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

[bebl]

Definitely disagree about Slaf's ability to use his size to his advantage though. He's very strong especially for a player his age and does use that, it's really hard to get the puck off his stick. Not a power forward type but a strong puck possession player for sure.

I meant that he should use his big body more to challenge defenders instead of those uneffective dangles. I didn't mean to say he is bad at using his size, i just hope he gets better understanding when to use it.

 

[bebl]

His speed isn’t even one of his best assets. He has some of the best hands in the draft and is good at using his combination of great puck handling and size down low and along the boards. I’m not sure why you keep talking about his speed. He’s not a speed guy. You can’t find a single scouting report saying the things you’re saying. What you’re saying just doesn’t make sense. There’s people that think his IQ is good, there’s people that aren’t sure but pretty much every single person agrees that he’s good at using his body and has really good hands.

He is pretty fast player for his size in Liiga atleast. Not saying his skating technique is flawless. He could challenge defenders with speed and size but he usually tries some dangles and loses the puck. Did i say he has bad hands? im not saying he can't use his body but he chooses times to use it very poorly. I don't usually read scouting reports that much, i like watching games unlike you.

 

[GermanSpitfire]

I think this thread deserves a part 2, no?

 

[Captain3rdLine]

He is pretty fast player for his size in Liiga atleast. Not saying his skating technique is flawless. He could challenge defenders with speed and size but he usually tries some dangles and loses the puck. Did i say he has bad hands? im not saying he can't use his body but he chooses times to use it very poorly. I don't usually read scouting reports that much, i like watching games unlike you.

lol nope I’ve watched a ton of games. I also like to read what other people think about him. He’s not a fast player. He’s a big guy with really good skill who uses his size and body very effectively. He’s not slow but he’s not a guy who’s gonna burn defenders with his speed. Does he try to dangle too much at times? Yes but that’s a common thing with skilled young players. He’s very good at using his size and body along the boards, around the net and on the forecheck. Not sure what you’re talking about.

 

[Hisch13r]

Unless you expect him to keep shooting 29% for forever then yes that's literally how these things work. Yes he got 7 goals in 7 games. No that is not repeatable because he would not continue to shoot 29%. Half that would be somewhat reasonable to expect and that's 3-4 goals.

 

[Dirtyf1ghter]

This year he of course is. Being barely above PPG in the Finnish U20 for his D-1 and DY combined is not what you want from a potential 2nd overall pick. Last year though his production's pretty considerably worse than the rest in their D-1's and then this year it was also considerably worse. I don't see how this guy is seen as a slam dunk top 5 pick alone top 3 like some think he is. He's got the big boy bump and the shooting 29% in a 7 game sample bump.

Honestly you'd better stop talking about this topic because obviously you've never seen him play.

If Slafkovsky is expected top 3 it's because he's a very complete power forward, not a shooter. He showed he could be a goalscorer but if it was just that he would be seen as Kemell. But besides that, he brings a lot in the puckless game, especially in the boards. He is a hard worker. But that is not written in the goal statistics. You have to see the games to observe the level of Slafkovsky. Its high rank is not a matter of statistics.

 

[Faterson]

I think this thread deserves a part 2, no?

No. That was an extremely annoying software limitation that now reportedly no longer exists.

 

[tmlmatus]

Again looking like the best player for the Slovaks; there is so much more to him then just productivity.

 

[vildurson]

Again looking like the best player for the Slovaks; there is so much more to him then just productivity.

Funny thing tho. His weak pass to middle in offensive zone started one goal for Germany. Nemec was on the ice as well during that goal looking bit lost. Nemec also took one penalty.

Nemec game has been kinda iffy. Some good, some bad. Same with Slafkovsky.

Other than that, decent game from both though. Slaf also caused some good chances for them.

 

[montreal]

 

[MS]

Slafkovsky would seem a lot faster if he was playing teenagers in the CHL or USHL instead of most of his prominent viewing being against rosters of ex-NHL players.

