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

[BaseballCoach]

One could say otherwise with their recent draft picks

But I agree with you, he should stay in the NHL. Unless the rumour, at the beginning of the year, that he would be sent down before playing 40 games so the Habs gain 1 more year of control is true, I don't see what he can gain by playing there.

The one year of control is not that meaningful anymore, now that top young players don't sign two bridge deals to get to one year shy of UFA. Most good players sign a 6-8 year deal after the ELC, to get them to about 28-31 years old.

 

[CoupeStanley]

Usually, you send a guy to the WJC when his stint in the NHL is over and you return the guy to junior after the tournament.

Doesn't make that much sense to sends Slaf there. He already dominated in the Olympic and WC. It is in the NHL that he needs to prove himself and he's learning fast.

I get the having fun part but he's gonna lose close to a month of NHL salary (100k +) to go there. I doubt that makes him smile as much as some fan here.

 

[Kennerback]

Literally no one cares about the WJC in Slovakia, so I doubt he'll have sleepless nights because of not participating in the WJC. Unless there is some miracle and Montreal goes deep into the PO, he will be playing in the men's world championships, which is more important to the Slovak people.

I didn’t want to say it, but having looked at Slovak papers WC is indeed much more important than here and the WJC is the other way around.

 

[stenlis]

Great stuff! How did you figure out who was 18 as a rookie? I found the process quite tedious so I went with 'rookie season following draft' instead. As the games tick on I think we will see if he trends up or down - 9 games really is premature, the difference between 2pts in 9gp and 4pts in 9gp is 50%... but the plus/minus is interesting to see, good job by Slaf there so far, for sure.

I just posted my earlier table and analysis on the substack if you want to take a look!

I just looked at the date of their first game. Yeah, 9 games is a small sample, but that's what we've got.

 

[The Great Weal]

Usually, with a prospect that has 3 points in 9 games, I'd say send him down to get more chances offensively. That being said Slaf has looked much better and has gotten his 3 points in the last 4 games I believe while looking very confident.

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

Usually, you send a guy to the WJC when his stint in the NHL is over and you return the guy to junior after the tournament.

Doesn't make that much sense to sends Slaf there. He already dominated in the Olympic and WC. It is in the NHL that he needs to prove himself and he's learning fast.

He's playing 10-11 min a night on the 4th line in the nhl. Playing 20+ min in the world juniors for a couple of weeks could do well for his development.

I get the having fun part but he's gonna lose close to a month of NHL salary (100k +) to go there. I doubt that makes him smile as much as some fan here.

I don't know if the first part is true, but I'm sure that Slaf would always be happy to represent Slovakia in international tournaments. Even more so in this case considering Slovakia has never won a gold medal (or even a silver medal) in the world juniors, and they have a legitimate chance of going all the way this year if he plays.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

Usually, with a prospect that has 3 points in 9 games, I'd say send him down to get more chances offensively. That being said Slaf has looked much better and has gotten his 3 points in the last 4 games I believe while looking very confident.

When those 3 points are high level/ skilled goals scored against NHL competition, you also have to consider the propriety and wisdom of sending the player down.

 

[tobu]

Slaf has been practicing on the PP unit, expecting more icetime for him.

 

[Xirik]

It's like Young Sheldon getting into university at 11, but going back to help his Middle School in the State Championship science contest.

Its more like going to university at 11 but the American Government wants Sheldon to join their national middle school science team in a competition against the World and especially....the Russians.

 

[DAChampion]

Slaf should go to the WJCs.

 

[vlady]

Literally no one cares about the WJC in Slovakia, so I doubt he'll have sleepless nights because of not participating in the WJC. Unless there is some miracle and Montreal goes deep into the PO, he will be playing in the men's world championships, which is more important to the Slovak people.

Well, this is false. I am in Slovakia and I care

Re: Slaf at WJC, I am conflicted. I would love for us to have the strongest possible lineup when we have such a strong cohort of players right now, but I am a realist and I don't think it's going to happen. I also love watching Slaf playing in the NHL and I don't want him to lose momentum by leaving the team for a couple of weeks.

I also don't think it would be a good signal to his teammates if he said: "Sorry guys, I need to dunk on some kids for a couple of weeks, see you then."

As of right now I don't think it would make sense to send him there.

 

[Xirik]

Now I definitely want Slaf to go to the WJC just to see what @417 does when he learns of it.

