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

[Estimated_Prophet]

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

Making bad decisions? Good he will learn from it.


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

Do you really believe that posters on this board know more about hockey than any of HuGo, MSL, Hughes, Bergevin and Ducharme lol? If you actually believe that then you are completely delusional.

This doesn't mean that we can't criticize them or we are sometimes right when they are wrong. It just means that there is an element of luck in almost every decision that they make and even the layman can be right with random chance or a coin flip scenario. Obviously there are skill gaps between these professionals but these gaps are much smaller than the skill gap between them and HFBoards posters.

There are some very smart posters but every one of them severely lack the experience necessary to thrive at the highest level. I have seen so many terrible narratives and group think truisms/mythology manifest themselves on these boards over the 25 years that I have been here that it is entirely laughable to refer to forums such as this as being even remotely on a level playing field with NHL executives/coaches.

I know some posters will cry that I am using appeal to authority to marginalize their opinions but that is not true at all. I have no problem criticizing decisions made by more qualified individuals, I have a problem with people using group think dynamics to invalidate individuals who are in fact more qualified and informed than any one individual in the the group that is attacking them.

I was all for sending Slaf down at the start but was ok in deferring trust to HuGo as there are so many important variables that neither I or any other poster on this board has access to. Their methodology seems to be working just fine as Slaf has greatly improved even if I thought he took a step back against Philly with some blatant puck chasing in the dzone.

I will be the first to criticize them for any blatant mistakes that they may make with Slaf but I do so knowing that they are also aware of the risks associated with every decision and that it just is not possible to be right every time.

 

[Mrb1p]

Do you really believe that posters on this board know more about hockey than any of HuGo, MSL, Hughes, Bergevin and Ducharme lol? If you actually believe that then you are completely delusional.

This doesn't mean that we can't criticize them or we are sometimes right when they are wrong. It just means that there is an element of luck in almost every decision that they make and even the layman can be right with random chance or a coin flip scenario. Obviously there are skill gaps between these professionals but these gaps are much smaller than the skill gap between them and HFBoards posters.

There are some very smart posters but every one of them severely lack the experience necessary to thrive at the highest level. I have seen so many terrible narratives and group think truisms/mythology manifest themselves on these boards over the 25 years that I have been here that it is entirely laughable to refer to forums such as this as being even remotely on a level playing field with NHL executives/coaches.

I know some posters will cry that I am using appeal to authority to marginalize their opinions but that is not true at all. I have no problem criticizing decisions made by more qualified individuals, I have a problem with people using group think dynamics to invalidate individuals who are in fact more qualified and informed than any one individual in the the group that is attacking them.

I was all for sending Slaf down at the start but was ok in deferring trust to HuGo as there are so many important variables that neither I or any other poster on this board has access to. Their methodology seems to be working just fine as Slaf has greatly improved even if I thought he took a step back against Philly with some blatant puck chasing in the dzone.

I will be the first to criticize them for any blatant mistakes that they may make with Slaf but I do so knowing that they are also aware of the risks associated with every decision and that it just is not possible to be right every time.

 

[Egresch]

Stop telling us to be patient.

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

I believe there might be some for Slaf. It sounds weird, but you kind of need to calm down his competitiveness now and keep him focused on studying. He could handle 2nd line in Montreal, but he would not do it because he has skills of NHL 2nd liner. He would activate that beast mode and kind of "break the bike" (remember that VO2 max test). Instead, you want him to learn proper technique, skills.
Once he gets the skill level of 2nd liner, I mean proper NHL cup contender 2nd liner, not Habs, you fully activate that beast mode and this kid will be unstoppable.

 

[DAChampion]

Do you really believe that posters on this board know more about hockey than any of HuGo, MSL, Hughes, Bergevin and Ducharme lol? If you actually believe that then you are completely delusional.

This doesn't mean that we can't criticize them or we are sometimes right when they are wrong. It just means that there is an element of luck in almost every decision that they make and even the layman can be right with random chance or a coin flip scenario. Obviously there are skill gaps between these professionals but these gaps are much smaller than the skill gap between them and HFBoards posters.

There are some very smart posters but every one of them severely lack the experience necessary to thrive at the highest level. I have seen so many terrible narratives and group think truisms/mythology manifest themselves on these boards over the 25 years that I have been here that it is entirely laughable to refer to forums such as this as being even remotely on a level playing field with NHL executives/coaches.

I know some posters will cry that I am using appeal to authority to marginalize their opinions but that is not true at all. I have no problem criticizing decisions made by more qualified individuals, I have a problem with people using group think dynamics to invalidate individuals who are in fact more qualified and informed than any one individual in the the group that is attacking them.

