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

[sandviper]

McDavid is elite at all of those things except defense.

No need to be elite at defense when he has the puck all game

I don’t know why people are so adamant that he has to be in the NHL right now. How is he suppose to grow as an offensive player getting around 10 minutes a night playing with 4th liners? We have the AHL option which a team like Seattle could only wish they had with Wright right now. Why aren’t we using it? I feel like he’s being mishandled worse than Galchenyuk and Kohtkaniemi regardless of if some people disagree with me because they’re super fans of Slaf.

I’m only going based off what Houle has said in preseason interviews he seemed to imply development isn‘t a high priority for him. Pretty sure I heard him say this on the Press Zone podcast. I haven't been following their season too closely but I think he‘s favouring the more veterans in terms of ice-time also. Finally, the team hasn‘t been very good.

I’m not opposed at all about having Slaf get some reps in the AHL. I just don’t know about this current version of the Rocket is the best place to be.

 

[Tyson]

No need to be elite at defense when he has the puck all game

I’m only going based off what Houle has said in preseason interviews he seemed to imply development isn‘t a high priority for him. Pretty sure I heard him say this on the Press Zone podcast. I haven't been following their season too closely but I think he‘s favouring the more veterans in terms of ice-time also. Finally, the team hasn‘t been very good.

I’m not opposed at all about having Slaf get some reps in the AHL. I just don’t know about this current version of the Rocket is the best place to be.

Something that has to change is the AHL team has to start developing players...it has been a huge issue for many years and continues to be. Slaf won't improve down there.

 

[nhlfan9191]

No need to be elite at defense when he has the puck all game

I’m only going based off what Houle has said in preseason interviews he seemed to imply development isn‘t a high priority for him. Pretty sure I heard him say this on the Press Zone podcast. I haven't been following their season too closely but I think he‘s favouring the more veterans in terms of ice-time also. Finally, the team hasn‘t been very good.

I’m not opposed at all about having Slaf get some reps in the AHL. I just don’t know about this current version of the Rocket is the best place to be.

Something that has to change is the AHL team has to start developing players...it has been a huge issue for many years and continues to be. Slaf won't improve down there.

If it’s true that we have to be worried about sending a player like Slaf down to the AHL, then we have a much bigger problem to worry.

 

[Heffyhoof]

I’m only going based off what Houle has said in preseason interviews he seemed to imply development isn‘t a high priority for him. Pretty sure I heard him say this on the Press Zone podcast. I haven't been following their season too closely but I think he‘s favouring the more veterans in terms of ice-time also. Finally, the team hasn‘t been very good.

I’m not opposed at all about having Slaf get some reps in the AHL. I just don’t know about this current version of the Rocket is the best place to be.

Too bad winning games doesn't seem like a priority either. I would be leery of sending him to the AHL.

 

[ReHabs]

I reject the term “anti-Slaf poster” — he’s a Hab and every Habs fan should want his success, even and especially those who didn’t want him drafted. I’m over the draft and just want him to live up to the massive hype that (suddenly) erupted around the week of the draft and the week after. He was compared to lofty names like Rantanen, Rick Nash, Hossa, Kovalchuk, Jagr, etc.

The current situation isn’t very encouraging but I’ve been told that since Joe Thornton had a tough rookie year (1998-1999, over 20 years ago) so there is nothing to worry about with Slaf. So be it.

The Habs can do no wrong, and they should never be second guessed or doubted, and they deserve our full confidence. Slaf is progressing and he is a guaranteed success, so there is nothing to worry about. Everything is perfect.

 

[Heffyhoof]

I reject the term “anti-Slaf poster” — he’s a Hab and every Habs fan should want his success, even and especially those who didn’t want him drafted. I’m over the draft and just want him to live up to the massive hype that (suddenly) erupted around the week of the draft and the week after. He was compared to lofty names like Rantanen, Rick Nash, Hossa, Kovalchuk, Jagr, etc.

The current situation isn’t very encouraging but I’ve been told that since Joe Thornton had a tough rookie year (1998-1999, over 20 years ago) so there is nothing to worry about with Slaf. So be it.

The Habs can do no wrong, and they should never be second guessed or doubted, and they deserve our full confidence. Slaf is progressing and he is a guaranteed success, so there is nothing to worry about. Everything is perfect.

There's a difference between pretending the Habs can do no wrong and Slaf is a perfect prospect, and whining every single time he's mentioned. Find the middle ground.

