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

[417]

So that he can dominate and you can feel better?

Nailed it!

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

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.

That's a weak argument.
They didn't want Mesar to play in the wjc during the summer either. Does that mean they won't allow him to go in December? There are a lot of other teams as well that didn't send some of their prospects.

The reason the habs did not send Slafkovsky and Mesar was likely so they could prepare better for the upcoming season considering how busy their summer was.

 

[417]

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.

I think it's besides the point.

The Montreal Canadiens, with all due respect to the Slovakian National Junior Team, are going to do what's best for the Montreal Canadiens with regards to Juraj Slafkovsky.

They're not going to loan him there to play in a junior tournament because it would be “cool” to see him play with his countrymen as it was put to me the other day or because Slovakian fans are passionate about their junior team.

He's their asset...if they decide it's better for his development, ok that's a different story, but look at what's happening with the main roster, does this look like a coaching staff or organization that's ready to not have him here?

They would have sent him down to the AHL already. Instead, they put Pitlick on waivers, and played IR shenanigans with Dadonov just to respect the roster limit.

Would have been easy to just send him down.

 

[Kajoo72]

What’s more important in Slovakia WC or WJC?

WC not even a question, even my 74yo mother watching, WJC clearly disadvantaged by late playing times but in the best pissible time of the year, when everyone enjoying Xmas/NY holidays, pubs filled with folks watching late night hockey

 

[jcbio11]

Slafkovsky needs to stay in the NHL. He has proven he can play at that level, no need to have him play vs kids anymore. No good can come of it. If he dominates, well, he was kind of supposed to after producing at the NHL level, wasn't he? And what happens if he doesn't dominate?

I say this as a Slovak hockey nut who follows and watches the WJC religiously.

BTW for those of you asking, WJC is about as popular in Slovakia as WC is in Canada. Maybe even less so, as hockey dominates in Canada (soccer is the king here). The hard-core hockey people here watch or at least follow the WJC, but the general population is blissfully unaware of the tournament's existence. Meanwhile everybody and their mother watches Team Slovakia play in the WC.

 

[stastny12]

Slafkovsky needs to stay in the NHL. He has proven he can play at that level, no need to have him play vs kids anymore. No good can come of it. If he dominates, well, he was kind of supposed to after producing at the NHL level, wasn't he? And what happens if he doesn't dominate?

I say this as a Slovak hockey nut who follows and watches the WJC religiously.

BTW for those of you asking, WJC is about as popular in Slovakia as WC is in Canada. Maybe even less so, as hockey dominates in Canada (soccer is the king here). The hard-core hockey people here watch or at least follow the WJC, but the general population is blissfully unaware of the tournament's existence. Meanwhile everybody and their mother watches Team Slovakia play in the WC.

I really do not think that soccer is the king in Slovakia. TV numbers and league attendance says it´s hockey actually...

 

[CHfan1]

I’d be surprised if the Habs sent Slafkovsky to the WJC, and I don’t think they should. I’d rather he keep playing for the Habs and continue his development playing for MSL. Every game he’s seemed to have gotten better and is playing a part in keeping the Habs competitive.

Also, after playing in the World championship and the Olympics this year and now with the Habs the WJC seems like a major step back.

If he wants to play for Slovakia I think it should be in the spring in the World Championship.

 

[CAUFIELD]

For my part, I hope he goes to Wjc.

Slovakia has a chance to win with slaf,Nemec, Mesar, Dvorsky. Winning could be good boost for his confidence, combined with good performances.

It’s only 2 weeks also.

Slafs will come back re-inspired after dominating the tournament

 

[Canadienna]

Yeah I guess none of us know what he wants.

But if he does want to go, it's a great opportunity to build some trust and rapport with him, and a risk of doing the opposite if he's denied.

 

[jcbio11]

I really do not think that soccer is the king in Slovakia. TV numbers and league attendance says it´s hockey actually...

Participation. Even the tiniest towns have a pitch and they're all organized in league play. Soccer has hundreds of thousands registered players in Slovakia. Hockey has what, like 10K?

