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

[BenchBrawl]

This is a most interesting post.

The pre-draft support for Wright as the presumptive 1 OA (that continues even until today) is aptly called a cult. It is the cult of the consensus. Why is it a cult? Because like all cults, it limits and restricts critical thought. The cult of the consensus is a powerful one. It compels its adherents to make excuses when the imperial evidence contradicts the accepted or universal consensus. It's powers even ensnared this writer with respect to Wright.

I had seen Wright as a 15/16 year old player and I readily ascribed to the consensus that he was the next franchise player. He was a step faster and more dynamic than most of the players of his age group. Then came the U18 championships. Wright's play was at best underwhelming. Despite his lofty statistics he was not a driving force for Team Canada. There was no dynamic snap to his game. I mentioned my observations on this forum and suggested that perhaps Wright was injured which injury limited his play. The draw of the cult of consensus is ever present as there must be a reason or explanation for any factor that serves to undermine or challenge the accepted consensus. My observations were met with derision by my fellow cultists. This cult denies any questioning of the pre-ordained consensus. Wright's performance last year during the OHL season, his tepid performance at the prospects game and his invisibility at the truncated WJC convinced me that this kid was not a first overall draft choice. Not even close. This opinion was met with more derision by my former cultists and when I suggested that if Montreal didn't draft Wright number 1 he would fall out of the top 5, many here denounced me as a heretic.

When I suggested similar concerns about Bedard's performance at the recent U18, the enraged cultists of the now Bedard consensus are again branding me a heretic. How dare I challenge the prevailing consensus and suggest that Fantilli may be a better NHL prospect. Unthinkable. To some.

Critical thought. It's a good thing. Everyone should try it. Sometimes, just sometimes, the emperor truly isn't wearing any clothes.

Yeah I wasn't so much wrapped into the cult, since I went back and forth between Wright/Slafkovsky every day leading up to the draft and was completely fine with the Slaf pick, but it still had enough gravita to pull me into its orbit from a distance. I was like f***ing Pluto in that Solar system.

But nothing I saw of Wright on video, with the exception of 2020 highlights where he was more dynamic, showed me that he deserved to get picked in the Top 15 at all.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

We all knew Wright bombed the NHL Combine team interviews. Now, according to Elliot Friedman the specific question that turned off many teams was his answer to the question: “Why didn’t you go play in Europe last season?”. Not sure what he answered but they didn’t like his response.

Frankly, after supposedly watching Wright play in the 18 months leading up to the interviews hadn't convinced teams that this was a flawed prospect, they weren't doing their jobs.

 

[BenchBrawl]

The ONLY thing that impressed me about Wright was his shot. Where does a player with an elite shot and not much else deserves to get picked in a draft? 2nd round?

 

[le_sean]

The ONLY thing that impressed me about Wright was his shot. Where does a player with an elite shot and not much else deserves to get picked in a draft? 2nd round?

He obviously has more to offer than that. It’s just his shot, along with positioning, are his only plus attributes. The rest is good but not necessarily a strength.

 

[Kennerback]

Frankly, after supposedly watching Wright play in the 18 months leading up to the interviews hadn't convinced teams that this was a flawed prospect, they weren't doing their jobs.

Until then he had a rep of having a great personality and was adept at dealing with media. And I had heard that it was a knock on him that he hadn’t gone to Europe.

However I don’t think not going to Europe was a dealbreaker for anyone. But it’s the justification he gave that they had a problem with.

And it also gives the impression that It’s not Slaf having done so well in his interviews so much as Wright f***ing up his own bad.

 

[Habs Halifax]

We all knew Wright bombed the NHL Combine team interviews. Now, according to Elliot Friedman the specific question that turned off many teams was his answer to the question: “Why didn’t you go play in Europe last season?”. Not sure what he answered but they didn’t like his response.

I actually asked that same question back last spring heading towards the draft and some of the defenders said there were not many OHL players that did. I think others talked about that as well.

The other thing that maybe is nothing to be concerned about is his passion for playing guitar. I feel Wright has a lot of talent but has settled. It's likely a Drouin narrative where they feel they made it and the hard work is done now. Crosby was shooting pucks at his parents washer/dryer vs learning how to play guitar. Obsession to improve might be the problem with Wright. How he responds to his rough ride over the last year and how he slipped to 4th will dictate the future development road he will be on. Does he suck it up and work harder or does he complain and whine about it.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

The ONLY thing that impressed me about Wright was his shot. Where does a player with an elite shot and not much else deserves to get picked in a draft? 2nd round?

I would agree. It was his elite shot that allowed him to score so prodigiously at the U18. But at the NHL level you have to be able to create the time and space to use your shot. It's Wright's lack of dynamic skating that will hold him back.

