I know he is young but I expected a but more in year 3. He looks slower and sluggish. He is incredibly soft for a 230 pound player. I hope he steps it up next year when his new contract kicks in. It was difficult not to notice how insignificant he was last night.
Player Discussion Juraj Slafkovsky discussion
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RealityBytes
Trash Remover
- Feb 11, 2013
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Lafleurs Guy
Guuuuuuuy!
- Jul 20, 2007
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He's been underwhelming but not terrible.
Still think he was the right pick. He had such a great second half last year I was hoping it'd carry over but this is par for the course when developing young players.
Again, it will be years before we know if he was the right pick or not. But he's got all the tools to be a special player. He just needs to put it together. We've seen he can do it. He just needs to do it consistently.
Guess
Registered User
Habs need to be more patient with their young players, let them all marinate in lower leagues until they dominate. I agree that Slaf would have been better served there as the pace is a bit slower, in the end he will still develop fine though.
I'd bump Dach to see if he's any better than he was the first time we tried it. He had no game at that point.
Slaf has become too reliant on his line mates and needs to drive more play on his own.
for all the "concern" about Slaf, might be good for posters to familiarize themselves with the trajectory of some of the current top players in the league...
Mackinnon D2 & D3 = 90 points (Slaf is pacing to hit 94)
Kucherov D3 NHL career total - 38 points (Slaf, 89 and counting)
it's one thing to recognize the gaps in his current game... it's another to assume that because he isn't following some hockey stick upward trajectory that he's destined to disappoint.
chill... there's lots of time to worry about the sky falling.
my bet... the 4 nations layoff is just what the doctor ordered and he'll finish the season off with a similar, if not better, run than the one he had in the back 3rd of last season
Future is bright
Mackinnon D2 & D3 = 90 points (Slaf is pacing to hit 94)
Kucherov D3 NHL career total - 38 points (Slaf, 89 and counting)
it's one thing to recognize the gaps in his current game... it's another to assume that because he isn't following some hockey stick upward trajectory that he's destined to disappoint.
chill... there's lots of time to worry about the sky falling.
my bet... the 4 nations layoff is just what the doctor ordered and he'll finish the season off with a similar, if not better, run than the one he had in the back 3rd of last season
Future is bright
BarracudaMtl
Registered User
- Apr 15, 2018
- 428
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19:45
On Tomy Marinaro's podcast, they talk about an interview Kent Hughes gave to Snake Boisvert, where he supposedly told Slaf what the organization expects of him.
here's the interview BTW. i haven't listened to it yet as i'm at work.
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- Jan 18, 2022
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Here’s an NHL spot you didn’t earn
Here’s a top line spot you didn’t earn
Here’s a 56m USD guaranteed contract you didn’t earn
By the way, we’re expecting you to earn it!
Ozmodiar
Registered User
- Oct 18, 2017
- 6,603
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238lbs as a rookie - and many thought “just wait a couple years, he’ll be a monster”.
Now he’s slimmed down to 225. Same as Brady Tkachuk. BT an inch taller.
Is that what we’re hoping for here? BT is nastier and has more skill. Maybe Slaf can be a kinder, more gentle version.
One thing that has to be adjusted is his pace. He’s slower than last year. I don’t know if it’s conditioning or a nagging injury or if he’s overthinking. Start by fixing that.
Also, he needs to find his identity. A passer? A shooter? A banger? Needs to work on his shot and throw his weight around a lot more.
Now he’s slimmed down to 225. Same as Brady Tkachuk. BT an inch taller.
Is that what we’re hoping for here? BT is nastier and has more skill. Maybe Slaf can be a kinder, more gentle version.
One thing that has to be adjusted is his pace. He’s slower than last year. I don’t know if it’s conditioning or a nagging injury or if he’s overthinking. Start by fixing that.
Also, he needs to find his identity. A passer? A shooter? A banger? Needs to work on his shot and throw his weight around a lot more.
Deebs
Take my strong advice, always think twice
- Feb 5, 2014
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Playing big/mean is a mindset, not a size thing which is something I don't think Slaf has or will have moving forward. I think it will improve with confidence and experience but I don't see him as a crash, boom, banger in our future. He'll be a puck protector more than that of a physical force. I think of guys like Draisaitl, Rantanen, etc...who use their body to create plays and space, rather than removing players from play. He won't put up their numbers of course, but that style of play. Just my take on the kid.
Ozmodiar
Registered User
- Oct 18, 2017
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Why are you extrapolating Slaf’s production (pace) when he’s already played ~ the same number of games as Mac in those 2 seasons?
It’s Mac 90, Slaf 79.
First 3 seasons:
Mac - 58pts / 82GP
Slaf - 42pts / 82GP
100%
… but there’s certain situations where he just has to throw a hit. And at times he has to be proactive in making contact to protect himself (he’s improving that, but still work TBD).
The Gr8 Dane
L'harceleur
There is like 4 powerforward mean guy in the league that puts up 60 + points , I am open to being challenged on that.
