If you thought Slaf was going to be anything like Lucic because he's big you were setting yourself up for disappointment. He was not a bruiser or particularly mean at any point in his career.
I sure do hope he doesn't play like Lucic cause that would be a very disapointing 1st overall pick.
I feel like Slaf’s pick was a big mistake, the guy was all hype no substance from the get go.
It may be we did, but my impression is that none of the forward players in the top10 of this draft will be great. Cooley is still a question mark with his size. It was a bad year to draft. So could he be the worst? Maybe but it is not really our fault.
I would argue the Habs are far from being deep at RHD and Jiricek / Nemec were available. So this is not a good argument. That being said, as a Habs fan of course I hope whatever they Saw in him materializes and makes him an elite NHLer
That’s the point, if and just if, Wright, Nemec or Cooley becomes better player than Slaf. Then Slaf being bad is entirely our fault.
Being big, doesn't necessarily mean you're strong.
and patience better be a part of ours.
The oldtimers just kept their sticks up parallel to their faces.
I meant: prevent being hit
Exactly.
Being big also means, he almost never had to use his size / strength in previous leagues as players likely bounced off him, nor did he need to adjust / brace himself for being hit. There are lots of big & bigger players like him in the NHL (like Luke Schenn) who also know how to use experience / timing to their advantage… something again Slaf never faced previously
The only way you could know that playing in the NHL isn't helping his motivation or confidence, is if he himself tells it to you. I won't talk about what he feels or what he thinks because i don't know him. But i will tell you that he learns a lot since he's here. The kid learns fast and it's obvious looking the way he plays.
