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

[Walrus26]

That might be true if he wasn't playing...but he is.


If he would rather play for Slovakia instead of the Habs with his current usage, that would be a red flag for me .

Wait....what?

If he wants to represent his country and, in his mind, do his very best to bring honour and glory to his country that, let's be honest, doesn't get much opporuntity outside of hockey to shine, that's a "red flag"?

Bloody hell.

 

[417]

Wait....what?

If he wants to represent his country and, in his mind, do his very best to bring honour and glory to his country that, let's be honest, doesn't get much opporuntity outside of hockey to shine, that's a "red flag"?

Bloody hell.

He’s a professional hockey player, this is his job.

If they weren't using him, i’d get it, but he's on the team and it doesn't appear like that's going to change anytime soon.

Does he want to be an NHLer or play in the WJC?

Not even sure why this is even a discussion really lol.

He's a contributing member of this team, he's 3rd in goals, plays on the PP.

And he's gonna go play for Slovakia for 2 weeks in a junior competition?

Pfffttt!

 

[Runner77]

I had that one saved but can't find it anymore so I'm going with this one today instead.

A troll-faced rim shot guy? You Sir, have gone above and beyond the call.

 

[calder candidate]

That might be true if he wasn't playing...but he is.


If he would rather play for Slovakia instead of the Habs with his current usage, that would be a red flag for me .

He is the least used FW on the team, the only game where he palyed more than 13 min is vs. Arizona and I exagarating but Canada and US WJC team might have better team than Arizona and game might be more intense... We are trying to finish bottom 10, Coming from a smaller hockey nation I can why it could be important for him. I don't see any issue letting him go, if that is what he wants I think not allowing him to go could be a bigger issue.

 

[Goldenhands]

He's progressing slowly but it's evident. I'd still say send him to the world juniors to build confidence. This may be the only year Slovakia has a roster that could possibly medal.

It would be amazing to watch him at the WJC with Mesar and Dvorsky, it would also help the tank...

 

[BenchBrawl]

Slaf is an NHLer now. No more Junior for him.

 

[Kennerback]

He’s a professional hockey player, this is his job.

If they weren't using him, i’d get it, but he's on the team and it doesn't appear like that's going to change anytime soon.

Does he want to be an NHLer or play in the WJC?

Not even sure why this is even a discussion really lol.

He's a contributing member of this team, he's 3rd in goals, plays on the PP.

And he's gonna go play for Slovakia for 2 weeks in a junior competition?

Pfffttt!

The adjustment of Mason McTavish to the NHL shows how massive the jump is from the WJC. He’s doing fine with Anaheim, but not close to his total dominance at the WJC.

 

[calder candidate]

He’s a professional hockey player, this is his job.

If they weren't using him, i’d get it, but he's on the team and it doesn't appear like that's going to change anytime soon.

Does he want to be an NHLer or play in the WJC?

Not even sure why this is even a discussion really lol.

He's a contributing member of this team, he's 3rd in goals, plays on the PP.

And he's gonna go play for Slovakia for 2 weeks in a junior competition?

Pfffttt!

Martin St-Louis requested a trade from TB because he was initially left off the canadian olymplic team by is own GM, you never know what could be be trivial for someone could be very important for someone else. I don't know that I would let 5 regaular season games get in the way of a good relation... It isn't like Rodman going out to party in vegas for a week, it isn't like it will have any effect on him being a NHLer if anything it could only be a positive experience.

 

[Egresch]

Slaf loves representing his country, but he would never ask for being released to WJC. He is a professional.

WJC might be just one option if he starts struggling and Habs want to give him some sort of pressure relief. But lets be honest, the odds are extremely low.

 

[the valiant effort]

What a bizarre conversation. He has 3 goals in 9 NHL games, a pace of 27 over 82 games. The WJC is not on his radar.

 

[Skip Bayless]

He's gotta help the habs tank. No way he goes to a mere international tournament like the WJC, that is so beneath him.

 

[MD thaivuN]

He's gotta help the habs tank. No way he goes to a mere international tournament like the WJC, that is so beneath him.

but's he's closer to ruining the tank than helping the tank

 

[Goldenhands]

What a bizarre conversation. He has 3 goals in 9 NHL games, a pace of 27 over 82 games. The WJC is not on his radar.

There is nothing wrong in sending him represent his country against the best aged juniors in the world, kid would produce alot and Slovakia would be pretty fun to watch. Its not like sending him to the AHL to play with grinders, its sending him there to have fun with his countrymates, gets ton of points and maybe get a medal. I see only positives personally.

 

[Milhouse40]

What a bizarre conversation. He has 3 goals in 9 NHL games, a pace of 27 over 82 games. The WJC is not on his radar.

Let's get there and see what we have in front of us.
If Slaf is progressing, he's staying but if he's without a point for like 10 games and the team is in the crapper.....WJC will be an option.

 

[417]

He is the least used FW on the team, the only game where he palyed more than 13 min is vs. Arizona and I exagarating but Canada and US WJC team might have better team than Arizona and game might be more intense...

He plays an adequate amount of mins, I'm sure it will increase in the coming weeks (assuming he's staying up).

But more importantly, he's finding ways to contribute and he's getting some results. As long as that continues, what’s the benefit of sending him to go play in amateur tournament?
If they start scratching him or if his play drastically changes between now and then, is reconsider my position.

But as things stand now?

Nope.

We are trying to finish bottom 10, Coming from a smaller hockey nation I can why it could be important for him. I don't see any issue letting him go, if that is what he wants I think not allowing him to go could be a bigger issue.