 

[FF de Mars]

I'll join in your conversation. I started growing on Slafkovsky when I watched his pre-draft interview, since there was so few highlights available, his personality convinced me, and I thought the Habs would draft at 3OV. I liked Nemec too, and I still wanted Hugo to draft Wright because I was hanging on those generational player hopes; but I knew I hadn't scouted anyone thouroughly so when they drafted Slaf I was quite happy, I even posted that I didn't mind who they choose as long as they are confident they are making the best choice. I said let the profesionnals do their job. I posted A+ as a draft grade, I was really excited about it all, even when most posters were angry I wasn't. I had even told my grand-mother's boyfriend the Habs would take Slafkovsky like 2 months before the draft, he couldn't believe my foresight, that and how I sold him Caufield when he was complaining about the Habs drafting midgets. I'm really happy with Slafkovsky so far too!

 

[River Meadow]

Rossi just K.O Slafkovsky.

 

[HabsForHire]

So how many games has he played ? 7 ?

 

[Goldenhands]

Rossi just K.O Slafkovsky.

It was at the end of a very long shift where he was totally exhausted, still, he shouldnt have put himself in a such position, thats part of the learning process.

 

[Shawnathon]

It was at the end of a very long shift where he was totally exhausted, still, he shouldnt have put himself in a such position, thats part of the learning process.

You’re just his biggest fan. You have an excuse for everything.

 

[Twisted Sinister]

Well, looks like he got clobbered again. If he's gonna keep getting smashed every game, they really need to send him elsewhere. I don't care how his development goes if his career is hampered by injuries.

 

[Wats]

For someone so big he gets wrecked way too much.

 

[RBZ]

238lbs and plays like Bambi.

 

[Goldenhands]

You’re just his biggest fan. You have an excuse for everything.

Whats not objective in what I said?

 

[Shawnathon]

Whats not objective in what I said?

You’ve been over the top praising him in every Slafkovsky thread. Why not call a spade a spade. He made a really bad play. No need to try and shine a turd. Using exhaustion is an excuse.

 

[Goldenhands]

You’ve been over the top praising him in every Slafkovsky thread. Why not call a spade a spade. He made a really bad play. No need to try and shine a turd. Using exhaustion is an excuse.

Its not an excuse thats reality.

 

[stenlis]

Well, looks like he got clobbered again. If he's gonna keep getting smashed every game, they really need to send him elsewhere. I don't care how his development goes if his career is hampered by injuries.

This was a sneaky hit by Rossi. If you watch carefully you'll see the contact comes at the knee and thigh while Slaf was expecting a shoulder hit. Rossi kind of trip-showed him into the boards, using his short frame to target lower body. Slaf needs to learn to keep his posture low in these situations.

 

[Xirik]

Rossi is a smart player that knows how to use his body. He put all his weight into hitting Slafkovsky's hips.

Remember, Rossi is the guy who trains by walking on a tightrope while doing deke movements with a hockey stick.


If there is a small guy who know how to use his weight and balance effectively and target opponents weak points its him.

 

[Twisted Sinister]

This was a sneaky hit by Rossi. If you watch carefully you'll see the contact comes at the knee and thigh while Slaf was expecting a shoulder hit. Rossi kind of trip-showed him into the boards, using his short frame to target lower body. Slaf needs to learn to keep his posture low in these situations.

I'd really love for him to learn before someone ends his career while he's puckwatching.

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

For someone so big he gets wrecked way too much.

He looks like Jake Evans , He never looks around him.

 

[Heffyhoof]

I assume he played a decent game? The usual whining is only about how he got hit and 'lol big guy fell, he suck at being big.'

 

[Egresch]

In the end, it does not matter at all whether he was exhausted, off balance, etc.
He get knocked too easily and he can get hurt (potentially a very bad injury). This is obviously his main struggle with transition from Europe to NA. In Europe, we have bigger ice, so it is harder for opponents to finish their checks.
I am afraid that move to AHL would be even more dangerous as he would become a target no. 1 for opponents.

 

[ReHabs]

In the end, it does not matter at all whether he was exhausted, off balance, etc.
He get knocked too easily and he can get hurt (potentially a very bad injury). This is obviously his main struggle with transition from Europe to NA. In Europe, we have bigger ice, so it is harder for opponents to finish their checks.
I am afraid that move to AHL would be even more dangerous as he would become a target no. 1 for opponents.

I guess the Habs can ask every opposing team very nicely not to hit Slafkovsky while he is adapting to the NHL

… and don’t hit him when he’s exhausted, y’all

Snark aside, these Welcome To The NHL things happen and isn’t a problem itself but the image is clear: he has a lot to learn.