 

[cphabs]

That Dickerson hit was more than suspect…

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Send him down to the A soon.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Send him down to the A soon.

Play him with good players.

 

[ReHabs]

Remember when Galchenyuk wasn't getting any reps with Pacioretty and Desharnais was stapled to his side?

Feels funny ten years later to hear "Play [latest top draftee the Habs rushed into the NHL] with better players!" and still think everything is on track and hunky dory.

 

[rahad]

He's the most important Habs draft pick in decades. Even more important than Price (at the time we had Theodore). We haven't had a 1OA in my lifetime. We were told that tanking produces the goods and the 1OA is a gem - so he is our gem and I'm paying close attention to him.

It's impressive how Habs fans will defend the organization to the death and then immediately do an about face when the club cuts its losses with the latest bust. See the hostility toward Kotkaniemi, the mockery of Glachenyuk's struggles... meanwhile I remember Habs fans being hardcore defensive of both of them and how the organization "developed" them and they all said the same things: he's progressing, he's in good hands, he's showing flashes of his potential out there, he will be good, you don't know better than the experts, leave it to the professionals, etc.

I want Slaf to succeed in the NHL, it's the best place for him to develop his NHL-level game. But if he's not capable of earning top6 TOI on the depth-less rookie-friendly Habs then we have a big problem because his biggest flaw (his ability to make plays) is not getting much better with 10min a night and bad linemates.

Why can't MSL stick him next to Money Monahan? It seems to me MSL wants to but Slaf is incapable of keeping up - either in terms of stamina or his on-ice positioning. When will it get better? Do you expect him to get more than 5 points in his next 16 games? Will you bet on it?

He is not NHL ready. Is a shame he did not play in the USHL like Matty Berniers. One more year playing in University hockey would have done him some good.

HuGO should have try to improve our AHL roster. He need to play in the AHL 20mins every game for a whole year.

 

[nhlfan9191]

Play him with good players.

I’d like to hear the reasoning as to why his usage is the way it is. There’s obviously something they’re still not confident with or he would be with better players getting more minutes. I’ve seen Caufield brought up as a comparative a few times, but St. Louis quickly fixed that mess last season when Dom was canned. Clearly Marty isn’t seeing it with Slaf. I don’t mind him staying in the NHL if they play him. But he’s in a position to fail right now and I don’t see how that’s productive at all.

 

[HabsForHire]

I’d like to hear the reasoning as to why his usage is the way it is. There’s obviously something they’re still not confident with or he would be with better players getting more minutes. I’ve seen Caufield brought up as a comparative a few times, but St. Louis quickly fixed that mess last season when Dom was canned. Clearly Marty isn’t seeing it with Slaf. I don’t mind him staying in the NHL if they play him. But he’s in a position to fail right now and I don’t see how that’s productive at all.

Agreed. And il get alot of heat for this but il say it again, he's not very noticeable at all for me. Part of it is definitely his usage and linemates but some of the crazy praise I see in here confuses me, he almost invisible too me. But that just my opinion...don't ban me

 

[cphabs]

I’d like to hear the reasoning as to why his usage is the way it is. There’s obviously something they’re still not confident with or he would be with better players getting more minutes. I’ve seen Caufield brought up as a comparative a few times, but St. Louis quickly fixed that mess last season when Dom was canned. Clearly Marty isn’t seeing it with Slaf. I don’t mind him staying in the NHL if they play him. But he’s in a position to fail right now and I don’t see how that’s productive at all.

I agree. But? He’s still fighting so to speak.

 

[nhlfan9191]

I agree. But? He’s still fighting so to speak.

I don’t care if it’s the NHL, AHL, Finland, or the CHL. I just want him to play a ton of hockey. The closer we are to a playoff spot, the more incentive this coaching staff is going to have to bury him in the line up. These are important development years, if the coaches in Montreal don’t feel confident enough to play him, then something needs to be done.

 

[Kennerback]

Right because 3 AHL goals blows 3 NHL goals out of the water in value..
Gotcha.
You guys are something else lol, for real

I checked some quick underlying stats. He’s at 75 shooting %.. He’s shooting an average of 2 shots a game in the AHL. He’s still not creating enough opportunities. He still doesn’t shoot enough. He had 1 shot this season in the NHL.

Assuming he doesn’t shoot more yet drops from 75% to an elite 25% shooting percentage. That’s 1goal every second game. In the AHL.