Ain't nobody trying to finish bottom 10 lol

I see several issues with letting him go, but that's not the right question to ask, the right question is what does he stand to gain, especially considering what he's already accomplished internationally.

 

[417]

Martin St-Louis requested a trade from TB because he was initially left off the canadian olymplic team by is own GM, you never know what could be be trivial for someone could be very important for someone else. I don't know that I would let 5 regaular season games get in the way of a good relation... It isn't like Rodman going out to party in vegas for a week, it isn't like it will have any effect on him being a NHLer if anything it could only be a positive experience.

This isn't remotely the same situation, St-Louis was a well established player who had won a Hart trophy, forget it was the Olympics.

The Montreal Canadiens drafted him and signed him to a contract to be a Montreal Canadien, the Slovakian junior national team is really of no concern for them.

Can you just imagine him walking into Kent’s office today and asking for a 3 week leave of absence so he can go win a wjc medal?

 

[Ezpz]

It wouldn't even be a two week break because of the NHL pause during Christmas. He would play more games at the wjc than the Habs have scheduled.

 

[Scriptor]

I think he need to go to the AHL for now, let figure what we do with Dadonov, Hoffman and Drouin… there no way for those guy to build any value or momentum when they are rotating in and out of the lineup and continually changing line combo. It is going to be good for Slaf to get more ice time, it going to be good for these player we are trying to dump, give them there chance and we will be set, either they build some value or they don’t and we can just waive them… But right now if someone is going to play 10min I prefer it to be Dadonov or Hoffman rather than Slaf.

Seriously, who cares. Value for DROUIN, DADONOV OR HOFFMAN will never be that high. Putting them ahead of a kid's development is silly. Waive them if need be and accept the fact they were never worth very much.

They couldn't give Dadonov away in the past at the deadline. Now, he's just an older version of that. Drouin is snake-bitten when shooting with the puck and Hoffman' s only skill -- goal-scoring -- is still MIA.

 

[Xirik]

I wonder if this would be a topic if Slafkovsky was a Canadian player that was invited to be on team Canada.

 

[Goldenhands]

This isn't remotely the same situation, St-Louis was a well established player who had won a Hart trophy, forget it was the Olympics.

The Montreal Canadiens drafted him and signed him to a contract to be a Montreal Canadien, the Slovakian junior national team is really of no concern for them.

Can you just imagine him walking into Kent’s office today and asking for a 3 week leave of absence so he can go win a wjc medal?

He wont ask them, but they will probably propose him that option, the good habits he is acquiring right now are there to stay, playing at the WJC just can be good for his confidence... Lets face it, the only good fowards on this team are Suzuki and Caufield while Dach is blossoming playing with them, any other lines Slaf might play on are trash loaded of washed up vets. So whats best for his development, playing with bottom liners or living a great experience being a headliner in a such tournament? It would also give Hughes more time to showcase his washed up vets to eventually clean the house and it would help the tank. You kill 2 birds with a stone...

Edit: And while Slaf was pretty good last WJC, he didnt dominate that competition, what shouldnt be much of an issue this time.

 

[417]

There is nothing wrong in sending him represent his country against the best aged juniors in the world, kid would produce alot and Slovakia would be pretty fun to watch. Its not like sending him to the AHL to play with grinders, its sending him there to have fun with his countrymates, gets ton of points and maybe get a medal. I see only positives personally.

Do you seriously think Kent Hughes gives a damn about sending his 1st overall pick away for 3 weeks so he can have fun with his countrymates?

Y’all realize these grown people with jobs and people they're accountable too right? Lol

 

[417]

He wont ask them, but they will probably propose him that option, the good habits he is acquiring right now are there to stay, playing at the WJC just can be good for his confidence... Lets face it, the only good fowards on this team are Suzuki and Caufield while Dach is blossoming playing with them, any other lines Slaf might play on are trash loaded of washed up vets. So whats best for his development, playing with bottom liners or living a great experience being a headliner in a such tournament? It would also give Hughes more time to showcase his washed up vets to eventually clean the house and it would help the tank. You kill 2 birds with a stone...

The Montreal Canadiens will not prioritize the Slovakian junior team over the Montreal Canadiens.

Sorry, that's just not gonna happen unless he's struggling in the NHL.

 

[Ezpz]

Do you seriously think Kent Hughes gives a damn about sending his 1st overall pick away for 3 weeks so he can have fun with his countrymates?

Y’all realize these grown people with jobs and people they're accountable too right? Lol

Juniors aren't even two weeks long. It's 11 days, I'm sure Slovakia would be perfectly fine if Slaf missed most of training camp.

 

[Goldenhands]

Do you seriously think Kent Hughes gives a damn about sending his 1st overall pick away for 3 weeks so he can have fun with his countrymates?

Y’all realize these grown people with jobs and people they're accountable too right? Lol

Im pretty sure what Hughes and the rest of the staff want is whats best for his development and its not like this team has any hope of make the playoffs. Sending him to the WJC for only 3 weeks is something that would serve everyone's best interests.

 

[417]

Im pretty sure what Hughes and the rest of the staff want is whats best for his development and its not like this team has any hope of make the playoffs. Sending him to the WJC for only 3 weeks is something that would serve everyone's best interests.

It's just an amateur tournament man lol

TSN has really brainwashed people into thinking it's some catapult to stardom.

He's an NHL player NHL >>> WJC.

That's my take on it and as long as things continue to progress with him like they have, I think the suggestion to send him there for 3 weeks is completely pointless.