Is Slafkovsky the worst #1 pick ever ?

[Sayba]

Jeff Gorton Top 10 picks:

JURAJ SLAFKOVSKY​

ALEXIS LAFRENIÈRE​

KAAPO KAKKO​

DAVID REINBACHER​

LIAS ANDERSSON​

VITALI KRAVTSOV​

That list is damning , he shouldn’t have a job

 

[Le Tricolore]

Tage wasn’t a full time NHLer with no AHL/college time until his d+5.

Byfield wasn’t a full time NHLer with no AHL time until his d+4.

Slafkovsky has never stepped foot in the AHL.

The Canadians are the problem, not the player.

If anything it seems like all you're saying is that these players aren't great at 19. Maybe the league they're playing in isn't necessarily relevant or a good way to judge a player future production when they're so raw. Obviously it' be nice if Slafkovsky was scoring at a higher rate, but it isn't like anyone on Montreal is. The team is bad. Slafkovsky is looking more and more comfortable out there. I don't think there's any problem at all.

 

[King'sPawn]

I don't watch him regularly, but he seemed pretty good against the Kings. It just didn't translate onto the scoresheet.

 

[Nicko999]

Despite the fact he has been playing much better, the stats are zero zero zero.

Needs his play to translate into pts.

 

[CauZuki]

Despite the fact he has been playing much better, the stats are zero zero zero.

Needs his play to translate into pts.

He literally scored the game winning shootout goal and that doesn't end up in the goal column judging by stats.

 

[Nicko999]

He literally scored the game winning shootout goal and that doesn't end up in the goal column judging by stats.

Shootout goals don't count for a reason. They are not real hockey plays.

 

[viceroy]

People must not watch the habs if they think they've got more deserving wingers than Slaf to promote...

Ylonen should be, but not on the 1st. We're just line juggling, the only guy that was gangbusters with Suzuki and Caufield was Dach and that's not an option.

The last 6-7 games are reassuring. He’s more noticeable than Caufield and Suzuki.

Suzuki? At least he's scoring.

Anywho I wasn't a fan of the Slafs pick and then thought that the idea of not sending him to the AHL was a damning indictment of the Gorton/Bobrov drafting and development "philosophy" but I must admit I like what I see in Juraj this season. I believe it has everything to do with the young Slovak's attitude and hard work.

 

[Gliff]

If anything it seems like all you're saying is that these players aren't great at 19. Maybe the league they're playing in isn't necessarily relevant or a good way to judge a player future production when they're so raw. Obviously it' be nice if Slafkovsky was scoring at a higher rate, but it isn't like anyone on Montreal is. The team is bad. Slafkovsky is looking more and more comfortable out there. I don't think there's any problem at all.

Nope that’s not what I’m saying at all.

Tage was PPG in the NCAA as a 19 year old.
Byfield was a scoring at 2/3 a ppg in the AHL as a 19 year old.

What I’m saying is Slavkovsky being in the NHL last year and this year is likely hurting his development.

Especially when Montreal is not competing. I don’t get the logic.

 

[Le Tricolore]

Nope that’s not what I’m saying at all.

Tage was PPG in the NCAA as a 19 year old.
Byfield was a scoring at 2/3 a ppg in the AHL as a 19 year old.

What I’m saying is Slavkovsky being in the NHL last year and this year is likely hurting his development.

Especially when Montreal is not competing. I don’t get the logic.

Not all players are the same. It's impossible to speculate how Slafkovsky would be doing if he were in an entirely different situation.

 

[Galactico]

He's been one of our best players for 2 weeks now, time to pump the brakes on both sides

He has 2 goals and 7 points in 27 games…

 

[TOGuy14]

Jeff Gorton Top 10 picks:

JURAJ SLAFKOVSKY​

ALEXIS LAFRENIÈRE​

KAAPO KAKKO​

DAVID REINBACHER​

LIAS ANDERSSON​

VITALI KRAVTSOV​

This is a major yikes, especially since they say the head GM is mostly involved with high picks with the scouts and AGM doing more research in the late picks

 

[staveNsteel]

Despite the fact he has been playing much better, the stats are zero zero zero.

