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

[Mrb1p]

They're talking about 18 years old who were selected first overall. But I was curious and looked at Eichel's game log, he was a couple of months older than Juraj when he played his first NHL game and got 4 points in his first 12 games. Jagr had 3 points in his first 11 games also.

Thats oddly precise and probably useless as a comparison tho lol

An odd positive for playing young highly talented NHL-ready players who aren't immediate stars, but have that obvious potential in their toolbox, on the 4th line is they are the star of their line.

Both Suzuki and Slaf, even if they aren't getting 16-17 minutes of being the third wheel or just a part of an ok line, were/are forced by necessity to be the driving player of their line, and they are getting 10-11 minutes of it playing against lower-skilled NHLers. When they become the consistently dominant player over a good stretch, in comes the promotion.

This team sucks, hed be the star on 3 out of 4 lines.

 

[dinodebino]

Was out for treatment yesterday. Hope he can play tonight.

 

[Tyson]

Was out for treatment yesterday. Hope he can play tonight.

I think he plays...I hope so

 

[cphabs]

Slaf, a skilled, giant 18 year old, is taking control of our 4th line… while getting lumped up doing it. He’s making everyone on that line look better, which is remarkable! This comes with a physical cost that I don’t think we need to take. Just my .02.

 

[HabsForHire]

Whether he's going to live to the lofty expectations of a first overall pick or be a decent 40 points big skilled forward, we don't know yet.

But not noticing him? I mean he clearly has a unique blend of size and skills in full display when he's on.

It almost sounds like you willingly avoid seeing him lol.

Nope, not at all

 

[Heffyhoof]

Thats oddly precise and probably useless as a comparison tho lol

This team sucks, hed be the star on 3 out of 4 lines.

I've only managed to catch 5 games this year, tonight being one. I must admit despite what I said, it's incredibly frustrating to watch the deadweight play way more.

 

[Kojo]

Nope, not at all

That's not convincing. Do you really not notice that we have a 6'4 240 pounds forward?

 

[River Meadow]

That's not convincing. Do you really not notice that we have a 6'4 240 pounds forward?

6ft3 and 230lbs*

 

[BehindTheTimes]

Made a nice laser pass to Anderson on the PP, but of course Anderson took half a minute to get his shot off.

 

[Walrus26]

Thought he'd see a bit more TOI last night to be honest, although Dadonov has looked better (without the scoresheet saying so) and that line he's on with Monahan and Anderson is starting to get some buzz going.

I'm sure that being up with the Big Club remains a net positive for Slaf at this moment in time.

 

[The Great Weal]

His usage is beyond frustrating, even worse than KK/Chucky days. I think he's already surpassed being a 4th liner but they would rather play Dadonov ahead of him for some reason.

 

[salbutera]

Taking his time for what reasons ?

Intensity of games starts rapidly picking up post Thanksgiving

 

[Saundies]

His usage is beyond frustrating, even worse than KK/Chucky days. I think he's already surpassed being a 4th liner but they would rather play Dadonov ahead of him for some reason.

I hope MSL isn't falling into Bergevin-mode, where he came in expecting the team to suck and now that they aren't as much as he expected he's going to blow the whole "develop the kids" mantra up into "try to win as much as possible no matter the cost."

I really didn't like how Jake Evans played wing when Hoffman was hurt rather than Slaf. I know he's 18 yadda yadda but if you're going to keep him with the team he has to play.

 

[Egresch]

Keep calm and relax, guys. Slaf knows this scenario from last year in TPS. He barely played 4th line at the start, but ended up in 2nd line in playoffs.
I keep saying this from draft day. Just keep him in one place and he will thrive. His skills are so raw which brings huge potential to improve. I guess MSL is trying to find the right balance for Slaf. Keeping him in NHL boosts his morale, but limited TOI gives him enough time for training basic skills. Even big pesimists here see that his learning curve is excellent. You are wondering if this is really the same kid who knocked Guhle in his own end in game 1.
Remember, we don't care how good is he now, but how good he can be in 2 years.

