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

[Egresch]

There is one thing that frustrates me. Why the hell is MSL constantly changing linemates to Slaf? Honestly, since he got promoted from 4th line, he played with Monahan, Anderson, Evans, Dach, Drouin. This kid needs to adjust to so many new things and this is definitely not helping.
It looked like he had some chemistry with Anderson, but he moved Anderson to first line. I do not get this.
MSL's main job is to develop guys like Caufield, Suzuki, Dach and Slaf. Rest of forwards are not a long-term interest of this organization.

 

[NORiculous]

I hope they try him with Suzuki and Caufield in the near future. He looks ready.

No he isn’t. If he wants to stay alive, he should keep his head up. The team should send him in the AHL to protect him until he learns that and is ready.

Where would Slaf rank if he was drafted in 2023?

7-10.

There is one thing that frustrates me. Why the hell is MSL constantly changing linemates to Slaf? Honestly, since he got promoted from 4th line, he played with Monahan, Anderson, Evans, Dach, Drouin. This kid needs to adjust to so many new things and this is definitely not helping.
It looked like he had some chemistry with Anderson, but he moved Anderson to first line. I do not get this.
MSL's main job is to develop guys like Caufield, Suzuki, Dach and Slaf. Rest of forwards are not a long-term interest of this organization.

Because his offense and chemistry with teammates probably isn’t the problem right now.

 

[Egresch]

Because his offense and chemistry with teammates probably isn’t the problem right now.

That's what I'm saying. His hockey IQ is his weakness and he needs to process so many things- pace of NHL, positioning with or without the puck, different rink size, keep your head up, etc. The last thing I would do as a coach is rotating his linemates. You do the same play, it works with Anderson, but not with Drouin. I keep saying, he needs stability, these constant rotations are just stupid.
Btw, I don't have an issue he got benched last game- bad turnover, another penalty.

 

[Tyson]

Slaf is learning on the fly. Imagine how good he will be with more experience and a matured adult frame...

 

[HabsForHire]

He seems kinda lost right now if you ask me. Low iq, always has 1 hand on his stick (always reaching) and always behind the play. But il have patience I guess

 

[salbutera]

Slaf is learning on the fly. Imagine how good he will be with more experience and a matured adult frame...

If he’s able to make it out alive by seasons end

 

[Mrb1p]

I am wondering if you wrote the same about Caufield few games ago when he got that huge hit.
Obviously, his positioning needs to improve, but you can clearly see improvements. He avoided one big hit vs. Sens, now his head was not down. Those are positive signs. He is 18y old European kid with 3 months of experience playing in NA ice rink.

Yes, one = a bazillion.

I had him with questionable IQ a year ago and he sadly hasnt showed me he has good IQ since then.

 

[MasterD]

The team should send him in the AHL to protect him until he learns that and is ready.

The AHL is full of goons trying to make a name for themselves trying to injure high picks. No thank you.

 

[Egresch]

I had him with questionable IQ a year ago and he sadly hasnt showed me he has good IQ since then.

I agree, his hockey IQ is definitely not his strenght. Why would you challenge it even more with constant change of linemates? It is such stupid decision from MSL.
Plus, those changes do not make sense. 1st line should stay untouched. He found some chemistry in 2nd with Anderson and Slaf, but he mixed it. Be honest, this team sucks, they are not fighting for PO spot, so what is he doing?

 

[Tyson]

I do believe his confidence is starting to wane from being bounced around from line to line and having the shortest leash of any forward.
He did play poorly last night though.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I do believe his confidence is starting to wane from being bounced around from line to line and having the shortest leash of any forward.
He did play poorly last night though.

The look on his face when he realized he was out of the top 6 and probably not seeing much ice for the rest of the game is not the head space you want him in.

MSL is failing here right now.

 

[Redux91]

I don't know how many more hits he can take. It's alarming.

