Player Discussion Juraj Slafkovsky Discussion

[TomKosto]

He needs more reps. He seems to be on the right path.

Let’s hope but don’t see the comparaison between the two.

 

[Kojo]

Let’s hope but don’t see the comparaison between the two.

How can you not see it? They both are 2-way LW/RW and Juraj's stats are actually better than Hossa at the same age. Just wait and see.

 

[TomKosto]

How can you not see it? They both are 2-way LW/RW and Juraj's stats are actually better than Hossa at the same age. Just wait and see.

Slaf is a two way beast? I just don’t see it. Hossa was a hound on the puck. I’m not saying Slaf sucks or anything but they are not alike.

 

[Kojo]

Slaf is a two way beast? I just don’t see it. Hossa was a hound on the puck. I’m not saying Slaf sucks or anything but they are not alike.

I never said that Slaf is a two way beast. He's still learning. Hossa was better but not as much better as you think.

You know what? I think I'm actually going to say it. Slaf is a two way beast. He's going to be unstoppable.

He just need someone like Demidov to feed him the puck. He would get a lot more goals and points on a line with Demidov.

 

[Tuggy]

There was a comment last night during the GDT that the shine is gonna wear off Slafkovsky once we have young guys pushing for spots in the lineup.

I agreed with this, because right now he's basically a top line player on this team by default. There are no other options.

That's going to start changing on Monday, when Demidov makes his debut.

I'm hoping the competition will be good for him and push him to be better.

 

[Laboeuf]

Slafkovsky stop puck watching

 

[sbhatt]

He has looked like first half Slaf the past few games...so much so that I would replace him with Demidov on PP1 against the Blackhawks with no heistation whatsoever. He's not battling and screening effectively, which is his role on the PP, and the PP has struggled mightily and needs a big change anyways...so why not? As has already been stated here, the arrival of Demidov means Slaf can either bring his compete level every night or face demotion...and that's a good thing.

 

[salbutera]

Slaf need to play like Knies

That’s not Slaf’s game … he needs to play like John LeClair or Tim Kerr…

 

[Balthazar]

That’s not Slaf’s game … he needs to play like John LeClair or Tim Kerr…

I don't see it. Even Slaf doesn't know what's Slaf's game at this point.

He doesn't have the skills to play like he'd want to play and he doesn't have the grit to play like the org wants him to play. He's stuck in the middle.

To maximize his potential he needs to become meaner but not everyone can do that, some people just don't have it in themselves.

 

[salbutera]

I don't see it. Even Slaf doesn't know what's Slaf's game at this point.

He doesn't have the skills to play like he'd want to play and he doesn't have the grit to play like the org wants him to play. He's stuck in the middle.

LeClair & Kerr had no snarl to their game, gentle giants who used their large bodies to protect the puck (which Slaf does quite well), win puck battles (work in progress), and drive the net / slot setup for shot (work in progress)

 

[CharleyHorse]

This same comment — both the observation of his inconsistency in his hockey sense and the hope of how he’ll get out of it — has been made about Slaf’s game for three straight years.

It is so unusual that a top drafted player has such bad hockey sense. I don’t understand it and it’s probably my own fault but it has felt all along like an Emperor’s New Clothes situation.

I don’t think he lacks hockey sense because clearly when he decides to play he can not only put up points but also be a bull in a china shop and dig out the puck and create plays. But he doesn’t seem to do that consistently enough - maybe that should be his assignment over the summer: commit to playing consistent hockey

 

[The Great Weal]

For a guy who's main qualities are supposedly physical play and competitiveness, his play is unacceptable. He needs to do exactly what Anderson did last offseason in terms of training, dieting, psychologists...etc

 

[salbutera]

For a guy who's main qualities are supposedly physical play and competitiveness, his play is unacceptable. He needs to do exactly what Anderson did last offseason in terms of training, dieting, psychologists...etc

Whoever said physical play? He’s a big body, very different… Hughes advise was “use your big body for possession”

 

[electron58]

It's weird but reading all these comments has me thinking of Armia 2.0

 

[Rapala]

I never said that Slaf is a two way beast. He's still learning. Hossa was better but not as much better as you think.

You know what? I think I'm actually going to say it. Slaf is a two way beast. He's going to be unstoppable.

