Is Slafkovsky the worst #1 pick ever ?

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Garo

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Useful player but also really bad in some ways! I would rather he be developing in Laval to become more well rounded.
I don't think anyone should trust Laval this year, especially with players that already belong at the NHL level. I'm sure he could be good and all, but he's already playing on a top line - and providing valuable tools to a team overperforming atm - with great opportunities. The AHL shouldn't be for players like that even at the most opportune times.
 

Voight

#winning
Feb 8, 2012
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Tonight's goal shows the interesting contrast with Slafkovsky at this point in his development.

He makes an awful pass about 10 feet away from Suzuki's stick. Then Slaf goes to the net, the puck becomes loose in the crease and while he doesn't immediately find the rebound, the other club can't physically move him, so Slaf has time to put it in.

Useful player but also really bad in some ways! I would rather he be developing in Laval to become more well rounded.

They should've sent him back to Europe or to Laval last season instead of falling victim to shiny new toy syndrome.
 
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Garo

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They should've sent him back to Europe or to Laval last season instead of falling victim to shiny new toy syndrome.
I don't think they did, it was pretty clear from the beginning that they didn't view keeping Slaf up as a way to make the team more competitive, unlike when we kept Kotkaniemi up. It seemed like they genuinely believed it was better for him to get some time at the NHL level rather than looking at the alternatives. You can definitely argue against it and it was questionable when everyone else wasn't doing that with similar prospects like Nemec or Jiricek, but if he gets where he needs to be when the team is primed to compete it really doesn't matter.
 
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mattihp

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Aug 2, 2004
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I have a good feeling he will figure things out. He has hockey iq, is reasonably strong and resourceful. He really impressed me in the olympics considering the limited time he got. He was always ready.
 
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NobleSix

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He's been a beast for most of the season now, especially for the last 15 games or so. His play has been night and day from last season. The points are finally starting to come for him with two back to back multi point games. He's settled in very nicely on the top line.

Very impressed with his play, and that's coming from someone who was very skeptical of the selection at the draft, and into last season.
 

SergeConstantin74

Always right.
Jul 7, 2007
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I don't think they did, it was pretty clear from the beginning that they didn't view keeping Slaf up as a way to make the team more competitive, unlike when we kept Kotkaniemi up. It seemed like they genuinely believed it was better for him to get some time at the NHL level rather than looking at the alternatives. You can definitely argue against it and it was questionable when everyone else wasn't doing that with similar prospects like Nemec or Jiricek, but if he gets where he needs to be when the team is primed to compete it really doesn't matter.

True. From my understanding, they wanted the NHL coaching staff to work with him.

Laval has been a mess this year. And for the past 15 games or so, Slaf has been one of the best Habs players. He’ll make mistakes again but they all do.
 

Lshap

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Jun 6, 2011
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FYI: Slafkovsky has been at a .5 PPG pace since the end of October. Respectable production for a 19 year old with less than a full season under his belt. But even more important is he's gobbling up experience, gaining confidence with the puck and the game around him.

There's no way to predict his production and what he'll become, but fair to say he's already torpedoed the most negative posts in this thread.
 

The Gr8 Dane

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Jan 19, 2018
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sennysensen

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Feb 7, 2018
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Not even close. While Slaf doesn't look like a future superstar, he does look like a future solid long time NHLer.

It's starting to look like the top of the draft wasn't really great that year, so the Habs' choices were limited.

Wright is disappointing, although I'm sure he'll become a solid 2nd liner. Cooley is skilled, but looks weak and small, future 2nd liner, maybe low-end 1st liner and PP specialist. Nemec looks like the guy with the most potential to be a star right now. I also like Jiricek who looks like a certain long-time top 4 d-man, maybe top 2 potential. Gauthier looks good, has potential.
 

ToNedOuT

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Apr 22, 2004
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Victoria BC
For me, the most impressive part of Slafs game lately is his play in the defensive zone. He was so lost there last year and this year he’s actually creating turnovers and making smart plays to initiate breakouts.

Without this improvement I doubt we would have seen him stick with Suzuki and Caufield, who need a strong defensive forward with them.
 
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