Needs his play to translate into pts.

Oooorrrr.. you ha e some patience with a 19yr old with 66gp at the NHL level. As long as his play keeps improving over the next few years, the points will come. Not all players develop at the same rate, and not every player can be compared to someone else. How about Slaf is compared to Slaf and will develop at his pace. My guess is that it'll take 3-5yrs for him to reach that upside.. but what's wrong with a player hitting his stride at 23-24? Absolutely nothing!

I swear, noone has any patience anymore.

 

[DaPhazz]

He has 2 goals and 7 points in 27 games…

Speaking of points, since they mean a lot to you, are you missing the guy's point on purpose?

 

[Jabba11]

I love this thread. Critics, hate and chirping are welcomed. And at the end of the day, who the hell cares what the other fanbases think of our 1st pick. The organization took him, we stand behind him and his development, success or failure, he is our guy. And to all Habs fans, we know what amazing strides he has taken in his development in the last 10 games, how he competes, creates, plays hard and physical and showing his skills. The league is not ready to see a peak Slafkovsky yet. Let him develop and be underrated, love it

And hating on an 18 years old defenseman that literally just got drafted is insane. Reinbacher is so far from being a finished product and putting him in the category of potential bust? Hfboards at its finest. The same Jeff Gorton picked Lane Hutson too.

 

[Baksfamous112]

This is a major yikes, especially since they say the head GM is mostly involved with high picks with the scouts and AGM doing more research in the late picks

Would be relevant if Gorton was the GM

 

[Judas Tavares]

The "at least we aren't the Leafs" and "1st round derp" stuff are really odd responses. It has nothing to do with the player's development.

Stick to the look at Laf/Byfield/Tage timing stuff, those are at least very good arguments that make legitimate sense.

 

[StumpyTown]

Daigle and Yakupov may have a say in this

 

[Gliff]

Not all players are the same. It's impossible to speculate how Slafkovsky would be doing if he were in an entirely different situation.

By that logic there is no point where we can know for sure that it was a Canadians problem and not a player problem.

If he wasn’t 1st overall he would have no business in the NHL.

 

[mkatcherin00]

People need to remember that it is not always linear. Leon was not a #1 pick, but the guy looked terrible when he first played in Edmonton. Bambi on skates. Looked like he did not belong on NHL ice at all.

He improved everywhere to levels I didn't think he could come close to getting to.

 

[salwan]

IMO, if you're in a hockey pool or fantasy league, it's time to buy low for him. Not sure what's his maximum upside but anybody with eyes can see he's figuring it out. It's kinda funny how little it did translate in points lately, but he's blossoming in front of our eyes. It really feels like Byfield from last year. Slaf has had a slow start for a first overall and he will be a very good player.

Honestly I wish there's was more people here trying to get to the truth about players instead of bashing or always assuming someone is a homer. What's the point of all that?

Somebody who's looking only at scoreboards won't see the progression. I love when hockey fans from other teams chimes in and tell me who's about to break out or what doesn't tell the whole story. I remember when Devils fans where telling us Jack Hughes that was coming along nicely, even if the points weren't there yet. It's not about being right, or rivalries or pettiness, just give me the truth!

This x100.

Anyone who actually watches the games instead of just checking the box score knows that Slaf has made huge strides over the past month (admittedly from a lower performance level) to the point where he has been one of the best performers on the team. That's not to say there isn't still room for improvement, especially in his end product. And of course questions will be raised about his shooting, decision making, etc. if he just performs well without getting on the scoresheet a year from now, but at this point in his career I'll take progress in his game over the numbers. And it's almost funny how snakebitten he's been lately.

