Player Discussion Juraj Slafkovsky discussion

[Tabarouette]

There's very little to be upset about. It's entirely possible we got the two best players in the draft and a few others who might wind up being top ten.

We all knew it was a weak draft but it looks like we got the only superstar as well.

Not when you consider that we also got Hutson.

I get it. He's been disappointing. But there's so much potential here.

i'm losing sight on that potential the more I see him play NOT the way he did for a little stretch last year

Potential doesn't matter if it doesn't pan out, and potential doesn't matter if the player cannot exploit it at the speed of the NHL

DEUX MAINS SUL BATON GRAND FLANC MOU

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

i'm losing sight on that potential the more I see him play NOT the way he did for a little stretch last year

Potential doesn't matter if it doesn't pan out, and potential doesn't matter if the player cannot exploit it at the speed of the NHL

DEUX MAINS SUL BATON GRAND FLANC MOU

Do you think a player hits his peak at 20?

We (at least most of us) knew it would be years before we fully understood how good this pick would be. In terms of stack ranking potential picks, Slaf was a below average first. Certainly not among the most hyped. He'll never be a McD, MackInnon etc... he was always going to be a work in progress. We explicitly said so when we drafted him.

We took a guy who was going to be a project. In a draft like that it makes sense to do so. He still has potential to be a really special player. I won't sit here and say he's going to meet that potential but he's already had one 50 point year and is pacing for another. That's certainly not bad considering his age.

I get it. We all want everything to go faster. We were hoping for more and it didn't come to fruition. But you have to be patient with this guy. I said it a long time ago and still believe it. It will be years until we know if we picked the right guy or not. And that includes if Cooley blows the doors off next year. Slaf is going to take time.

Getting Hutson at 62nd changes everything too. He's far more in line what you'd expect from a first overall. That takes the pressure off. If it makes you happier, flip it around and pretend we got Hutson first and Slaf 62nd...

 

[Tabarouette]

Do you think a player hits his peak at 20?

We (at least most of us) knew it would be years before we fully understood how good this pick would be. In terms of stack ranking potential picks, Slaf was a below average first. Certainly not among the most hyped. He'll never be a McD, MackInnon etc... he was always going to be a work in progress. We explicitly said so when we drafted him.

We took a guy who was going to be a project. In a draft like that it makes sense to do so. He still has potential to be a really special player. I won't sit here and say he's going to meet that potential but he's already had one 50 point year and is pacing for another. That's certainly not bad considering his age.

I get it. We all want everything to go faster. We were hoping for more and it didn't come to fruition. But you have to be patient with this guy. I said it a long time ago and still believe it. It will be years until we know if we picked the right guy or not. And that includes if Cooley blows the doors off next year. Slaf is going to take time.

Getting Hutson at 62nd changes everything too. He's far more in line what you'd expect from a first overall. That takes the pressure off. If it makes you happier, flip it around and pretend we got Hutson first and Slaf 62nd...

And if you were to flip it, do you think a 2nd rounder struggling like that would still be on the first line every single night?

well Newhook is still on the top 6 so don't answer that actually

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

And if you were to flip it, do you think a 2nd rounder struggling like that would still be on the first line every single night?

He’s the best player we have. Yes, that’s where he’d be.

The difference is that we’d all be happy with the production and a lot more patient.

well Newhook is still on the top 6 so don't answer that actually

As I’ve said before, this was an evaluation year to see what we have. I put a 50 point target on Newhook. The first half of the season is excusable for him because it was such a shitshow. But he needed to step up more and didn’t. His lack of finish also reveals that he’s a 3rd liner and that’s okay. Now we know.

I’m pissed we didn’t get to see Roy. But it was such a gong show here that sending him down made sense. Then when it made sense to bring him up he got hurt…

Hutson was great. Dach is back to normal and should improve next year. Cc has had a great year (I’d like to see a bit more goals) Guhle went next level. Laine wasn’t healthy enough to show what he could do. We didn’t get to see RB at all. So it was a mixed bag.

Slaf hasn’t been that bad. Yeah we wanted next level but 50 points is okay.