 

[River Meadow]

Remember when Galchenyuk wasn't getting any reps with Pacioretty and Desharnais was stapled to his side?

Feels funny ten years later to hear "Play [latest top draftee the Habs rushed into the NHL] with better players!" and still think everything is on track and hunky dory.

It hurts because you're so right.

Gah damn.

I am still hopeful, absolute.y...... but, spot on....

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I reject the term “anti-Slaf poster” — he’s a Hab and every Habs fan should want his success, even and especially those who didn’t want him drafted. I’m over the draft and just want him to live up to the massive hype that (suddenly) erupted around the week of the draft and the week after. He was compared to lofty names like Rantanen, Rick Nash, Hossa, Kovalchuk, Jagr, etc.

The current situation isn’t very encouraging but I’ve been told that since Joe Thornton had a tough rookie year (1998-1999, over 20 years ago) so there is nothing to worry about with Slaf. So be it.

The Habs can do no wrong, and they should never be second guessed or doubted, and they deserve our full confidence. Slaf is progressing and he is a guaranteed success, so there is nothing to worry about. Everything is perfect.

Give it a rest...

I don’t care if it’s the NHL, AHL, Finland, or the CHL. I just want him to play a ton of hockey. The closer we are to a playoff spot, the more incentive this coaching staff is going to have to bury him in the line up. These are important development years, if the coaches in Montreal don’t feel confident enough to play him, then something needs to be done.

Agreed. As I said at the start of the year, I'd rather he be in the minors and see a ton of ice. This is exactly the scenario I was worried about.

Good news is that he doesn't look out of place. But he's not getting the icetime and I don't see why we need to rush him into the NHL.

Play him with good players.

They could play him with Monahan and Anderson. But really, I'd rather we just put in the minors.

 

[BaseballCoach]

Give it a rest...


Agreed. As I said at the start of the year, I'd rather he be in the minors and see a ton of ice. This is exactly the scenario I was worried about.

Good news is that he doesn't look out of place. But he's not getting the icetime and I don't see why we need to rush him into the NHL.


They could play him with Monahan and Anderson. But really, I'd rather we just put in the minors.

I think he would progress much more with Monahan and Anderson than Richard and Ylonen playing against Dauphin and trying to beat Fucale and Tokarski.

 

[SlafySZN]

The posters who were making this thread unpleasant 6 months ago are still at it now. Aren’t you guys tired?

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I think he would progress much more with Monahan and Anderson than Richard and Ylonen playing against Dauphin and trying to beat Fucale and Tokarski.

Well, it's not happening.

What's happening is exactly what I was worried about. If you're going to use him this way, just send him down.

 

[ReHabs]

Well, it's not happening.

What's happening is exactly what I was worried about. If you're going to use him this way, just send him down.

He wasn’t too good for Liiga so the obvious first choice would’ve been to send him back there to finish learning how to play pro hockey.

Rushing him to the NHL was never going to help develop his playmaking ability if he wasn’t going to get the necessary ice time.

 

[Heffyhoof]

It's NOT OKAY for people to be sceptical of Slafkovsky. It's not allowed.

If you're sceptical of Slafkovsky or his handling or his development trajectory you are nothing but a lowly maggot, a good-for-nothing troll, a subhuman bit of pond scum on the bottom of a true Habs fans shoes. Take it from me, I'm a real Habs fan, I was ready to kill to defend Kotkaniemi's development, did you see his playoff goals before age 20 I said to the man. I actually strangled a man in Reno for saying that Galchenyuk shouldn't have been rushed to the NHL. Don't test my patience.

Slafkovsky is an automatic success. He is the next Jagr and nothing will get in his way, except possibly if he keeps getting his clock punched every 8 games that might get in his way.

Or you're just a boring broken record playing the victim card.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

It hurts because you're so right.

Gah damn.

I am still hopeful, absolute.y...... but, spot on....

Geez,

It’s almost like…. you two are the same poster.

 

[Kennerback]

He wasn’t too good for Liiga so the obvious first choice would’ve been to send him back there to finish learning how to play pro hockey.

Rushing him to the NHL was never going to help develop his playmaking ability if he wasn’t going to get the necessary ice time.

Liiga was destroyed by Kappo Kakko at 17 years old. Now four years later he can’t buy a point playing on the #1 line with Zibanejad and Kreider. It’s a different game , it values different abilities. That ship has sailed.