He just need someone like Demidov to feed him the puck. He would get a lot more goals and points on a line with Demidov.

Yeah because Suzuki doesn't know how to feed the puck to an open player?

 

[The Great Weal]

Whoever said physical play?

Many scouting reports pre draft, you can easily find them online.

 

[Rapala]

He has looked like first half Slaf the past few games...so much so that I would replace him with Demidov on PP1 against the Blackhawks with no heistation whatsoever. He's not battling and screening effectively, which is his role on the PP, and the PP has struggled mightily and needs a big change anyways...so why not? As has already been stated here, the arrival of Demidov means Slaf can either bring his compete level every night or face demotion...and that's a good thing.

His instincts aren't where they need to be. There was a play on the PP where Laine tried to feed him off to the side instead of shooting. Slaf needed to take one step towards the play use his body to box out Benoit with his stick on the ice. He did none of that and it was and easy play for the defender to deflect away.
His standing off to the side accomplishes nothing if he isn't moving blocking out or forcing Dmen to defend his body position. Sad because it's really not Rocket Science.

 

[Habs]

There was a comment last night during the GDT that the shine is gonna wear off Slafkovsky once we have young guys pushing for spots in the lineup.

I agreed with this, because right now he's basically a top line player on this team by default. There are no other options.

That's going to start changing on Monday, when Demidov makes his debut.

I'm hoping the competition will be good for him and push him to be better.

He is destined for the second line when Demidov is settled in, and that's a hefty salary to go along with it. Slaf seems more like a setup guy so he won't benefit from Demidov

 

[shello]

Simply put, he’s going to be making a lot more money next year and it’s time for him to step it up. Being patient on a ELC is one thing. Not sure what to do about his low hockey IQ, if one thing will be his downfall it’ll be that.

 

[MasterD]

That’s not Slaf’s game … he needs to play like John LeClair or Tim Kerr…

He needs to play like Ryan Smith.

 

[Kennerback]

I didn’t like his game yesterday. Not moving his legs enough. However, Gary Roberts, Lucic, Olli Jokinen and Al Secord were just as inconsistent and all probably worse than him at 21.

 

[MasterD]

I never said that Slaf is a two way beast. He's still learning. Hossa was better but not as much better as you think.

You know what? I think I'm actually going to say it. Slaf is a two way beast. He's going to be unstoppable.

He just need someone like Demidov to feed him the puck. He would get a lot more goals and points on a line with Demidov.

He has Suzuki and Hutson playing with him, I'm pretty sure they can get the puck to him. Caufield, too.

He needs better positioning, he needs A LOT more compete, and he needs to work on his shot.

 

[_vivelequebec_]

It's weird but reading all these comments has me thinking of Armia 2.0

Armia best season : 16 goals 14 assists
Slafkovsky last season (19 yo) : 20 goals 30 assists
Slafkovsky this season : 17 goals 32 assists

Joe Thornton first three seasons : 217 GP 108 points
Slafkovsky first three seasons (2 games to go) : 198 GP 109 points

Arrêtez d'être de mauvaise foi tabarnak

 

[MasterD]

Armia best season : 16 goals 14 assists
Slafkovsky last season (19 yo) : 20 goals 30 assists
Slafkovsky this season : 17 goals 32 assists

Joe Thornton first three seasons : 217 GP 108 points
Slafkovsky first three seasons (2 games to go) : 198 GP 109 points

Arrêtez d'être de mauvaise foi tabarnak

The Armia comparison is idiotic, but tell me with a straight face you really believe Slafkovsky can have a career similar to Joe Thornton's.

Their shots may be comparable, but Thornton had more vision and passing ability in his pinky than Slafkovsky can ever imagine.

 

[BehindTheTimes]

Okay.

I see him as a young player with excellent potential still finding his game. He’s going to make mistakes and he’s going to give you glimpses of what he can be. That’s pretty much par for the course with most players who are in their developmental years.

I’m disappointed in his season but not in a big way. I’d have liked to have seen a better start. I think that next step that we were expecting this season will happen next year.

Pretty much where I am too. Maybe a bit more than a bit disappointed, I still find him behind the play and making poor decisions, but I still think we have a find player here. I’m not able to guess at the ceiling here. I don’t see any elite qualities offensively. I hope they are there.