 

[cave troll]

And if you were to flip it, do you think a 2nd rounder struggling like that would still be on the first line every single night?

well Newhook is still on the top 6 so don't answer that actually

We'll see when Demidov comes.
Slaf will have his chance to play under less pressure and will likely start to shoot more.
Playing with 1OA weight on your back is not easy and he has problems with that.
We can all see he is not a Hutson level talent, but I agree Lafleurs Guy. Even if Slaf "busts" with being a 50-60 pts player he'll for sure be one of best 5 picks in his weak draft, and we got the real 1OA on that draft,

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

And if you were to flip it, do you think a 2nd rounder struggling like that would still be on the first line every single night?

well Newhook is still on the top 6 so don't answer that actually

Yes the the team is thin in top 6 forwards currently.

 

[Tabarouette]

Yes the the team is thin in top 6 forwards currently.

well that's kind of my point, he's there because we have nothing else that *should* be there

 

[sampollock]

You have to play like Brady Tkachuk if you want to be successful in this league.”

Juraj Slafkovsky told me he had a good chat with Adam Nicholas where he was shown clips of the American.

“That’s definitely the type of player I want to be,” Juraj told me.

- via Juraj Slafkovsky

 

[OldCraig71]

You have to play like Brady Tkachuk if you want to be successful in this league.”

Juraj Slafkovsky told me he had a good chat with Adam Nicholas where he was shown clips of the American.

“That’s definitely the type of player I want to be,” Juraj told me.

- via Juraj Slafkovsky

Go out there and show it kid.

 

[Ozmodiar]

Tkachuk doesn’t have more skills at all, though.

Yeah, he does. Don’t be a homer.

 

[Ozmodiar]

You have to play like Brady Tkachuk if you want to be successful in this league.”

Juraj Slafkovsky told me he had a good chat with Adam Nicholas where he was shown clips of the American.

“That’s definitely the type of player I want to be,” Juraj told me.

- via Juraj Slafkovsky

/ Nicholas plays video

AN: “this is the player you want to be”
JS: “this is the player I want to be”

AN: “this is how you need to play to be successful”
JS: “this is how I need to play to be successful”

AN: “this is the player you want to be”
JS: “this is the player I want to be”

 

[Shred]

That quote about him being impressed that guys that are competing for playoff spot with their own team are playing this hard at the 4 nation cups while he was really happy drinking a cocktail on the beach says it all about him

Meanwhile, Lane Hutson spent the break playing and watching hockey and was probably really mad that team USA somehow snubbed him.

I love Slaf though and I am sure he will keep improving and be a solid player for us, but he doesn’t have that effortless intensity. Few do.

 

[Skip Bayless]

Slaf so far :

1) Draft : Thinks he plays like Rantanen
2) Year 1 : He's dogshit. They show him a Matthew Tkachuk mixtape, he's now working on playing like Matthew Tkachuk
3) Has success on the second half of sophomore season, says he wants to play like Slafkovsky.
4) Year three : Again says he sees himself like more of a Rantanen type. He's dogshit.
5) They show him a Brady Tkachuk mixtape now. He says he wants to be Brady Tkachuk.

 

[sampollock]

Slaf was boasted that he played with men before the draft
Now Slaf needs to find out who he is and start being that player

Not sure MSL can help him figure that out

 

[River Meadow]

Slaf was boasted that he played with men before the draft
Now Slaf needs to find out who he is and start being that player

Not sure MSL can help him figure that out

Funny,

Almost like he wasn't ready for the NHL, and should have started his career in the AHL...

 

[Tabarouette]

You have to play like Brady Tkachuk if you want to be successful in this league.”

Juraj Slafkovsky told me he had a good chat with Adam Nicholas where he was shown clips of the American.

“That’s definitely the type of player I want to be,” Juraj told me.

- via Juraj Slafkovsky

"one hand on his stick, not skating hard... got it that's what i'll do from now on!"

I also enjoy the irony in all of this where we should've had Brady Tkatchuk but instead picked the failed Slafkovsky prototype 1.0

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

well that's kind of my point, he's there because we have nothing else that *should* be there

Well... yeah. This is a rebuilding club. Typically, 20 year olds work their way up. Sometimes you play them with your best players so they can improve and I believe in that approach. But when they aren't playing well you can always downgrade them in the lineup.

