Player Discussion The Slaf Thread - Parabolic Growth Edition

[Demigod Gloves]

he's 6'3 and plays like a B&%@h, he's not a power forward, I dont like the contract, he's just to dumb and not skilled enough to make a difference, I wish he was like Heineman.

 

[LaP]

Let's see a list with some stats.

Yakupov first 158 games : 33 goals 67 points
Lafrniere first 158 games : 34 goals 62 points
Slaf first 158 games : 28 goals 81 points
Jack Hughes first 158 games : 37 goals 99 points

Predicting career production at 20 years old is quite dangerous i'd advise against it.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Last 25 years also includes Patrick Stefan and Laf. Not to mention DiPietro.

DiPietro should’ve been better. Too many injuries. He was as good as Hextall/Bodeur/Price handling the puck.

 

[Hacketts]

We got our #1 player last year.

 

[Breakfast of Champs]

lol are you serious? Your first overall pick on his FOURTH NHL season producing less than a 19 years rookie on his first rookie season is not a problem? I agreed that Demidov is more skilled. But Slaf is going to play with prime Suzuki and Caufield. One the first line and PP1.... Demidov will probably start on the second/third line to start the season. Beyond the point, Slaf is a power forward. I hope we get to see a more physical presence from him.

65pts for a 1ov is okay for you?

At age 21 , yeah

 

[MasterD]

65pts for a 1ov is okay for you?

You can't be taken seriously. Draft position means nothing without context.

Look at that draft, who else would you have taken? Nemec? Wright? The only one who was a clear cut top 5 pick that year that MAY be a better producing forward is Cooley, whose production so far is similar to Slaf's. And he doesn't have nearly the same physical tools, which we really needed at forward.

Slafkovsky isn't generational. None of the top picks from that draft are, so far. Had we picked Slaf instead of a guy like Bedard, sure, you could laugh. But it's not the case.

Dach would have been picked before Slaf if they had been in the same draft. Same with Byfield, Stutzle, Raymond. Leo Carlsson, Adam Fantilli.... Slaf was 1st OA because there was very little top end talent that year, it is what it is. If he could become a perennial 65 points/season guy that played with physical intensity like Ryan Smyth did, or similar style to Iginla, it'd be a huge win.

He's 21 FFS, been playing for a shit, unstructured team since he joined the NHL, give it time.

 

[Victoire HuGo]

Last 25 years also includes Patrick Stefan and Laf. Not to mention DiPietro.

I'd argue that since it's so early he can be better than Power, RNH, Johnson and Ekblad too. But nope let's make outlandish remarks instead.

This thread will not age nearly as well as Slaf's contract.

Book it.

The posts in this thread or the OP because that's two separate things in itself

 

[Breakfast of Champs]

You can't be taken seriously. Draft position means nothing without context.

Look at that draft, who else would you have taken? Nemec? Wright? The only one who was a clear cut top 5 pick that year that MAY be a better producing forward is Cooley, whose production so far is similar to Slaf's. And he doesn't have nearly the same physical tools, which we really needed at forward.

Slafkovsky isn't generational. None of the top picks from that draft are, so far. Had we picked Slaf instead of a guy like Bedard, sure, you could laugh. But it's not the case.

Dach would have been picked before Slaf if they had been in the same draft. Same with Byfield, Stutzle, Raymond. Leo Carlsson, Adam Fantilli.... Slaf was 1st OA because there was very little top end talent that year, it is what it is. If he could become a perennial 65 points/season guy that played with physical intensity like Ryan Smyth did, or similar style to Iginla, it'd be a huge win.

He's 21 FFS, been playing for a shit, unstructured team since he joined the NHL, give it time.

He's actually only 20, even better

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

people whos only argument is age , are completely out of the loop on this thread

you can't just put every thing on his gameplay as a age thing.

 

[Fuonki]

Points are an awful metric to gauge overall player ability especially with high draft picks who get inflated TOI for their first couple years at least, but oh well. I think giving Slaf 8 millions for 8 years so early was a mistake yes, but in truth if Slaf ends up not developing into a 8 million dollar player by the time the salary cap has any relevance to this team we've got way bigger problems than paying him too much money, so the risk was justified in that sense.

 

[HuGort]

Slaf much better end of last season. Big contract seems to be kiss of death to him.