 

[Eggtimer]

His skating does not look bad at all, keeps up fine. His first few steps are not amazing but nothing to worry about. I thought he might be lacking somewhat in the skating department but looked good against Germany today.

 

[vildurson]

Yup. His skating is not going to be problem. He is just not gonna explode with puck straight away but he can protect puck well enough for that to be a problem.

 

[Eggtimer]

Yup. His skating is not going to be problem. He is just not gonna explode with puck straight away but he can protect puck well enough for that to be a problem.

Yes it would be deadly if he could protect the puck along the boards and explode to the net with elite first few steps , but how many players in the NHL can do that now ? A handful maybe and they are elite studs like Crosby

Is Slafkovsky a better or lesser prospect than what Svechnikov was at the time of his draft? Is Slaf’s ceiling below what Svechnikov currently is at now?

 

[NJ DevLolz]

Yes it would be deadly if he could protect the puck along the boards and explode to the net with elite first few steps , but how many players in the NHL can do that now ? A handful maybe and they are elite studs like Crosby

Is Slafkovsky a better or lesser prospect than what Svechnikov was at the time of his draft? Is Slaf’s ceiling below what Svechnikov currently is at now?

Svechnikov was definitely the better prospect

 

[Junohockeyfan]

Yes it would be deadly if he could protect the puck along the boards and explode to the net with elite first few steps , but how many players in the NHL can do that now ? A handful maybe and they are elite studs like Crosby

Is Slafkovsky a better or lesser prospect than what Svechnikov was at the time of his draft? Is Slaf’s ceiling below what Svechnikov currently is at now?

Svech was a far superior prospect in every manner of the game. No comparison.

I think Slaf is the most overrated prospect in sometime.

 

[Eggtimer]

Svechnikov was definitely the better prospect

That is kinda disappointing . Nothing against Svech , he is an awesome player but I was hoping for Slaf to have as much potential.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

That is kinda disappointing . Nothing against Svech , he is an awesome player but I was hoping for Slaf to have as much potential.

I think Slafkovsky's upside is similar to the current level of player that Svechnikov is today.

 

[stastny12]

That is kinda disappointing . Nothing against Svech , he is an awesome player but I was hoping for Slaf to have as much potential.

Why dissapointing? Since when is relevant what is saying some user on hfboards...

 

[NJ DevLolz]

Why dissapointing? Since when is relevant what is saying some user on hfboards...

Svechnikov was seen as a 1B to Dahlin who was the most hyped d prospect since Hedman. I like Slaf and will be happy if NJ takes him but Svechnikov is at least a tier above him.

 

[HughJazz3dg]

Looking so sexy against Canada.

 

[karhukissa]

I haven't been following him that much before, but he's a big kid and very heavy. It usually takes some time for these big and heavy forward kids to get their full potential out and adjust their skating and movement to the NHL level.

Rantanen, Barkov, Wheeler to give you some examples. And especially if Slaf had some crazy growth during short period of time.

I'd say at this point he's similar prospect to Rantanen, but then again he's one of the best wingers in the league currently so it's unfair to expect that Slaf would get there, but it's possible.

 

[57special]

I haven't been following him that much before, but he's a big kid and very heavy. It usually takes some time for these big and heavy forward kids to get their full potential out and adjust their skating and movement to the NHL level.

Rantanen, Barkov, Wheeler to give you some examples. And especially if Slaf had some crazy growth during short period of time.

I'd say at this point he's similar prospect to Rantanen, but then again he's one of the best wingers in the league currently so it's unfair to expect that Slaf would get there, but it's possible.

Could also say Draisaitl

 

[karhukissa]

Could also say Draisaitl

Yeah he's a great example too, also d-man like Hedman who is massive had some big struggles during his first seasons.

 

[bert]

More noticeable against team Canada than Wright is against North Bay. Major Hossa vibes, his back pressure is super similar. He is just bigger... Skill on display too. Anyone thinking Wright is a lock for 1 isn't watching the games. Or they don't know what to look for.