Right now that's not really a viable option. He's the best guy for that role so that's where he stays. It's not ideal but that's why he's there.

And he hasn't been terrible. Just not great.

 

[sampollock]

just bare down Slaf...
let's go, work hard and skate hard
no excuses

 

[VT]

Juraj won't be new Brady Tkachuk. Brady is a real leader, who can who can effectively provoke an opponent, much like his brother Matthew. Juraj won't be like Brady in that.

 

[themilosh]

Slaf so far :

1) Draft : Thinks he plays like Rantanen
2) Year 1 : He's dogshit. They show him a Matthew Tkachuk mixtape, he's now working on playing like Matthew Tkachuk
3) Has success on the second half of sophomore season, says he wants to play like Slafkovsky.
4) Year three : Again says he sees himself like more of a Rantanen type. He's dogshit.
5) They show him a Brady Tkachuk mixtape now. He says he wants to be Brady Tkachuk.

Bare in mind.. Montreal fan base is probably the most educated hockey fans in the world.. this is part of the issue drafting "euros".. when a Canadian/American kid starts playing hockey the ultimate goal is to win the SC. They know, work your ass off, and you "may" have an outside chance. Euros dont understand this..

Players like Slaf: unicorn. Never had any adversity.. must learn that every stride of the skate equals success.

Players less talented than Slaf: already know all the above..

 

[CHwest]

Bare in mind.. Montreal fan base is probably the most educated hockey fans in the world.. this is part of the issue drafting "euros".. when a Canadian/American kid starts playing hockey the ultimate goal is to win the SC. They know, work your ass off, and you "may" have an outside chance. Euros dont understand this..

Players like Slaf: unicorn. Never had any adversity.. must learn that every stride of the skate equals success.

Players less talented than Slaf: already know all the above..

Seems there are more than a few euro's that just don't get it. It is frustrating watching them play for their countries when all of a sudden they can play, but the NHL seems to be a joly good skate.

 

[sampollock]

Slaf needs to figure out how to skate with his size and how that can be a plus for his game

 

[salbutera]

Slaf is no Thachuck but he is physical and can be hard to play against but Only When he move is feet, he got speed get to the puck carrier, get better positioning and use his body to separate the puck or simply finish a check the issue is that most of the time his feet aren’t moving so he just always 1 sec late and can only wave is stick around and can’t finish is check…

I will keep repeating till I’m blue in the face…. Slaf’s game needs to be modeled after John LeClair’s

Big body to use for puck protection, winning board battles, and drive to the net - truculence is not in Slaf’s makeup & never will be

 

[themilosh]

Seems there are more than a few euro's that just don't get it. It is frustrating watching them play for their countries when all of a sudden they can play, but the NHL seems to be a joly good skate.

This is a "clear and present" danger of drafting Euro/Russians.. what most fans don't understand, is the majority of prospects from these systems (outside the elite) do not have the same drive as NA prospects.. their personal goals dont include a SC, they dont care (which is fine)..

Old man Cherry had it right from the beginning.. to win a SC you need a roster chalked full of NA players, with a sprinkle of Euros..

You think Slaf played street hockey in Slovakia, going to battle with the kids in the neighborhood? All to win a SC? No ofcourse not.. to them, making the NHL is the goal, getting paid is the goal..

Right now (sadly): the only difference btw Slaf and Mesar is that Slaf is a physical Unicorn, take away his god given physical gifts and he is no different than mesar.. both "expected" a paycheck.

 

[ReHabs]

Slaf needs to figure out how to skate with his size and how that can be a plus for his game

His skating is excellent he just needs to move his feet and give a shit.

I will keep repeating till I’m blue in the face…. Slaf’s game needs to be modeled after John LeClair’s

Big body to use for puck protection, winning board battles, and drive to the net - truculence is not in Slaf’s makeup & never will be

100% correct. He's not a power forward, but he can be a powerful forward. He can 100% do what you describe. It isn't Brady or Matthew Tkachuk though.