Player Discussion Juraj Slafkovsky discussion

[Lafleurs Guy]

That's great and pathetic at the same time.

 

[Nedved]

That’s the slaf we want to see each night. No coasting, physical, focussed and created space for everyone on his line. He was no passenger tonight and he doesn’t even need to play like this every game but consistent enough he isn’t hurting the team. Heck of a game and best player on the ice.

 

[Kojo]

Where are the haters at?

 

[SOLR]

Big game, he was hungry.

 

[Habssince89]

He's starting to understand his identity. And even though he fought tonight, it has nothing to do with that. He has to win the puck, and then either distribute using his great vision and passing or drive the net with his power. Just keeping his game simple by crashing the crease and keeping plays alive with his reach etc impacts the game in a huge way.

He'll get his looks for one timers and breakaways and all that, but he has to understand that his value as the #1OA pick was in his ability to attack the net, create space, and keep plays alive when they should have been long dead. He's a unicorn for his well-rounded talents. In spite of him never being a 100pt player himself, his intangibles can lead to players like Caufield or Suzuki (or Demidov) reaching that mark.

Keep it up kid!

 

[The Great Weal]

Skills and production aside, that's the kind of compete we need to see frequently

 

[River Meadow]

Slafkovsky scored a goal tonight.

HATERS WHERE Y'ALL @???

 

[ReHabs]

Slafkovsky scored a goal tonight.

HATERS WHERE Y'ALL @???

You don't even need to imagine how desperate his fanbase has to be to so loudly celebrate a single good game against a team that is missing its best player and struggling to hold a wild card spot. I was tagged in the GDT, wow… now that’s dedication to the PR campaign. A commentator who isn’t blindly in love with Slaf must be highlighted whenever Slaf has a good game!

A good game is a good game — hallelujah — but there are 82 games a season. Of the 55 or so games played so far, what is Slafkovsky’s ratio of good game to not-so-good games? Let him have some good games in a row, to raise his expected performances, and we'll all be cheering.

 

[River Meadow]

Imagine how desperate his fanbase has to be to so loudly celebrate a single good game against a team that is missing its best player and struggling to hold a wild card spot. I was tagged in the GDT, wow… now that’s dedication to the PR campaign. A commentator who isn’t blindly in love with Slaf must be highlighted whenever Slaf has a good game!

A good game is a good game — hallelujah — but there are 82 games a season. Of the 55 or so games played so far, what is Slafkovsky’s ratio of good game to not-so-good games?

Ha.

It's funny because some of the people seemingly preaching patience also seem to be the ones who make the most noise in times like these.

The other thing is, Slaf doing good is not going to pain the people who were calling him out, we're all hab fans and want to see him and the team do well.

It's not some kind of 'GOTCHA' moment, if anything it further proves and drives home the point of how bad he's been playing compared to how he SHOULD be playing.

 

[BehindTheTimes]

Ha.

It's funny because some of the people seemingly preaching patience also seem to be the ones who make the most noise in times like these.

The other thing is, Slaf doing good is not going to pain the people who were calling him out, we're all hab fans and want to see him and the team do well.

It's not some kind of 'GOTCHA' moment, if anything it further proves and drives home the point of how bad he's been playing compared to how he SHOULD be playing.

True. If he plays like this all the time we will all be happy.

 

[waitin425]

Absolutely great game. But a snapshot of the type of player he can be. Turns 21 next month. Still a baby for a big power forward. The potential is unreal for Slaf.

I think he is about to have a dominant bottom third of the season and if we make the playoffs. That is where is real value will be established.

 

[CHwest]

I think he projects to be a Tkachuk/Svechnikov hybrid. Would be a great type of player to have.

He doesn't project that at all, unless you are going off of one game, but it would be a great player to have.

 

[CHwest]

Ha.

It's funny because some of the people seemingly preaching patience also seem to be the ones who make the most noise in times like these.

The other thing is, Slaf doing good is not going to pain the people who were calling him out, we're all hab fans and want to see him and the team do well.

It's not some kind of 'GOTCHA' moment, if anything it further proves and drives home the point of how bad he's been playing compared to how he SHOULD be playing.

Every game is not going to be like that and that is fine as long as effort is there every might, that's all I ask.

 

[ReHabs]

It's funny because some of the people seemingly preaching patience also seem to be the ones who make the most noise in times like these.

And by times like these you mean after one game.

Absolutely great game. But a snapshot of the type of player he can be. Turns 21 next month. Still a baby for a big power forward. The potential is unreal for Slaf.

I think he is about to have a dominant bottom third of the season and if we make the playoffs. That is where is real value will be established.

The first 50 games of the season matter just as much as the last 32 games of the season. His age could be a determining factor in his effectiveness but it shouldn't be a factor in his effort levels. If he plays as he did last night (I only caught the abridged summary) people can wait to see him grow into his "adult strength" but it's all for nothing if he's not going to hustle regularly.