I mean

They showed the montage of moments he got hit , and yeah some didn't look great
But then they cut RIGHT to him at the bench, and he's just there sitting, 1 hand on hip, totally fine lol, you would never know he's had whopping hits to him, he's just fine and well built
At least the hits aren't taking him out for weeks on end like.. THEN I'd be way more worried, it's not like he gets hit, misses 2-3 weeks, comes back, gets hit, misses 2-3 weeks come back etc..

This is just a few caught head down/vets lining up who they know is a rookie
He's paying his dues, learning the speed and physicality of the game at the highest level, as the youngest man in the NHL.

It's just hilarious he has his worst game of the year and those 3-4 people pop out of the hole and laugh and claim he was never any good to begin with again like jeeeesus christ
All the good gets erased with just ONE bad game, must be HFhabs lol

 

[Schooner Guy]

It's just hilarious he has his worst game of the year and those 3-4 people pop out of the hole and laugh and claim he was never any good to begin with again like jeeeesus christ
All the good gets erased with just ONE bad game, must be HFhabs lol

The other hilarious thing is every time he gets rocked, the same people come on here and holler "low IQ!". By this logic, every low IQ player in the NHL should get rocked all the time. This is far from the case and there are many low IQ players by NHL standards. Marchand gets rocked often and he has one of the higher hockey IQs in the game.

Slaf's simply an 18 year old prospect learning the timing of the NHL game and how to avoid and absorb hits. Body checking is still part of the NHL.

 

[Twisted Sinister]

The other hilarious thing is every time he gets rocked, the same people come on here and holler "low IQ!". By this logic, every low IQ player in the NHL should get rocked all the time. This is far from the case and there are many low IQ players by NHL standards. Marchand gets rocked often and he has one of the higher hockey IQs in the game.

Slaf's simply an 18 year old prospect learning the timing of the NHL game and how to avoid and absorb hits. Body checking is still part of the NHL.

Him getting rocked constantly is a symptom of the low hockey IQ... Bad decision making is something anyone that was following the prospect noticed for quite a while, long before he joined our organization.

 

[NORiculous]

The AHL is full of goons trying to make a name for themselves trying to injure high picks. No thank you.

Yeah but they are a heck of a lot slower

 

[Schooner Guy]

Him getting rocked constantly is a symptom of the low hockey IQ... Bad decision making is something anyone that was following the prospect noticed for quite a while, long before he joined our organization.

Did "the next one" Eric Lindros have low hockey IQ? Absurd!

Being more elusive is certainly something Slaf needs to work on but these low IQ claims are out to lunch.

 

[Twisted Sinister]

Did "the next one" Eric Lindros have low hockey IQ? Absurd!

Being more elusive is certainly something Slaf needs to work on but these low IQ claims are out to lunch.

Correlation is not causation. People get checked for lots of reasons. Implying it's always a hockey IQ issue is a strawman and a disingenuous point to make. Someone can have good hockey IQ and also be unable to protect themselves or keep their head up while playing.

For Slaf, it's both, in my opinion.

 

[Runner77]

The look on his face when he realized he was out of the top 6 and probably not seeing much ice for the rest of the game is not the head space you want him in.

MSL is failing here right now.

I tend not too be overly concerned about how he's being used since I see his adaptation to the NHL level as a big step in and of itself, given how he did not come from a North American hockey system.

Was wondering how you perceive all the big hits he's been getting without any pushback on his part. I mean, can you name the last NHL player that Ghostbear made a massive hit on, like he did on Slaf? I do realize that almost all of the big hits he's been receiving are legal, I don't get how he doesn't respond. He seems to just take it and take it. I'm not saying he should do it in the moment and put his team at a disadvantage but just take the number of the guy who hit him and when an opportunity presents itself, give it back in kind with a powerful legal hit that sends a message.

I have a feeling that word is getting around that he's an easy target for hits and that players on opposing teams can make themselves look good by targeting him with little consequence. This is the part where he doesn't deal with those situations like a player coming out of the NCAA or the CHL, would -- there would be payback, especially from someone with his size. Slaf seems to have no malice, he just keeps taking these major wipeout types of hits.

