Player Discussion Juraj Slafkovsky discussion

[austin316]

Doesn’t move his feet, doesn’t shoot, is rarely physically engaged in the game. It seems so simple what he needs to do in order to succeed, but he refuses to commit. Disappointing player.

 

[Deebs]

That gave him the big contract too quick

Unfortunately this is the norm in the league and one I really don't care for. Seems like many players these days don't earn their big deal and everything is based on projections and wishful thinking.

If teams get it right it can work but if their projections are off, they could put an anchor on their cap flexibility for nearly a decade.

 

[Jeune Poulet]

The point is all of these young players will have ups and downs. Where were you last year when Slaf put up 50? That’s right, you went into hiatus because everyone called you out.

"Called him out" He was bullied by a bunch of people who insisted that their incredibly wrong take on player development was the only one that could be uttered around here.

He was ridiculed, and accused of being a hater because he had a more educated opinion on what the player needed to grow to his full potential.

Then you claimed you weren’t a hater and now you’re back hating because he’s in a slump.

See? You're doing it again. Any realistic view on Slafkovsky and what he needs/needed to develop is considered hating around here. Show us where ReHabs is "back to hating".

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

I put in Caufield to highlight that his rookie season was the same season (D+3) that Slaf is currently in and their stats are similar. Caufield had room to improve and still does. As does Slaf.

That is kinda disingenuous as Caufield would probably have ended-up with close to 60-70 points if he had Marty as coach for the whole season.

 

[BehindTheTimes]

He reminds a bit of Richard Zednik.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

He reminds a bit of Richard Zednik.

Yeah except Zednik was fearless pre-mclaren, and quicker and smaller than Slaf.

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

There are enough anecdotal stories about Slafkovsky + Xhekaj out on the town, now the media is starting to report it as a problem.

I don't care what a player does off ice as long as they perform, but someone needs to get his head on straight and remind him that it's a lot easier to become the next Galchenyuk than the next Rantanen.

It would be easier if he didn't already get his big contract, but now we have to teach him how to care.

 

[Andrei79]

It's always impressive how this board can so quickly inflate a player only to as quickly trash him. I expected more, but ups/downs are unfortunately part of how a lot of players develop. Saying he doesn't care is way premature. I remember some saying this of Price early on, which was an insane opinion looking back.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

There are enough anecdotal stories about Slafkovsky + Xhekaj out on the town, now the media is starting to report it as a problem.

I don't care what a player does off ice as long as they perform, but someone needs to get his head on straight and remind him that it's a lot easier to become the next Galchenyuk than the next Rantanen.

It would be easier if he didn't already get his big contract, but now we have to teach him how to care.

Where are you seeing this? Wouldn’t surprise me really

 

[Heffyhoof]

"Called him out" He was bullied by a bunch of people who insisted that their incredibly wrong take on player development was the only one that could be uttered around here.

He was ridiculed, and accused of being a hater because he had a more educated opinion on what the player needed to grow to his full potential.

See? You're doing it again. Any realistic view on Slafkovsky and what he needs/needed to develop is considered hating around here. Show us where ReHabs is "back to hating".

You people take yourselves way too seriously, that's why the rest are always laughing.

 

[waitin425]

That is kinda disingenuous as Caufield would probably have ended-up with close to 60-70 points if he had Marty as coach for the whole season.

coulda shoulda woulda. Playing that game would never end. We could do that endlessly.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

coulda shoulda woulda. Playing that game would never end. We could do that endlessly.

Pointless reply. Caufield's production under Dushit and MSL was night and day and Caufield hasn't looked back since then. You want to ignore context because it reduces your argument to nothing. How would Slaf fair under Dushit?

Also, in the first 30 games in his rookie season under Dushit, Caufield was used mostly on the 4th line and didn't get the preferential treatment Slaf has had for most of the season.

Trying to pretend Slaf is at the same point as Caufield was at the same age is patently ridiculous.

 

[EtLeBut2]

Who f***ing cares if he does? Shane couldn’t even put up 50 points in the AHL last season when Slaf did it in the NHL. You’re proving his point that progression isn’t linear.