 

[HuGort]

I'd offer him for Pettersson? Another player regressed since signing big deal

 

[Victoire HuGo]

6-7 via a deflection on there.
I did speak about his PP role. I wish we saw more plays at 1:30 & 4:54. If he's going to be playing net front instead of taking one timers from the right circle I wish they'd try that play more often especially when shot is not an option for Laine or Caufield on the left side

 

[Victoire HuGo]

1st goal, 6:47, 7:12, 7:30, 8:26, 9:23, 10:25, 10:30. 11:20

Those are example of players where Slaf created the play so let's stop pretending he was just leaching off Caufield and Suzuki last year

 

[Habs Halifax]

Slaf much better end of last season. Big contract seems to be kiss of death to him.

It's basically tracking exactly how Bob M presented that draft year. A lot of top 6/top 4D talent with the chance one or two turns into a top of the line-up talent.

I think we have a very strong top 6F with Slaf and expect more up/down movement on the rollercoaster ride. It won't be a lineal curve upwards IMO.

 

[Flyingbagels]

I find your thread very interesting, and not premature like some others said. It is a hockey forum after all, and if it isn't the place for thoughtful analysis and discussion then what's the point of coming here? The whiners take too much place in this board.

On your chart, I like the % of cap hit from players on Stanley cup champion teams. It seems 8mill for a core group, or fewer at 10-11mill for elite + talent is a good recipe. This doesn't bode well for the Leafs, who have so much spent on a few players.

Otherwise, your assumption is that if Slaf becomes a 60-70 pts players, his contract will be worthwile and similar capwise as good hockey teams. Fingers crossed on that one.

I think his floor will be 50 pts, with some years at 60+ pts. Even at 50 pts, there are so many other intangibles that he will bring, and already does bring. An underestimated aspect is the attitude, chemistry and good vibes in the locker room, and he fits right in with Suzuki, Caufield in that aspect IMO. Some people mention that ''he doesn't care'', well no, it's more that he has a lot to learn and integrate at this point. That makes him look slow and somewhat disengaged, but at some point mental and motor skills will became automatic habits. His processing speed and ability to translate this concretely will increase, and thus he will look ''like he cares''. In summary, it's called the sophomore slump, and for some it is longer than others.

Oversimplification with the effort narrative is too easy and widespread, and not just for Slaf.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Slaf much better end of last season. Big contract seems to be kiss of death to him.

Not worried. I don’t think he’s a superstar but I think he’ll be a solid first line player. Us landing Denison and Huston takes the pressure off this guy having to be that big star for us.

Assuming Demidov is what we hope he is then we should be in good shape going forward. Slaf will provide us with a dimension we lack up front. A big strong, skilled forward is badly needed.

 

[Andy]

Compete and intensity weren't an issue last year.

I suspect that this is an issue now can be due to one of three things (or maybe a combo):
1. He's playing injured
2. His conditioning is not nhl level this year for whatever reason
3. Opponents are checking him tighter and he's still hasn't figured out how to adjust

I instantly laugh at anyone questioning his hockey IQ. You don't make repeated quick decision, accurate one-touch passes that consistently lead to scoring chances if you have bad hockey IQ.

His issue right now is intensity. I would be concerned if he hasn't shown an ability to be intense at any point in his career, but we know that is not true.

 

[morhilane]

2. His conditioning is not nhl level this year for whatever reason

I think that by now, that would have been mostly resolved if it had been the case.

 

[Victoire HuGo]

I think that by now, that would have been mostly resolved if it had been the case.

I mean Gally has always been gassed after his shifts but I guess it makes sense since he's pedal to the wall 24/7

 

[BLONG7]

I'd offer him for Pettersson? Another player regressed since signing big deal

Slaf's deal hasn't even kicked in, and people are upset, and yet you want a guy who has a cap at almost 12M and was called out by his own GM ? And is a few years older than Slaf?

Mentioned earlier by someone, but N8 Mackinnon was in his year 5 before hitting a PPG player.....
Patience guys............

 

[Lockin17]

we should of bridge him instead of a big contract

 

[Andy]

I think that by now, that would have been mostly resolved if it had been the case.

Maybe, but you have to remember that he's already such a big kid still growing into that massive frame. We do not know what he focused on this summer. Maybe he spent his time getting leaner (which he did) and that affected his nhl conditioning.

Again, intensity is not a red flag for me at this moment since he's shown last year that he could play with pace and intensity. Something this season is preventing him from doing that.

 

[ReHabs]

I instantly laugh at anyone questioning his hockey IQ.

Fascinating comment.

A lot of commentators who’ve previously proven to be mindful and knowledgeable about hockey have remarked on Slaf’s decision-making or preponderance to make weird choices on the ice and with the puck. How a player so big can make position himself to eat so many hits and impacts… But you instantly laugh at them, so I guess it’s not worth talking about.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

This dude is gonna get eviscerated if he plays like this next year the hounds smell blood!!