Instant Redflag! Must trade before value dips any lower! Damn Euro's!

 

[schwang26]

Slaf should go to the WJCs.

You guys are all assuming he would dominate. I don't think that's guaranteed. What kind of production would be considered acceptable for him? It's probable he would do well, but what if he didn't? What if he got hurt? He's a Habs player after all, so that's a gimme.

He's better off continuing to develop in the pros. Not getting side tracked for a tournament.

 

[Nico Cauzuki]

Slafkovsky - Dvorsky - Mesar would be a fun line for Slovakia

future habs line

 

[billy piton]

He's playing 10-11 min a night on the 4th line in the nhl. Playing 20+ min in the world juniors for a couple of weeks could do well for his development.


I don't know if the first part is true, but I'm sure that Slaf would always be happy to represent Slovakia in international tournaments. Even more so in this case considering Slovakia has never won a gold medal (or even a silver medal) in the world juniors, and they have a legitimate chance of going all the way this year if he plays.

they didn't allow him to play wjc this off season, what makes you think they'll allow him during the nhl season? this whole "send slafkovsky anywhere" story has to die.

 

[Kennerback]

You guys are all assuming he would dominate. I don't think that's guaranteed. What kind of production would be considered acceptable for him? It's probable he would do well, but what if he didn't? What if he got hurt? He's a Habs player after all, so that's a gimme.

He's better off continuing to develop in the pros. Not getting side tracked for a tournament.

McTavish’s numbers are no help for him once he’s in the NHL. Whatever Slaf does, 5, 10, 15, 20 points proves nothing to no one. Literally no one will care and it will impress no one. The NHL numbers he has when he comes back from the WJC are what’s important.

 

[schwang26]

McTavish’s numbers are no help for him once he’s in the NHL. Whatever Slaf does, 5, 10, 15, 20 points proves nothing to no one. Literally no one will care and it will impress no one. The NHL numbers he has when he comes back from the WJC are what’s important.

So. What does letting him go accomplish then?

 

[417]

Now I definitely want Slaf to go to the WJC just to see what @417 does when he learns of it.

Instant Redflag! Must trade before value dips any lower! Damn Euro's!

How you surmised that from my post is baffling.

You keep wishing for that wjc though lol. Meanwhile the team is doing everything to make sure Slafkovky stays in Montreal lol

Damn Euros? Wtf is wrong with you?

What does his ethnicity have to do with anything? Lol

they didn't allow him to play wjc this off season, what makes you think they'll allow him during the nhl season? this whole "send slafkovsky anywhere" story has to die.

Man I totally forgot about that lol

It makes this discussion even more ridiculous.

 

[Kennerback]

So. What does letting him go accomplish then?

The argument is that it would help with his development in the long term. Perhaps also build his leadership skills and confidence.

 

[BaseballCoach]

Slaf should go to the WJCs.

So that he can dominate and you can feel better?

 

[schwang26]

The argument is that it would help with his development in the long term. Perhaps also build his leadership skills and confidence.

Ya but one could argue that if they felt he needed that, then they should've put him in junior. He's in the NHL now which I'm assuming is where they want him to be playing. A 2 week tournament won't turn him into the next Koivu. If anything., it might set him back.

 

[kudla]

Literally no one cares about the WJC in Slovakia, so I doubt he'll have sleepless nights because of not participating in the WJC. Unless there is some miracle and Montreal goes deep into the PO, he will be playing in the men's world championships, which is more important to the Slovak people.

What a terrible statement. I dare to say that Slovakia trails only behind Canada and maybe Finland in WJC popularity

 

[417]

The argument is that it would help with his development in the long term. Perhaps also build his leadership skills and confidence.

Dach was captain of the wjc team, does anyone think hes a future captain?

 

[Andrei79]

What a terrible statement. I dare to say that Slovakia trails only behind Canada and maybe Finland in WJC popularity

Yeah, that was a surprising statement to me. I'm by no means an expert on Czech/Slovak hockey. I lived in Prague for a while, went many times to Slovakia and hockey seemed to be a part of the fabric of both countries. We'd get WJC news and fans knew about the up and coming players. Heck, last year's trio and Slaf in particular are already popular.

 

[Kennerback]

What a terrible statement. I dare to say that Slovakia trails only behind Canada and maybe Finland in WJC popularity

What’s more important in Slovakia WC or WJC?