Also, it's not even about keeping his head up as we saw yesterday, his head looked to be up when the Ghost wiped him out solid. It's about a lack of situational awareness and a failure to act with urgency and I guess a lack of experience with the North American game and ice surface.

When it's not just reputed assholes that are taking runs at him but even pipsqueaks like Ghost that no one fears, I just don't know how long Slaf can keep doing that and not find himself becoming a concussion liability. How he solves this part of his game, I don't know but it is a source of concern given how often it's been occurring.

 

[Twisted Sinister]

I tend not too be overly concerned about how he's being used since I see his adaptation to the NHL level as a big step in and of itself, given how he did not come from a North American hockey system.

Was wondering how you perceive all the big hits he's been getting without any pushback on his part. I mean, can you name the last NHL player that Ghostbear made a massive hit on, like he did on Slaf? I do realize that almost all of the big hits he's been receiving are legal, I don't get how he doesn't respond. He seems to just take it and take it. I'm not saying he should do it in the moment and put his team at a disadvantage but just take the number of the guy who hit him and when an opportunity presents itself, give it back in kind with a powerful legal hit that sends a message.

I have a feeling that word is getting around that he's an easy target for hits and that players on opposing teams can make themselves look good by targeting him with little consequence. This is the part where he doesn't deal with those situations like a player coming out of the NCAA or the CHL, would -- there would be payback, especially from someone with his size. Slaf seems to have no malice, he just keeps taking these major wipeout types of hits.

Also, it's not even about keeping his head up as we saw yesterday, his head looked to be up when the Ghost wiped him out solid. It's about a lack of situational awareness and a failure to act with urgency and I guess a lack of experience with the North American game and ice surface.

When it's not just reputed assholes that are taking runs at him but even pipsqueaks like Ghost that no one fears, I just don't know how long Slaf can keep doing that and not find himself becoming a concussion liability. How he solves this part of his game, I don't know but it is a source of concern given how often it's been occurring.

This is quite the good point.

 

[BLONG7]

I do believe his confidence is starting to wane from being bounced around from line to line and having the shortest leash of any forward.
He did play poorly last night though.

I still think if this is how he is used, I really thought they would send him to the WJC and let him have a great tourney and come back full of confidence.....
Double edged sword yes, but worth the risk.

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

I hope they try him with Suzuki and Caufield in the near future. He looks ready.

He definitely does not look ready to play against the best forwards and defensemen of opposing teams

 

[Twisted Sinister]

He definitely does not look ready to play against the best forwards and defensemen of opposing teams

It's fine that he isn't ready. Not many 18 year olds would be. My concern is that he makes it to his 19-year-old season intact.

I'm wondering if him getting clobbered is why MSL is benching him.

 

[Redux91]

It's fine that he isn't ready. Not many 18 year olds would be. My concern is that he makes it to his 19-year-old season intact.

I'm wondering if him getting clobbered is why MSL is benching him.

Could be.
How that helps or makes him better is curious tho.

 

[Egresch]

I'm wondering if him getting clobbered is why MSL is benching him.

- Avoid big hits
- No turnovers
- No penalties
This might be key expectations from MSL and Slaf failed all of them last night. He deserved to be benched.

 

[Habs Halifax]

He definitely does not look ready to play against the best forwards and defensemen of opposing teams

I think he is fine but the area he is making mistake at are the intangibles. MSL is getting a little frustrated cause the intangibles should be easy to learn. Making puck management errors where it cost you transition going the other way is a big no no in the NHL. Caufield actually did this before and once MSL started coaching him, he likely said you can do whatever you want offensively but don't turn it over in critical areas.

I'm OK with him being in the NHL at age 18 but man... not sure if Montreal is the place for that. Every move MSL makes with Slaf is under the radar and microscope.