I mean Shane is shooting at 20%. Very sustainable numbers. He’s basically Jake Evans this season with zero impact on the PK.

What do you think Slaf was shooting during his "breakout" last season

 

[EtLeBut2]

That s true but then you don t give him a 8m contract for 8 years if he is a project during 5 of those years.

If I understood correctly Hughes said they drafted him to be a power forward and now he is playing like a Finesse Player and that if he continues to play like that they drafted the wrong player. I think this is a fair assessment, Slaf has strength and can overpower oponents but not in his nature. I think he has a good vision but not the Processing power to consistently make plays at NHL Level. In Junior / in International Games he was a real line driver but he is not showing he can be that yet, he is more a complementary player to Suzuki and CC.

Jury is still out there if he ends up being the correct choice or not.

If they drafted him to be a mean power forward type that was extremely poor scouting as that's not what he was at any level.

 

[xposbrad]

Slaf is a decent 3rd liner who will be massively overpaid. It sucks because Sharks got Celebrini, Devils got Hughes, Chicago got Bedard. We finish first and get Slaf

 

[le_sean]

What do you think Slaf was shooting during his "breakout" last season

Not 20%

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

The obvious is showing more and more. Should have picked one of the center

 

[cave troll]

Da hockey historians woudn't agree.

 

[Skip Bayless]

I don't think I'm ready to throw the towel, but the lack of urgency in his game is concerning. It's like he never left pre-season mode.

Just taking a stroll out there, slow reads, slow reactions, fly bys...

 

[TheBuriedHab]

I'll have patience but man, for a 1st overall pick to not look like a difference maker or even an impact player in his 3rd year is quite pathetic.

 

[ReHabs]

You people take yourselves way too seriously, that's why the rest are always laughing.

Yeah this thread is full of cheer and joy since we have such a great 1st overall who is developing well, plays the game right, and looks spirited and energetic on the ice even when he's not in good form. Definitely no coping, seething, and barely contained simmering rage here -- lot's of laughs, that's all I see.

 

[River Meadow]

"Called him out" He was bullied by a bunch of people who insisted that their incredibly wrong take on player development was the only one that could be uttered around here.

He was ridiculed, and accused of being a hater because he had a more educated opinion on what the player needed to grow to his full potential.

See? You're doing it again. Any realistic view on Slafkovsky and what he needs/needed to develop is considered hating around here. Show us where ReHabs is "back to hating".

This is true. It actually got so bad that mods had to step in and remind everyone that people should be be discussing things hockey/player and not directly attacking other posters.

This place would be so boring if everyone had the same views on every player and prospect, at the same time just because people have differing views doesn't mean they shouldn't be teared down and attacked...

It's cool to be passionate but at the end of the day, we're literally on the internet discussing a sport; a sport that involves other men skating on ice trying to put a puck in the opponent's net, who so happen to be paid millions of dollars to do so, for the sole purpose of entertainment.

Debate others all you want, in fact it should be encouraged, but beyond that, it ain't that serious.

With all that said, I think everyone should be open to the fact that we don't know with absolute certainty what Slaf will become, therefore it's impossible to say anyone is inherently 'wrong' at this point. Slaf could put it all together and go BEAST mode and set the world ablaze (similarly to Mikko Rantanen), or he could become the next Dainius Zubrus, a player who had all the physical tools in the world but only managed scoring over 20 goals twice in his career. He could also become our next Galchenyuk who started trending down after his 4th NHL season after he had just hit his 30 goal season.

All of this and more is possible right now, we should all be able to freely discuss, no one has a crystal ball to know with absolute certainty what is to come.

 

[HabsCode]

I think Demidov might steal his spot on the first line as soon as next season.

 

[70Stang]

I don't think I'm ready to throw the towel, but the lack of urgency in his game is concerning. It's like he never left pre-season mode.

Just taking a stroll out there, slow reads, slow reactions, fly bys...

This is 100% correct plus the one hand on stick all the time. I really hope he turns it around and I end up eating crow. Seems like habs don't deserve anything good and if they do get anything good they get career ending injuries or greatly limited abilities. The Bell Center has been a curse.