 

[Plastic Joseph]

This x100.

Anyone who actually watches the games instead of just checking the box score knows that Slaf has made huge strides over the past month (admittedly from a lower performance level) to the point where he has been one of the best performers on the team. That's not to say there isn't still room for improvement, especially in his end product. And of course questions will be raised about his shooting, decision making, etc. if he just performs well without getting on the scoresheet a year from now, but at this point in his career I'll take progress in his game over the numbers. And it's almost funny how snakebitten he's been lately.

he's a bad shooter but the rest has definitely come a long way from even the beginning of the season.

I was 100% certain Hughes would figure it out, I was 90% certain with QB and I am about 90% certain Slaf will become a very valuable piece to a winning team. He may never get more than 60-70 pts but he can be that Nichushkin type of player who brings the elements not all high scoring players can.

Very excited to see his progress from here on out

 

[Heffyhoof]

Shootout goals don't count for a reason. They are not real hockey plays.

I will never understand why the NHL doesn't just extend 3-3 to 15 minutes or something, it would nearly never result in a shootout. Shootouts are the worst way to end a hockey game.

 

[ReHabs]

he's a bad shooter but the rest has definitely come a long way from even the beginning of the season.

I was 100% certain Hughes would figure it out, I was 90% certain with QB and I am about 90% certain Slaf will become a very valuable piece to a winning team. He may never get more than 60-70 pts but he can be that Nichushkin type of player who brings the elements not all high scoring players can.

Very excited to see his progress from here on out

Hughes had spectacular prospect pedigree. Byfield has better pedigree than Slafkovsky if you go by league play. Byfield was a bit of a reach at 2OA imo but GMs love that size+strength combo. He's come along but what are the odds Slafkovsky can repeat Byfield's long-shot development success but without the AHL demotions?

I will never understand why the NHL doesn't just extend 3-3 to 15 minutes or something, it would nearly never result in a shootout. Shootouts are the worst way to end a hockey game.

TV rights, ad sales, etc. TV programming doesn't want games to end at random times because it's a mess for the rest of the schedule.

 

[viceroy]

Not all players are the same. It's impossible to speculate how Slafkovsky would be doing if he were in an entirely different situation.

Sorry bud but I don't think there's any debate that Slafs should've been in the AHL last year. That was a wasted year.

The same Jeff Gorton picked Lane Hutson too.

The thing is high 1sts are a highly political selection and involve a lot of upper management, heck sometimes on certain teams ownership as well. Whereas 2nds and below selections are mostly left to the scouting staff to choose.

Would be relevant if Gorton was the GM

Gorts runs the show. He brought in Bobrov, his man on the NYR to run MTL'S draft.

I will never understand why the NHL doesn't just extend 3-3 to 15 minutes or something, it would nearly never result in a shootout. Shootouts are the worst way to end a hockey game.

The NHLPA didn't want more time added to the clock. It would add wear and tear to the players over the long haul. Also I like shoot outs over the regular season, ties is liking kissing your sister.

Byfield has better pedigree than Slafkovsky if you go by league play. Byfield was a bit of a reach at 2OA imo but GMs love that size+strength combo. He's come along but what are the odds Slafkovsky can repeat Byfield's long-shot development success but without the AHL demotions?

Like I've said many times on the Habs boards I was never a fan of the Slafs pick but I never cared for the Byfield pick either. Big for big's sake always seemed like a simplistic approach to drafting. I did like Juraj's sticktoitiveness and saw he worked hard over the summer. Dropped about the 20lbs I thought he should lose as well.

 

[Gliff]

People need to remember that it is not always linear. Leon was not a #1 pick, but the guy looked terrible when he first played in Edmonton. Bambi on skates. Looked like he did not belong on NHL ice at all.

He improved everywhere to levels I didn't think he could come close to getting to.

Which is why they got him out of the NHL. Almost like forcing someone into the NHL before they are ready hurts their development.