I was all for sending Slaf down at the start but was ok in deferring trust to HuGo as there are so many important variables that neither I or any other poster on this board has access to. Their methodology seems to be working just fine as Slaf has greatly improved even if I thought he took a step back against Philly with some blatant puck chasing in the dzone.

I will be the first to criticize them for any blatant mistakes that they may make with Slaf but I do so knowing that they are also aware of the risks associated with every decision and that it just is not possible to be right every time.

Why do you think they might be limiting his ice time at this time, and do you have a reasonable guesstimate of when it might increase?

 

[FF de Mars]

Why do you think they might be limiting his ice time at this time, and do you have a reasonable guesstimate of when it might increase?

I think he'll see more ice after the trade deadline.

 

[Egresch]

Why do you think they might be limiting his ice time at this time, and do you have a reasonable guesstimate of when it might increase?

Why? See my post above.
When? I guess they give him 20, maybe even 30 games in 4th and if he stays consistent, they will promote him. He just played his first 13 games in NHL.

 

[schwang26]

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.

TPS Turku 31Gp last year. There's your reason to start him out slowly for an 82 game season. I'll bet by the end he's top 6.

 

[BaseballCoach]

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

No, no, no. Not for learning how to play at the higher level.

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.

Yep.

Slaf-Moneyhands-Andy

 

[Egresch]

TPS Turku 31Gp last year. There's your reason to start him out slowly for an 82 game season. I'll bet by the end he's top 6.

You have wrong data. He played over 90 games on three different continents last year. This is not a factor.

 

[BehindTheTimes]

TPS Turku 31Gp last year. There's your reason to start him out slowly for an 82 game season. I'll bet by the end he's top 6.

He’ll have played more games last year than this year.

 

[calder candidate]

No, no, no. Not for learning how to play at the higher level.

There is zero data that would support this… Hockey isn’t any difference than anything else… might be playing chess or working out. There is a trade off in intensity and reps you have optimized both. It is about significant competition, deliberate practice and staying motivated and it very easy for motivation to slip because it can be subconsciously… He is playing well enough to get more ice time you have to give him more ice time if you can’t, than playing him in the AHL is a good option. If it is better for Mesar to get 80pts in the OHL than 40pts in the AHL the same logic apply or be acceptable for Slaf on a shorter time period, he is already able to play in the NHL, the AHL isn’t a life sentence.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

Why do you think they might be limiting his ice time at this time, and do you have a reasonable guesstimate of when it might increase?

He is still very raw and is only having very moderate success playing against the worst players on the other team. Until his reads improve to closer to pro level reads he is just fine honing his skills against other bottom pairing dmen and 4th liners. I think most NHL teams would have started him in the AHL due to his game being so unrefined without the puck. There was a sequence against Philly where he literally chased the puck to all 4 corners of the dzone before running into the back of Pezzetta. This is something that he consistently was doing at the beginning of the season but has improved in recent weeks.

I have seen steady overall improvement from him as he was absolutely brutal at the start of the season. If he continues to improve then clearly his usage is working even if he occasionally takes a step back. He should either be in Laval or on the bottom line for now as he is over matched against better NHLers in too many situations at this point in his development.He is also getting 2nd unit pp time as well and is definitely showing some promise on the right wall.

Posters are being overly dramatic and impatient with regards to ice time and development. There is no hurry, the kid is developing nicely and is having the time of his life. Do people on here really believe that MSL/HuGo have anything than the best in mind for him. They need to just chill and allow the professionals to continue to do their work as it is clearly working. If these posters can't see Slaf's struggles away from the puck then I don't know what to say....it is very evident and it is the one thing that Marty really stresses when discussing how he wants his teams to play.

I am in no way implying that you are one of the posters that I am referring to as you have been a strong contributor here for a long time. I just think that too many people's path of least resistance is to reach for the tin foil hat rather than admit that they don't know what they are talking about and take the steps to improve their understanding of the game. This plays out in most aspects of every day life that enter into public debate and hockey message boards are no different. The truth resides with the qualified minority while the mob bends the truth to match their collective self interest then gathers to wage war on any who oppose their flawed and unsupported narrative.

 

[Mrb1p]

The myth that 4th liners are somehow easier to play against than first lines needs to die.

The myth that being on a 4th line means you play against the worst players needs to die.

The myth that fourth lines arent matched up against top defensive pairs need to die.

The myth that its easier to play on a fourth line needs to die.

 

[26Mats]

Put him on a line with Monahan and Anderson, give him a chance with better players.

That would be an excellent start.

Down the line I'd still like to see Monahan with our 2 next best offensive players. That would be Slaf and Dvorak. If Dvorak must remain as 3c, I'd try Evans - Monahan - Slaf.

