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

[Kennerback]

I think they're asking Slaf to simplify his game for now. Not to do too much. Just have a feel for the (north american) game. He will improve eventually and naturally. I trust this process.

He used his body last season a lot more to power to the slot. This is what made Jagr freak out when he saw him. He’s just getting adjusted. A lot more tricks in his bag that he hasn’t shown yet.

 

[Jaaanosik]

It appears Xhekaj and Slaf are becoming good friends.
Xhekaj's mother is Czech, can somebody confirm Xhekaj speaks Czech?
Czech is very very similar to Slovak.
That might help the friendship.

 

[Kennerback]

Some NHL Euro All-Stars (Euro Men’s League - draft year)


2022 - Juraj Slafkovsky - 31-5-5-10
2015 - Sebastian Aho- 30-4-9-13
2015 - Kirill Kaprizov - 31-4-4-8
2014 - Adrian Kempe - 45-5-6-11
2011 - Nikita Kucherov 9-0-2-2
2011 - Mika Zibanejad 25-5-4-9
2010- Artemi Panarin 20-1-7-8 (undrafted)
2010- Evgeny Kuztnesov - 35-2-6-8
2005- Anze Kopitar - 5-0-0-0
2004- Evgeny Malkin - 34-3–9-12
2003- Milan Michael - 46-3-5-8
2001- Miko Koivu - 21-0-1-1
1999- Martin Havlat - 24-2-3-5
1998- Pavel Datsyuk - 18-2-2-4
1994 - Patrick Elias - 17-1-2-3
1993 - Saku Koivu - 46-3-7-10
1993 - Viktor Kozlov - 30-6-5-11
1991 - Alex Kovalev - 18-1-2-3
1989 - Sergei Fedorov - 44-9-8-17
1988 - Dimitri Khristich - 37-9-1-10

 

[morhilane]

Basically after every games, Slaf does an interview with a Slovak journalist and someone on Reddit translate it.

Looks like his billet family lives near the Olympic stadium.

 

[Kennerback]

Basically after every games, Slaf does an interview with a Slovak journalist and someone on Reddit translate it.

Looks like his billet family lives near the Olympic stadium.

A lot on the way he tapes his stick!

MSL talks to him each day and tells him the things to adjust in his game.

 

[le_sean]

Rantanen was a total weakling getting ragdolled and didn’t get a point during his 9 game stint.

Okay and 1 point is a major difference from 0 points? Slaf is also falling down a lot and getting outmuscled, easily thrown off by picks when trying to retrieve pucks. It’s not about the production, he has a lot that he needs to work on.

 

[Kennerback]

Okay and 1 point is a major difference from 0 points? Slaf is also falling down a lot and getting outmuscled, easily thrown off by picks when trying to retrieve pucks. It’s not about the production, he has a lot that he needs to work on.

He’s not getting outmuscled. He’s strong like a bull. He’s as good as anyone in the NHL at retrieving pucks. Rantanen was a skin and bones twink. Slaf is close to the biggest guy in the NHL.

He’ll develop better than anywhere in the world with MSL talking to him 1-on-1 everyday. Do you know many NHL or pro coaches that do that? Are they HHOFers? We sometimes hear our prospects spend half a season without talking to their coach. Would he get that much personal attention from Jean-François Houle? Do we even want Houle talking to Slaf 1-on-1 every day telling him what he needs to change in his game?

 

[Dharvey08]

Send him to the Eerie Otters or even a beer league.

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

Anyone's opinions change after last night? Up or Down for Slaf?

Any softening of stances?

I'm good with him staying at this point and learning the game in the show. In Marty we trust.

No, that 1 goal doesn't change anything. He should be sent down to the ahl once Armia is back.

 

[Zilo44]

Yeah, Slaf does not know how to use his size yet. It’ll come

 

[Kennerback]

You’re just being a complete homer or a troll at this point.

No. I’m sorry. On this point you’re completely in left field. Do you know what his nickname was in TPS Turku last season (Ligga is a men’s league with many ex-AHLers)? This is what Turku fans and media called him:. “The Slovakian Bull”, “The Bull” or “Bull Juraj”. Do you think he got that nickname because he was being outmuscled?

 

[ginomini]

No. I’m sorry. On this point you’re completely in left field. Do you know what his nickname was in TPS Turku last season (Ligga is a men’s league with many ex-AHLers)? This is what Turku fans and media called him:. “The Slovakian Bull”, “The Bull” or “Bull Juraj”. Do you think he got that nickname because he was being outmuscled?

I mean, if you watch him play, here is clearly not dominating physically yet. It's not necessarily negative, its just that he is not using his size as an advantage at the nhl level yet.

 

[le_sean]

No. I’m sorry. On this point you’re completely in left field. Do you know what his nickname was in TPS Turku last season (Ligga is a men’s league with many ex-AHLers)? This is what Turku fans and media called him:. “The Slovakian Bull”, “The Bull” or “Bull Juraj”. Do you think he got that nickname because he was being outmuscled?

Easy to be a bull when you’re just surrounded by muskrats.

If you can’t acknowledge that he’s falling like 5 times per game and is outmuscled on most puck battles (he only wins pucks by stick checking), then it’s pointless discussing with you.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Je suis en amour

 

[Kennerback]

Easy to be a bull when you’re just surrounded by muskrats.

