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

[Andrei79]

A few weeks ago MSL said that if a player needs to score to have confidence he's not thinking about it the right way since scoring is a rare occasion over the entire length of a game in most games.

True, but it's something that happens. If the coaching staff can manage these situations without young players being affected, then we have a high tier coaching staff. It's still something to keep in mind, but from what I read from management, they're regularly reassessing.

 

[ZUKI]

Funny, I thought the most impressive part of his game to date has been his willingness to engage in physical contests for the puck whether along the boards or off the forecheck. He still has a lot to improve upon: defensive awareness; anticipation off the rush and learning to shed his habit of playing with one hand on the stick. But I have seen no indication that Slafkovsky shies away from contact. He's 18. He will have his good games and he will have his bad ones. But so far, the good has outweighed the bad. But, if that balance changes, then sending him to the AHL is always an option. Until then, it would appear that the team's management, his coaches and most fans want him on the team. So until then, you, and the rest of us, will have to endure watching this non-generic freak play for the Canadiens.

I was amazed to see how good he's to battle for the puck along the boards. He wins a lot of his battles. Some don't like he holds his stick with one hand, but he's efficient to take away the puck of his opponents.

I think that we overlook at his development path. Fans are scared that he will turn into another Galchenyuk or Kotkaneimi. But he's not them and don't forget that Galchy got a 30 goals season and it isn't the on the Habs that he wasn't listen to his coaches and that he turned into a night lifer . KK is still young and (was it the ex price coach that said) he wasn't listening to his coaches either...

MSL said that he would give more ice once he will be more familiar with the ice size and the speed of the NHL. Habs aren't in the run of a playoffs run, this season is different of the ones of the last decade because there isn't the attempts, the pressure of going far. Then i don't see why to compare what MSL will do this season, with what have been done the previous seasons by different persons /coaches/teams.

 

[Xirik]

This is why you don't draft Slovak players, They just fall over at the slightest breeze...


Man, life is good when you can make yourself laugh.

 

[Mrb1p]

If I read one more f***ing comparison to the way KK was treated. I'm going postal!

Slaf isn't being treated anywhere near the same way that KK, Galchenyuk or anyone of our other young players were treated in the past. Agree or disagree about whether he should be playing in the NHL or not. But please tell me you can see the obvious difference in the way he's being treated. In comparison to others, under previous management.

KK was playing 4 minutes more a game, for starters.

 

[Jaaanosik]

KK was playing 4 minutes more a game, for starters.

There you go, you have just proved the case they are not treated the same way.

 

[HabsCowboysOwn]

He needs to keep his head up and learn to be more aware of his surroundings but his toughness level doesn’t concern me at all, he’s already built like a truck and will only get stronger.

Remember when that Buffalo plug tried to run him over in rookie camp and he barely moved? He‘ll be fine.

 

[Father Roy Richards]

Yeah I guess we're just stuck with those useless good for nothing Goals lol

Les nerfs with the no hitting, I've seen him throw plenty of hits dude
You're just a little rattled by what you saw and it's ok, itll BE okay

Testify. It will always be okay. A little time with the Good Book helps keeps things in perspective. Slafkovsky will learn how to use his size and strength in very short order, not only is he 18 years old but he has 7 career NHL games. He has the strength/size, the next step is learning how to impose it in the NHL, it may take a little more time than we'd like but you can see what a monster he will be on the boards already.

 

[ZUKI]

If I read one more f***ing comparison to the way KK was treated. I'm going postal!

Slaf isn't being treated anywhere near the same way that KK, Galchenyuk or anyone of our other young players were treated in the past. Agree or disagree about whether he should be playing in the NHL or not. But please tell me you can see the obvious difference in the way he's being treated. In comparison to others, under previous management.

seeing your avatar, i joint this for you ;

 

[ChesterNimitz]

I would sent him to Laval if you can’t play him 16-18min and he isn’t dominant for the 10min he is playing there no use to burn a year of ELC, FW usually hit there prime 24-26yo,more than 9 game s burn a year of ELC and I think that if he play the 41 games he will be eligible for UFA at 25yo…
Sending him down might not be great for confidence but having your every move analyzed while just try to keep you head above water in the NHL isn’t any better.
Send both Slaf and Xhekaj down have them dominate in the AHL, play the tank squad bring them up after the deadline or once we drop some dead weight…

Dominant? How many 18 year old rookies over the past 10 years in the league have been dominant? Frankly, there isn't one player on our current roster that is dominant for the 10 minutes or whatever time that they play.

 

[calder candidate]

Dominant? How many 18 year old rookies over the past 10 years in the league have been dominant? Frankly, there isn't one player on our current roster that is dominant for the 10 minutes or whatever time that they play.

Dominant might be too strong of a word but a player that clearly belong and having a impact in the NHL, I’m guessing 8 but I’m likely forgetting 1 or 2 (Matthew, Laine, Mcdavid, Echiel, Tkachuk, Svechnikov, Mackinnon, Pastrnak) but that is the point, there no shame in not being ready, most of the impact player weren’t in the NHL at18yo they dominated the Jr ligues. Right now Slaf is keeping is head above water but he isn’t striving, clearly he has the tools and abilities but playing half a season in the AHL won’t make make them disappear if anything he just learn how to use them better/faster.

 

[admiralcadillac]

He did, and yet he got the least ice time out of all skaters. Kinda lame.

He was awesome on the 2nd PP and somehow didnt see ice on the next PP.