 

[KevSkillz4]

Keep calm and relax, guys. Slaf knows this scenario from last year in TPS. He barely played 4th line at the start, but ended up in 2nd line in playoffs.
I keep saying this from draft day. Just keep him in one place and he will thrive. His skills are so raw which brings huge potential to improve. I guess MSL is trying to find the right balance for Slaf. Keeping him in NHL boosts his morale, but limited TOI gives him enough time for training basic skills. Even big pesimists here see that his learning curve is excellent. You are wondering if this is really the same kid who knocked Guhle in his own end in game 1.
Remember, we don't care how good is he now, but how good he can be in 2 years.

100% true. Looks Valeri Nichushkin... he become the player that TB drafted when he is 26-27 years old. They have plan with Slafkovsky, they what to protect him, he show very good flashs of his talent. He have all tools to dominate in NHL. Looks Rantanen too... first season he have 20 goals, 38 points in 75 games at age 19 years old. So it's more important to be patient with him and who will learn more in watch players play than him play 20 minute against great players.

They drafted a really special player right there with Slafkovsky, i'm not worried about his using right now... he have the 2nd PP unit... that's really good.

 

[Mrb1p]

Stop telling us to be patient.

There is no drawbacks in learning hockey by playing more minutes in a better situation.

 

[BaseballCoach]

Stop telling us to be patient.

There is no drawbacks in learning hockey by playing more minutes in a better situation.

Yes, there are - a lot.

 

[KevSkillz4]

Stop telling us to be patient.

There is no drawbacks in learning hockey by playing more minutes in a better situation.

MSL, Hughes, Gorton, Habs scouts, know more hockey than all of us in HFBoard's. So they know what they are doing with Slaf more than any of us.

 

[Mrb1p]

Yes, there are - a lot.

Like? Getting tired? Stick him to the bench a few minutes, sit him a game.

Making bad decisions? Good he will learn from it.

MSL, Hughes, Gorton, Habs scouts, know more hockey than all of us in HFBoard's. So they know what they are doing with Slaf more than any of us.

Do they? You couldve said the same thing about Ducharme and Bergevin.

 

[BaseballCoach]

Like? Getting tired? Stick him to the bench a few minutes, sit him a game.

Making bad decisions? Good he will learn from it.

No. The risks are not learning to make plays at NHL pace, and reinforcing muscle memory / habits for plays that work at lower levels but not higher levels.

He won't "learn from" the 'bad decision' if it works against Laurent Dauphin or Louis Belpedio and beats Zach Fucale.

 

[MonkeyBusiness]

No. The risks are not learning to make plays at NHL pace, and reinforcing muscle memory / habits for plays that work at lower levels but not higher levels.

He won't "learn from" the 'bad decision' if it works against Laurent Dauphin or Louis Belpedio and beats Zach Fucale.

How does that have anything to do with a limited amount of minutes? The only arguments you brought up were in favor of not sending him down to the AHL. All we want is him to get more minutes in the NHL, which he deserves based on his play.

 

[BaseballCoach]

How does that have anything to do with a limited amount of minutes? The only arguments you brought up were in favor of not sending him down to the AHL. All we want is him to get more minutes in the NHL, which he deserves based on his play.

Totally misunderstood you, sorry. I thought you meant to get more minutes by going to the AHL, like others have said.

Yes absolutely, I think he can handle 12.5 minutes per game in the NHL.

 

[ReHabs]

MSL, Hughes, Gorton, Habs scouts, know more hockey than all of us in HFBoard's. So they know what they are doing with Slaf more than any of us.

Were you saying the same about Bergevin, Therrien, and Timmins?

Slafkovsky is on pace for 25 points this season. That's dead last among 1st picked forwards' rookie seasons since 22 years ago.

He needs better linemates and more TOI.

 

[Mrb1p]

Totally misunderstood you, sorry. I thought you meant to get more minutes by going to the AHL, like others have said.

Yes absolutely, I think he can handle 12.5 minutes per game in the NHL.

Even so, playing more minutes trumps the lower quality of play.

 

[BehindTheTimes]

There’s no reason to play him under 10 mins, ever. It’s silly to think this is helpful. 10-12 mins isn’t enough either. I thought MSL would be smarter than this. I’m quite disappointed with his approach so far.