F Juraj Slafkovsky - TPS, Finland U20 (2022 Draft)

[Osakahaus]

Olympics are really shooting his value up

 

[Reway10]

It'd surprise me if he didn't go TOP 5 to be honest.

 

[FrankMTL]

He has fantastic potential, but he needs to continue this into league play. You can get on a hot streak in these short tournaments, but consistency is everything. He's definitely got an enticing mix of size and skill though.

 

[Mikey09]

If he only became a Niederreiter type that would be a massive dissapointment

Maybe for someone who thinks about Slafkovsky as a sure thing 1st liner. Its still mostly a style wise comparision, Nino had more offensive potential than he is showing right now, he just did not pan out offensively, similiar to many young powerforwards with offensive potential. Another great comparision, both style and potential wise could be Alex Tuch, but nowhere near Jagr or even Rantanen, i dont see Slaf as a future 80+ point player, more of a 60+ clutch top6 winger at best.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

Leads the OG with 4 goals (in 3 games)

 

[Gstank]

Looks like the top 6 might be the top 7

Jiricek, Wright, Slafkovsky, Cooley, Kendell, Nemec, Savoie

 

[Eye of Ra]

Looks like the top 6 might be the top 7

Jiricek, Wright, Slafkovsky, Cooley, Kendell, Nemec, Savoie

top 8

lekkerimäki

 

[alko]

I think he'll play at the Men's WC instead, there's no point in sending him to that age group team in a lower division if he's scoring on the senior NT.

Slovakia need full stacked team in lower division. Nothing like promotion is the goal. And for that, we need the best ones.

Yeah lots of people need to calm down with this Jagr comparison. Jagr is arguably a top 3-5 player all time. The Finnish video calling him the Slovak Jagr is all fine, but Slaf is not that.

I think, you compare the whole career of Jagr with talent of Slafkovsky. I dont know, ho old are you. But if you could transfer back to 1990 and see Jagr then and compare him with today's Slafkovsky, maybe you will say something different. Actually, there are some youtube videos, then you can.

 

[Wackster]

Maybe for someone who thinks about Slafkovsky as a sure thing 1st liner. Its still mostly a style wise comparision, Nino had more offensive potential than he is showing right now, he just did not pan out offensively, similiar to many young powerforwards with offensive potential. Another great comparision, both style and potential wise could be Alex Tuch, but nowhere near Jagr or even Rantanen, i dont see Slaf as a future 80+ point player, more of a 60+ clutch top6 winger at best.

I think it is a fair evaluation unless he gets to play with a Mackinnon type of center who could bolster his stat sheet

 

[Wackster]

A ceiling of Juraj Slafkovsky is incredibly high. Possibly, the highest from the whole 2022 draft class. The guy is a monster. Basically, he carried the entire offense of Team Slovakia in those first two opening games at the Olympics – as a 17-years old and as a 4th liner with zero PPG minutes! At this point, to me he seems like lock for top 5 position in the upcoming draft. Saying that I wont be surprised seeing him as high as first overall.

I think the highest ceiling in the 2022 draft is Lambert but eh what do I know

 

[xyzed]

there's been a lot of doubts about his skating. I don't know why tho. He is so big so maybe when he is moving he doesn't look fast or anything. But from what I've seen in games against great skating teams like Finland and Sweden his skating is clearly very good. And it is not just my opinion. I've just read an article where Jere Lehtinen said he is very fast. Also Czech experts Robert Zaruba and Martin Hostak said his skating is great and Hostak who actually played against and with Jagr in one team said Slafkovsky is a better skater then Jagr was at his age. I think in almost every relevant scouting report I've read, skating is one of his advantages. So maybe he doesn't pass an eye test for someone but I think the reality is different

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

there's been a lot of doubts about his skating. I don't know why tho. He is so big so maybe when he is moving he doesn't look fast or anything. But from what I've seen in games against great skating teams like Finland and Sweden his skating is clearly very good. And it is not just my opinion. I've just read an article where Jere Lehtinen said he is very fast. Also Czech experts Robert Zaruba and Martin Hostak said his skating is great and Hostak who actually played against and with Jagr in one team said Slafkovsky is a better skater then Jagr was at his age. I think in almost every relevant scouting report I've read, skating is one of his advantages. So maybe he doesn't pass an eye test for someone but I think the reality is different

His skating is terrific for someone his size. That is an odd complaint, where did you read it?

 

[Snowsii]

I think it is a fair evaluation unless he gets to play with a Mackinnon type of center who could bolster his stat sheet

Could he also center his line, and keep stat sheet similar?

 

[Wackster]

Could he also center his line, and keep stat sheet similar?

Maybe but he is already playing the wing and rarely a young winger become a center later on, the opposite happens quite often though

 

[BuiumSaveUs]

How high is his IQ and Skill level?

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Maybe but he is already playing the wing and rarely a young winger become a center later on, the opposite happens quite often though

His coaches do seem to play him at center periodically, I believe. He seems to do well at it but it doesn't seem like anyone ever tried to move him to center officially. I'd guess he stays at LW unless he has a desire to switch.

 

[mattihp]

His skating is terrific for someone his size. That is an odd complaint, where did you read it?

His acceleration is top notch. We've seen him burn players with amazing wheels these olympics. Straight forward speed is good to very good but his size might be hiding that

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

His coaches do seem to play him at center periodically, I believe. He seems to do well at it but it doesn't seem like anyone ever tried to move him to center officially. I'd guess he stays at LW unless he has a desire to switch.

NHL teams would be smart to try him at center. This is something I mentioned a few weeks ago.

 

[rt]

Mikko Rantanen 2.0

I’ve been saying poor man’s Rantanen. I think that’s right.

 

[Goldenhands]

Maybe for someone who thinks about Slafkovsky as a sure thing 1st liner. Its still mostly a style wise comparision, Nino had more offensive potential than he is showing right now, he just did not pan out offensively, similiar to many young powerforwards with offensive potential. Another great comparision, both style and potential wise could be Alex Tuch, but nowhere near Jagr or even Rantanen, i dont see Slaf as a future 80+ point player, more of a 60+ clutch top6 winger at best.

He has the potential to be a PPG player for sure. He looks much more similar to a young Getzlaf than a Niederreter. That combo of size, reach, puck protection, smooth skating and sick hands are top line material. He also is a very good forechecker, great puck battler and will put alot of NHL defensemen in trouble.

 

[stastny12]

 

[Osakahaus]

i'm praying he falls to the isles. Ziggy Palffy 2.0

 

[lawrence]

He’s been used in key situations for the Slovaks. Very impressive he’s only 17. 6’4 217 lbs can mature out at 6’5 230 power forward.

 

[Antiillafire]

Imagine he leads slovaks to medal. He would be a Slovak legend before even being drafted to NHL

 

[Martinez89]

From all Slovakia, thank you Juraj Slafkovsky! You’re elite. Just elite.