If you can’t acknowledge that he’s falling like 5 times per game and is outmuscled on most puck battles (he only wins pucks by stick checking), then it’s pointless discussing with you.

You’re fighting a losing battle with the other posters with blinders on. Really sorry…

 

[Zilo44]

I like Slaf as much as anybody else, but the kid is so raw.

However, I do improvement since game 1 and he shows flashes.

The guy is the definition of swinging for the fence, something fans want to see all the time come draft day

 

[Habs10Habs]

He’s not getting outmuscled. He’s strong like a bull. He’s as good as anyone in the NHL at retrieving pucks. Rantanen was a skin and bones twink. Slaf is close to the biggest guy in the NHL.

He’ll develop better than anywhere in the world with MSL talking to him 1-on-1 everyday. Do you know many NHL or pro coaches that do that? Are they HHOFers? We sometimes hear our prospects spend half a season without talking to their coach. Would he get that much personal attention from Jean-François Houle? Do we even want Houle talking to Slaf 1-on-1 every day telling him what he needs to change in his game?

Yes he's strong, but at 18. He still hasn't developed his "man strength" yet. Right now he's holding his own. By the time he's 21 or 22 years old. Is when you'll truly start to notice his true strength. If for example, you had Xhekaj and Slafkovsky playfully wrestle. Even though they're about the same size. My guess is for now, Xhekaj would throw him around like a rag doll.

Up until pre-covid. I used to work with OPP cadets, training them in self-defense. In my late 40's, at 5'7 and around 210lbs. I could easily toss around guys (18-20 years old) some were almost a foot taller and weighed 20 sometimes 30lbs more than I did. Once these guys became older. I was no longer able to overpower them.

 

[Kennerback]

Yes he's strong, but at 18. He still hasn't developed his "man strength" yet. Right now he's holding his own. By the time he's 21 or 22 years old. Is when you'll truly start to notice his true strength. If for example, you had Xhekaj and Slafkovsky playfully wrestle. Even though they're about the same size. My guess is for now, Xhekaj would throw him around like a rag doll.

Up until pre-covid. I used to work with OPP cadets, training them in self-defense. In my late 40's, at 5'7 and around 210lbs. I could easily toss around guys (18-20 years old) some were almost a foot taller and weighed 20 sometimes 30lbs more than I did. Once these guys became older. I was no longer able to overpower them.

No. You don’t understand. He’s ragdolled 27 y/o NA AHLers that are 6’3 last season.

 

[Kennerback]

Yes he's strong, but at 18. He still hasn't developed his "man strength" yet. Right now he's holding his own. By the time he's 21 or 22 years old. Is when you'll truly start to notice his true strength. If for example, you had Xhekaj and Slafkovsky playfully wrestle. Even though they're about the same size. My guess is for now, Xhekaj would throw him around like a rag doll.

Up until pre-covid. I used to work with OPP cadets, training them in self-defense. In my late 40's, at 5'7 and around 210lbs. I could easily toss around guys (18-20 years old) some were almost a foot taller and weighed 20 sometimes 30lbs more than I did. Once these guys became older. I was no longer able to overpower them.

I want an honest answer from you and the 2 guys that approved this post, how many TPS Turku games did you watch last season?

 

[Trabdy2]

I think he is no shrinking violet and doesn’t need his ego massaged. He’ll do great.

I make a distinction between ego and confidence. But it appears you do not?

In any case, he's a young player and young players go through a lot of ups and downs as they adjust to the NHL. He needs to be in a place where he can learn and succeed and it's tough to do that if a young player's confidence is broken. Coaches will be sensitive to this to make sure they're in the right place to learn, develop, and improve.

 

[Habs10Habs]

No. You don’t understand. He’s ragdolled 27 y/o NA AHLers that are 6’3 last season.

What is it I don't understand? What he's done both positive or negative in the past means jack shit. It's right now where we should be judging him. Do you see him overpowering opponents in the corner, while battling for the puck?

As he matures, imo he'll become a beast. In the meantime, he's holding his own right now, which is great.

 

[Habs10Habs]

I want an honest answer from you and the 2 guys that approved this post, how many TPS Turku games did you watch last season?

As I mentioned, I don't care what he's done in the past. What's important is what he does now and in the future.

 

[Runner77]

Writing thousands of posts worded differently about the same flawed argument isnt for discussion purpose, thats trolling.

That’s traffic. Forum needs clicks for advertising revenue.

 

[Jaaanosik]

I want an honest answer from you and the 2 guys that approved this post, how many TPS Turku games did you watch last season?

It might be, there is an input factor to consider, the rink size.
The last year, he might have more time to brace for a check, turn his body properly, forcheck angles...
He'll be better, once he adjusts to less time, smaller rink.
He does go down more often than one would think he should at the moment.

 

[Kennerback]

What is it I don't understand? What he's done both positive or negative in the past means jack shit. It's right now where we should be judging him. Do you see him overpowering opponents in the corner, while battling for the puck?

As he matures, imo he'll become a beast. In the meantime, he's holding his own right now, which is great.

I acknowledge he has not shown certain aspects of his physicality. Still, you will see his physical dominance this season!