 

[waitin425]

And by times like these you mean after one game.


The first 50 games of the season matter just as much as the last 32 games of the season. His age could be a determining factor in his effectiveness but it shouldn't be a factor in his effort levels. If he plays as he did last night (I only caught the abridged summary) people can wait to see him grow into his "adult strength" but it's all for nothing if he's not going to hustle regularly.

The size and skill are most definitely there. The effort level needs to be consistent. I can agree with that statement. We were having a little bit of fun in the GDT last night. I really do wish you were there to enjoy the game live and on the GDT. Its a great way to experience fan reactions in real time and sometimes you can even read some very knowledgable posters evaluating a play in real time. It's great.

 

[crosbyshow]

Very good game. I like him.

However I still question is training of last Summer.


I dont know what he did exactly last Summer but he had 5 full months to improve his strength but I did not see any improvement at the start of the season.

Also...not a popular opinion but pound for pound Slat is not very strong.

i know he is still 20 but for à 220+ dude....he is not that strong. His checks technique is bad. He has some problems with his hips to generate good power on his bodychecks

He is strong along the boards to protect the puck but in fact..he was a bit stronger last year....strange...

Also....I don't want him to fight cause we need him on the ice + risk of injuries etc but come on...his fight last night...did you watch his punches....jeez..no power whatsoever behind those punchs...whatever not important..

I am glad he woke up last night but if Slaf was just average since October we would have at least 6 more point in the standings

 

[waitin425]

I would love to see Slaf have a one timer a la Laine. I know it won't ever be at that level, but even to add that threat would be something.

 

[Skip Bayless]

I think he projects to be a Tkachuk/Svechnikov hybrid. Would be a great type of player to have.

Exactly.

I would love to see Slaf have a one timer a la Laine. I know it won't ever be at that level, but even to add that threat would be something.

He should try to develop Draisaitl's snapshot one timer. A lot of the top guys use this instead of the classic slapper à la Laine.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Take away the fight and the goal and its still one of his better games.

Get in there and be physical and a pain on the forecheck.

Caufield's goal was because of Slaf getting in there, being physical and helped keep the cycle alive.

 

[SlafySZN]

I would love to see Slaf have a one timer a la Laine. I know it won't ever be at that level, but even to add that threat would be something.

He does have a good one but doesn’t use it enough.

 

[SlafySZN]

Delete.

 

[japhi27returns]

Ha.

It's funny because some of the people seemingly preaching patience also seem to be the ones who make the most noise in times like these.

The other thing is, Slaf doing good is not going to pain the people who were calling him out, we're all hab fans and want to see him and the team do well.

It's not some kind of 'GOTCHA' moment, if anything it further proves and drives home the point of how bad he's been playing compared to how he SHOULD be playing.

Can you please describe how a 6’5 240 21 YO SHOULD be playing?

I’ve been saying for 2 years that these big bodied guys take years to get going. He is ahead of Thornton and the Sedins , all of which are in the Hall. Your takes have been unserious on this player, you clearly don’t have perspective on player development or understand what you are watching.

He is exactly where he should be based on player type and draft class. If you thought you were getting something different thats on you.

 

[Kennerback]

And by times like these you mean after one game.


The first 50 games of the season matter just as much as the last 32 games of the season. His age could be a determining factor in his effectiveness but it shouldn't be a factor in his effort levels. If he plays as he did last night (I only caught the abridged summary) people can wait to see him grow into his "adult strength" but it's all for nothing if he's not going to hustle regularly.

There’s things that Slaf needs to learn that he doesn’t have yet. It’s a process. Using his big body effectively to plow towards the net through Ds under the hash marks and stuff goals. Every year until 25 years old it will become easier because he’ll be heavier and stronger. But it’s still a skill to learn. He’s not there.

But he has things that he can easily do that he needs to do more of and that will make him extremely effective now:
1- Shoot on net
2- Skate the puck up the ice between the two blue lines
3- Not always defer to his linemates
4- Keep his feet moving
These’s nothing to learn here. Just do. With “adult strength” he’ll be a monster.

 

[Rapala]

I loved seeing Arber Xhekaj almost falling over the boards smacking his stick in appreciation of Slaf's play/fight. The player is going to have to learn how to play with a swivel on his head when he plays that game.
They will run him and try to force him to fight as much as possible.

 

[Kennerback]

I loved seeing Arber Xhekaj almost falling over the boards smacking his stick in appreciation of Slaf's play/fight. The player is going to have to learn how to play with a swivel on his head when he plays that game.
They will run him and try to force him to fight as much as possible.

He can definitely fight but he needs to learn to pick his spots much more carefully than Xhekaj. And I think that’s an understatement. It’s too costly to lose him to injury for that. Think Larry Robinson. No more.