I don't know the numbers for TV, but when Team Slovakia plays soccer, it feels like a bigger deal. Like when they made the World Cup or the EUROs.

Also check sport.sk for example, the order of the sports at the top of the site is - 1. soccer, 2. hockey etc.

Now contrast that to a country like Canada or Finland, where hockey clearly rules, you'll see the hockey category on the top of their sport websites

I don't know, maybe you're right and hockey beats out soccer here as a spectator sport, but it's clearly not as clear cut as in Canada or Finland.

Anywho I don't want to see a second of Slafkovsky at the WJC this year, I'll stick to watching his highlights from Montreal after he plays at night. Now Mesar on the other hand... I'd love me some Filip Mesar on our top line.

 

[DonEsteban]

I think it's besides the point.

The Montreal Canadiens, with all due respect to the Slovakian National Junior Team, are going to do what's best for the Montreal Canadiens with regards to Juraj Slafkovsky.

Yes, exactly. If he tells them that he would really like to play at WJC (I don't know if he really wants), they might send him there. After all, it is in their best interests to keep him happy. And this season the loss of 2 weeks of Slaf in NHL will not make or break the team's overall season, so the downside is rather small.

They're not going to loan him there to play in a junior tournament because it would be “cool” to see him play with his countrymen as it was put to me the other day or because Slovakian fans are passionate about their junior team.

He's their asset...

He is also a rather young human being, not a slave.

if they decide it's better for his development, ok that's a different story

Nobody knows whether it would be better for his development, the level of competition is way lower compared to NHL. However, he would get more icetime and will have to handle high expectations. Plus enjoy himself with his buddies representing his home country and hopefully get more confidence.

Again, I am not saying 'Send him to WJC', I simply object to your 'it is obviously nonsense to send him there'. Let Slaf and the Habs decide.

I see it mostly about the goodwill: This is a very rare season when Slovakia has a good chance at WJC and as such it might mean something for him. The Habs telling him 'we own you, you are professional, it doesn't matter what you want' might not be the best course of action for them in the long term.

 

[Takurcitee]

Participation. Even the tiniest towns have a pitch and they're all organized in league play. Soccer has hundreds of thousands registered players in Slovakia. Hockey has what, like 10K?

I don't know the numbers for TV, but when Team Slovakia plays soccer, it feels like a bigger deal. Like when they made the World Cup or the EUROs.

Also check sport.sk for example, the order of the sports at the top of the site is - 1. soccer, 2. hockey etc.

Now contrast that to a country like Canada or Finland, where hockey clearly rules, you'll see the hockey category on the top of their sport websites

I don't know, maybe you're right and hockey beats out soccer here as a spectator sport, but it's clearly not as clear cut as in Canada or Finland.

Anywho I don't want to see a second of Slafkovsky at the WJC this year, I'll stick to watching his highlights from Montreal after he plays at night. Now Mesar on the other hand... I'd love me some Filip Mesar on our top line.

You are wrong hockey is definitely number 1 sport in Slovakia

 

[Kajoo72]

For my part, I hope he goes to Wjc.

Slovakia has a chance to win with slaf,Nemec, Mesar, Dvorsky. Winning could be good boost for his confidence, combined with good performances.

It’s only 2 weeks also.

Slafs will come back re-inspired after dominating the tournament

Would you get inspired by winning kids cart race after driving Ferrari in Indy ? With all due respect to WJC, it’s purpose is to showcase your skills to get drafted. All done, on to a next challenge. Also, his replacement in big team might hit a hot streak and Slaf could easily find his ass getting shipped to Laval. No one would risk loosing NHL spot (and NHL wages) for a chance to play @ WJC.

 

[Takurcitee]

You are wrong hockey is definitely number 1 sport in Slovakia

Football is much easier and cheaper to play so of course there is more players

Participation. Even the tiniest towns have a pitch and they're all organized in league play. Soccer has hundreds of thousands registered players in Slovakia. Hockey has what, like 10K?

I don't know the numbers for TV, but when Team Slovakia plays soccer, it feels like a bigger deal. Like when they made the World Cup or the EUROs.