Similar ice time to Anderson though

 

[ChesterNimitz]

Dominant might be too strong of a word but a player that clearly belong and having a impact in the NHL, I’m guessing 8 but I’m likely forgetting 1 or 2 (Matthew, Laine, Mcdavid, Echiel, Tkachuk, Svechnikov, Mackinnon, Pastrnak) but that is the point, there no shame in not being ready, most of the impact player weren’t in the NHL at18yo they dominated the Jr ligues. Right now Slaf is keeping is head above water but he isn’t striving, clearly he has the tools and abilities but playing half a season in the AHL won’t make make them disappear if anything he just learn how to use them better/faster.

Your point is taken. Let's see how he fares over the next few weeks. Slafkovsky is a key element in the team's future. Where he plays should be a question of what level of play is the best for this young player's development. I have always said if he is not being overwhelmed by the level of play in the NHL, it is best for him to play against superior competition under the tutelage of the best coaches. Also, with such an important asset, I wouldn't care too much about burning one year of his ELC. That would be a clear case of being penny wise and a pound foolish. Do what's best for the kid. Period.

 

[calder candidate]

Your point is taken. Let's see how he fares over the next few weeks. Slafkovsky is a key element in the team's future. Where he plays should be a question of what level of play is the best for this young player's development. I have always said if he is not being overwhelmed by the level of play in the NHL, it is best for him to play against superior competition under the tutelage of the best coaches. Also, with such an important asset, I wouldn't care too much about burning one year of his ELC. That would be a clear case of being penny wise and a pound foolish. Do what's best for the kid. Period.

I agree that burning a years of ELC isn’t a big deal, affecting is RFA/UFA statut is pretty significant (we would not have lost KK to a offer sheet if he would have not played is 18yo season, MB might of had more leverage for a trade) but regardless I agree that the decision need to be what is best for him, I just think playing in the AHL is best for him since he need ice time and he need to be able to unleash and control is abilities not playing not to make mistake. AHL is better than Liiga and he was not even getting top line minutes in Liiga, AHL is a significant level of competition for him, just because he can play in the NHL it doesn’t mean that it is best for him like it wasn’t for 99% of all NHL players. most player that bust were able to play in the NHL they just stop progressing.
Also we have like 15 NHL FW it isn’t good for moral to have guys sitting out, play the tank squad Dadonov, Hoffman, Pezz and Drouin, Slaf isn’t really outplaying by a wide margin, there is no issue with having them only play 10min… also when you are is size getting push by a 5’9’’ player even if it was just a case of him not expecting the contact or being off balance still falling awkwardly in the board like that could have been a significant shoulder injury. he need to adjust to the speed and physicality of the NHL, the AHL is the ~2nd best league in the world it might be slower but it is probably a more physical, so it is perfect for him to adjust he might not even have to spend the reste of the season there he likely to be back in the NHL after the TDL.

 

[Habs10Habs]

KK was playing 4 minutes more a game, for starters.

He was also getting benched or sat out for any mistakes he made. You claimed earlier that some of us need to be more patient. MSL is increasing his responsibilities slowly. I'd say they are being patient with him. Slowly increasing his ice time, as he continues to improve.

 

[417]

Right now, when will it be? Will you say the same thing in 3 years like we did with KK?

He's played 7 games...breathe fam

 

[salbutera]

US Thanksgiving is exactly 3-weeks away, and game intensity will start slowly ramping up - Habs young players will start getting focused on / targeted more & more physically, we’ve seen it last few games, it’s already started with more to come

Next 6-weeks will be a good litmus test for the young players

 

[Mrb1p]

He was also getting benched or sat out for any mistakes he made. You claimed earlier that some of us need to be more patient. MSL is increasing his responsibilities slowly. I'd say they are being patient with him. Slowly increasing his ice time, as he continues to improve.

Not in his first ten. Lets hope it goes the other way for Slaf.

 

[Habs10Habs]

Not in his first ten. Lets hope it goes the other way for Slaf.

True, but when you bring up KK. I'm looking at the way he was treated overall. Not just in his first 10 to 20 games.

 

[Habs Halifax]

I’m not going there.

 

[SoupNazi]

Testify. It will always be okay. A little time with the Good Book helps keeps things in perspective. Slafkovsky will learn how to use his size and strength in very short order, not only is he 18 years old but he has 7 career NHL games. He has the strength/size, the next step is learning how to impose it in the NHL, it may take a little more time than we'd like but you can see what a monster he will be on the boards already.

Do explain what the Good Book has to do with Slafkovsky?

 

[Habs Halifax]

7 games now. Two more and then they decide? Or have they already decided he will stay?

 

[SlafySZN]

7 games now. Two more and then they decide? Or have they already decided he will stay?

Why are people talking about 9 games for Slafkovsky? It does not apply to him…

 

[Habs Halifax]

Why are people talking about 9 games for Slafkovsky? It does not apply to him…

Why not? Provide the context and maybe people stop talking about it?

 

[HabsForHire]

Why are people talking about 9 games for Slafkovsky? It does not apply to him…

Why wouldn't it apply ?

 

[ZUKI]

He was also getting benched or sat out for any mistakes he made. You claimed earlier that some of us need to be more patient. MSL is increasing his responsibilities slowly. I'd say they are being patient with him. Slowly increasing his ice time, as he continues to improve.

KK was getting benched for mistakes he made, yes, but it was also because he didn't accept to follow the coaches advises/recommendations. In the end it was for mistakes he re-re-re-re-made