Brady T is the only guy that plays mean and big and produces at a high level , his brother and JT Miller also play mean but they aren't physically overwhelming forces.
Everyone else like Tom Wilson or Anders Lee are like 50-60 point players.
It's a rare archetype and I hope he can grow into it a little bit better.
My only issue is the contract and the mental shift it can bring to an athlete like Slaf. We will see if he has it in him. I think its clear now he doesn't have the talent to be Rant or Drai but he can still be a super useful piece
Brady T is the only guy that plays mean and big and produces at a high level , his brother and JT Miller also play mean but they aren't physically overwhelming forces.
Everyone else like Tom Wilson or Anders Lee are like 50-60 point players.
It's a rare archetype and I hope he can grow into it a little bit better.
My only issue is the contract and the mental shift it can bring to an athlete like Slaf. We will see if he has it in him. I think its clear now he doesn't have the talent to be Rant or Drai but he can still be a super useful piece
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OldCraig71
Sleeveen
You never know how it will all turn out years after a draft. Many people, including myself, wanted to draft Shane Wright, and others wanted Cooley. The Habs drafted Slaf based on what he would become in 3-4 years, he seemed to be well on his way in the second half of last season and many were expecting him to continue on the path he was on last year but it hasn't quite been that way.
Cooley is playing center and is possibly hitting 60-70 points this season. It would have been great to have him as our second-line center. He seems to have tremendous skill and upside to his game.
Shane Wright struggled, went to the AHL and is now playing a full-time role in the NHL but it is a tougher adjustment for centers and defensemen in the NHL over juniors.
Lane Hutson looks more like a number-one pick than the three of them which was a massive mistake on the part of all of the scouts and GM's in the NHL, but luckily, we got him.
I would like to see Slaf be less passive, less standing around and more using his big frame to create space for himself and his linemates but again, it's early.
Cooley is playing center and is possibly hitting 60-70 points this season. It would have been great to have him as our second-line center. He seems to have tremendous skill and upside to his game.
Shane Wright struggled, went to the AHL and is now playing a full-time role in the NHL but it is a tougher adjustment for centers and defensemen in the NHL over juniors.
Lane Hutson looks more like a number-one pick than the three of them which was a massive mistake on the part of all of the scouts and GM's in the NHL, but luckily, we got him.
I would like to see Slaf be less passive, less standing around and more using his big frame to create space for himself and his linemates but again, it's early.
LaP
Registered User
It's not about how much do you weight but how strong you are. Men usually reach their peak of stregth and speed around 24-25. It varies obviously but when i was in my mid 20ies i was much stronger that when i was 20 while retaining most of my speed. It's not even that the muscles are bigger you're just naturally stronger. Once you reach 30 you start losing speed.
LaP
Registered User
You must see this from an age perspective more than a years perspective. Most players don't even play in the NHL in their d+3 year. Yes that NHL exp will come handy later but to be able to use it to your advantage you must be in your prime.
The prime years vary from players to players. For small players i'd say on average it's earlier because they'll never be strong and rely on speed so their prime is often in the low 20ies. For big players who rely on strength their prime is usually from the mid 20ies to 30. Higher IQ players tend to have very long prime (Ovy, Crosby) since they don't rely on neither speed or strength.
It's impossible to know if Slaf will develop to its full potential but him looking meh at 20 doesn't mean much. If he still look meh at 22 it will be time to start worrying.
Kosseca
Registered User
- Feb 23, 2020
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Interesting point that was actually discussed this AM on BPM sport radio. In short, the analyst suggested that Slaf may be better suited at C then at W. He dosent have an explosive first few stride, but with enough ice he can get a nice top speed. Playing C would require him to play more deeply in the D zone and be more in movement.
They also pointed out that recently, Marc Bureau was working with the C group to improve faceoff and the only W there was Slaf. So he was wondering if MTL was seeing the same thing and may try him at C at some point.
Victoire HuGo
Formerly le Barron de HF
So the fact he's 1st overall should have a biological impact like a +2 card? Forget age?
- Jan 18, 2022
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The fact that he was deemed the best of his age cohort means something.
The fact that players younger than him and smaller than him are doing better than him means something.
The fact that players his age have made bigger impacts in the NHL means something.
LaP’s statement was not precise or relevant to Slafkovsky.
There’s no excuse for Slaf other than hoping he figures it out next year. Just like we hoped for Kostitsyn, then Galchenyuk, then Drouin, then Kotkaniemi. Hope he figures it out next year.
Victoire HuGo
Formerly le Barron de HF
Some younger players are performing better. How about the others who are not? Is development perhaps not linear, especially for bigger players? Gasp
If only there was research about this topic.
You mention Kostitsyn when it's apples and oranges. Kostitsyn wasn't even in the NHL until his D+4 and Slaf's best season is pretty much AK46's best year...
- Jan 18, 2022
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Do you think Shane Wright will finish the season with more points than Slafkvosky?
Grate n Colorful Oz
Pure Laine Hutson
One thing people forgot about unicorns. They're soft gental creatures. The horn is all for show.