Also check sport.sk for example, the order of the sports at the top of the site is - 1. soccer, 2. hockey etc.

Now contrast that to a country like Canada or Finland, where hockey clearly rules, you'll see the hockey category on the top of their sport websites

I don't know, maybe you're right and hockey beats out soccer here as a spectator sport, but it's clearly not as clear cut as in Canada or Finland.

Anywho I don't want to see a second of Slafkovsky at the WJC this year, I'll stick to watching his highlights from Montreal after he plays at night. Now Mesar on the other hand... I'd love me some Filip Mesar on our top line.

Football is much easier and cheaper to play so of course there are more football players

 

[Kajoo72]

You are wrong hockey is definitely number 1 sport in Slovakia

2 WCh weeks in year yes, for the rest of the year it’s imo footie

 

[Takurcitee]

2 WCh weeks in year yes, for the rest of the year it’s imo footie

But like nobody really watches football nt cause it sucks

But like nobody really watches football nt cause it sucks

Everybody watches like champions league and those stuff so nobody really cares much about Slovak football unlike hockey

 

[Kajoo72]

But like nobody really watches football nt cause it sucks

It’s unwatchable, true that. However, NT aside footie is played at every populated place in this country, which cannot be really said about hockey. Number of Teams, registered players etc in football is much, much larger than in hockey.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

I think it's besides the point.

The Montreal Canadiens, with all due respect to the Slovakian National Junior Team, are going to do what's best for the Montreal Canadiens with regards to Juraj Slafkovsky.

They're not going to loan him there to play in a junior tournament because it would be “cool” to see him play with his countrymen as it was put to me the other day or because Slovakian fans are passionate about their junior team.

He's their asset...if they decide it's better for his development, ok that's a different story, but look at what's happening with the main roster, does this look like a coaching staff or organization that's ready to not have him here?

They would have sent him down to the AHL already. Instead, they put Pitlick on waivers, and played IR shenanigans with Dadonov just to respect the roster limit.

Would have been easy to just send him down.

This is the correct answer........shut the thread down, there needn't be further debate.

 

[DAChampion]

So that he can dominate and you can feel better?

Ad hominem.

 

[DAChampion]

What if he got hurt?

Is that more likely in the WJCs than in the NHL?

 

[Retired]

Is that more likely in the WJCs than in the NHL?

He’s been targeted so far with the habs for sure… Gotta believe he‘s black and blue in a few spots!

 

[Andrei79]

I think it's besides the point.

The Montreal Canadiens, with all due respect to the Slovakian National Junior Team, are going to do what's best for the Montreal Canadiens with regards to Juraj Slafkovsky.

They're not going to loan him there to play in a junior tournament because it would be “cool” to see him play with his countrymen as it was put to me the other day or because Slovakian fans are passionate about their junior team.

He's their asset...if they decide it's better for his development, ok that's a different story, but look at what's happening with the main roster, does this look like a coaching staff or organization that's ready to not have him here?

They would have sent him down to the AHL already. Instead, they put Pitlick on waivers, and played IR shenanigans with Dadonov just to respect the roster limit.

Would have been easy to just send him down.

Why are you quoting my post ? This answer has nothing to do with it. I was commenting on hockey's popularity in ex-Czechoslovakia, not whether he should go to the WJC or not. I don't mind either way.

 

[ahmedou]

 

[Tyson]

Habs I trust will do what is best for Slaf.
I am convinced he is staying in Montreal the entire season and if they feel playing at the WJC will benefit him then I see him loaned to Slovakia.
They know what they are doing.

 

[rahad]

Would you get inspired by winning kids cart race after driving Ferrari in Indy ? With all due respect to WJC, it’s purpose is to showcase your skills to get drafted. All done, on to a next challenge. Also, his replacement in big team might hit a hot streak and Slaf could easily find his ass getting shipped to Laval. No one would risk loosing NHL spot (and NHL wages) for a chance to play @ WJC.

Slaf could also be struggling for couple of weeks before the WJC. Sending him to play for his country could also do him some good.

It will depend if he really want to go to the WJC or not.