted” narrative is true. By most accounts I’ve read he is a very hard worker in the off-season and highly dedicated to his training. It just doesn’t seem to translate to the ice. I have accused him of dogging it before too, but those close to Drouin say his routine is challeging and he brings it, so I’m not sure we can paint everyone with the “if he tries hard, he will succeed brush.”

I've heard this too. Also heard he's overall obsessed with hockey, like even when he's at home he's just watching games and studying the game because he loves it