 

[BaseballCoach]

There is zero data that would support this… Hockey isn’t any difference than anything else… might be playing chess or working out. There is a trade off in intensity and reps you have optimized both. It is about significant competition, deliberate practice and staying motivated and it very easy for motivation to slip because it can be subconsciously… He is playing well enough to get more ice time you have to give him more ice time if you can’t, than playing him in the AHL is a good option. If it is better for Mesar to get 80pts in the OHL than 40pts in the AHL the same logic apply or be acceptable for Slaf on a shorter time period, he is already able to play in the NHL, the AHL isn’t a life sentence.

It isn't better for Mesar to get 80 points in the OHL than 40 points in the AHL, not at all.

The reason he is better off in the OHL is that he has no chance to get 40 points in the AHL. He is not ready for the AHL yet.

Slaf is ready for the NHL. The odds are that he will soon move up his ice time and production, because he is an exceptional talent (for his age) who is learning how to adjust to the next league and it is clear for us to seethe progression.

 

[Jaaanosik]

I believe there might be some for Slaf. It sounds weird, but you kind of need to calm down his competitiveness now and keep him focused on studying. He could handle 2nd line in Montreal, but he would not do it because he has skills of NHL 2nd liner. He would activate that beast mode and kind of "break the bike" (remember that VO2 max test). Instead, you want him to learn proper technique, skills.
Once he gets the skill level of 2nd liner, I mean proper NHL cup contender 2nd liner, not Habs, you fully activate that beast mode and this kid will be unstoppable.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

TPS Turku 31Gp last year. There's your reason to start him out slowly for an 82 game season. I'll bet by the end he's top 6.

Absolutely. It's a big long gruelling season. Of course he's gonna end up in the top 6 at some point for god sakes. MSL has done nothing to show that he's gonna relegate a talent like him to the bottom 6 long term. There's zero need to worry. Take your time with him.

From the little I've seen I'm more and more confident this kid's fool proof. Therrien couldn't ruin him even if he wanted to. Some kids are just like that and beyond that MSL has earned a lot of good will and I am MORE than fine that he takes his time with the kid. It's a huge leap even what he's doing now.

There are a 942715 reasons (wink wink) to worry but at the end of the day this kid's gonna be fine. He's shown plenty more than the last two young guns that went sideways. I'd put big money on it.

 

[Mrb1p]

TPS Turku 31Gp last year. There's your reason to start him out slowly for an 82 game season. I'll bet by the end he's top 6.

He played almost 100 games over 9 months last year, travelling all over and he went through the draft thing. Thats ridiculous.

Also, hes 18, hes literally a gumball with the energy of 3 wild dogs.

 

[calder candidate]

It isn't better for Mesar to get 80 points in the OHL than 40 points in the AHL, not at all.

The reason he is better off in the OHL is that he has no chance to get 40 points in the AHL. He is not ready for the AHL yet.

Slaf is ready for the NHL. The odds are that he will soon move up his ice time and production, because he is an exceptional talent (for his age) who is learning how to adjust to the next league and it is clear for us to seethe progression.

The point isn’t how many point, even if Mesar could do that, it was what the organization wanted because they felt like he would develop the right way or to is full potential.
No one is saying that there isn’t any progression or that he can’t play in the NHL… there just nothing wrong with a player his age and his talent to play a few game in the AHL. Slaf is ready to play in the NHL, but the objective is for him is not to be a NHL player it is to be a top line player in the NHL. I like to see him getting more ice time but if they feel he can’t handle more maybe he should probably be in the AHL, also have to manage our all of our asset If they think they can get some value out of Dadonov or Hoffman type player I don’t have any issue with it but it might come at the expense of other player like Armia, Pezz, Pitlick, Evans that isn’t not a big issue because their no progress to be made but when it come to Slaf he is at a pivotal point in is development and if there are other considerations in the NHL we should make sure we consider all option. Not saying he need to go now but we seem to be getting closer to the edge where we need to make a decision I think that there is two good options. The current situation just doesn’t seem optimal for the long term.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I hope they loan him to the Juniors.

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

Should have went in the Ahl.

Terrible org decision. Saw it coming a mile away. Typical Montreal with 18 year olds.

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

Hoffman injured
Slafkovsky might finally play in the top 9

 

[le_sean]

Should have went in the Ahl.

Terrible org decision. Saw it coming a mile away. Typical Montreal with 18 year olds.

I mean he’s still playing 12-13 mins a game. It’s not like they are doing to him what the Kraken are doing to Wright. He needs to be given more trust and a slightly bigger role. But he’s not wasting away.

 

[CHfan1]

Hoffman injured
Slafkovsky might finally play in the top 9

 

[le_sean]

Are those two smart enough to let him carry the puck and be the playmaker? Or will Dvorak do nothing while Gallagher shoots from 30 feet away as per usual?