Player Discussion Juraj Slafkovsky discussion

[Kennerback]

It’s kinda funny how Brady’s stock has seemingly never been higher in the midst of a 4 game Sens losing streak and sub-PPG season that saw him go scoreless in 10 straight games a month ago

Going flat out at beer league gets the world noticin’!

This is where stats watching has its limits. Sens fans absolutely love him. They complain about Stutzle, Sanderson, never about Tkachuk.

 

[shamrun]

I'm just really bothered by this soon-to-be 21 year old 1st overall finishing his 3rd season trying to figure out who he should copy his homework off of. Figuring out what your style in the NHL is and looking at other guys is fine, but for a 1st overall specifically it's a little late to have an existential crisis...

regardless of the talent difference I doubt Celebrini wakes up at night thinking about Rantanen you know what I mean, he was drafted because he plays like Celebrini (who copied his homework on his favorite players growing up for sure) and that's why they picked him

where's the something our scout saw in him? otherwise did they really gamble it all on a blank slate at 1st?

We need to be patient i think. If you look at hedman it took a while for him to be who he is. I think he was 24...25.

In terms of slaf, I think our scouts saw someone that if he can put it all together he has great potential. Scouts try to guess and that is all. Keep in mind we drafted kotkaniemi over tkachuck at a time we really needed a player like tkachuk. So yea scouts can mess up big time.

Slaf is still a work in progress but he has all the tools and the size. I am not worried about him too much. I have seen enough he just needs consistency. Its not every 1st overall picks that will be a difference maker like mcdavid.

 

[Andy]

Last game was the perfect example of why everyone needs to be patient.

Slaf is still learning how to use his unique frame effectively at the nhl level.

Again, you need to understand, he's likely never had to use so much physical strength to outmuscle opposition for most of his teenage hockey. As such, it does not come natural to him, and why would it. He did not have to do it. This is why it takes bigger players longer to develop.

He's now playing against other big men and some of the physically strongest players in the world. He's just about to turn 21. It's okay that it takes for him to understand how to play physical on a consistent basis. He's going to have to figure out how to pace himself, position himself, and take the right decisions physically. It's not going to arrive over night.

And I hope those who still doubt is ability finally saw in Ottawa what his unique skill set is. Slaf has high end vision and playmaking ability. He can already make high percentage passes with little time and space. Now imagine the plays he can make when he uses his body to create even more time and space. This turns high end vision into a game breaking skill. And that's only the space he makes for himself. Imagine how much more room Cole and Nick will have to maneuver with the extra time.

He's still scratching the surface. For the love of god be patient!

 

[JIMVINNY]

As much as I like how he played the other night, I don't want him to get 8 hits every game. It's not sustainable, he'll get banged up, and he'll spend way too much time fighting. That he's capable of upping the intensity to play like that is great and will definitely matter when we're a playoff team, but he needs to dial it back a bit to a level he can bring every night without worrying about having to fight all the time.

 

[Tabarouette]

[...] Becoming a predator [...]

 

[Guy Larose]

I'd rather Slaf played like Leclair than either of the A-hole brothers. Tough does not mean trying to hurt players, or being a J-azz, just means going to the tough areas and not backing away from physical play which I believe he can have in him. If I was going to ask him to emulate a player it would be Jagr and how he used his size, strength and rather large ass.

Matthew is not tough, just an a-hole. Can't win a fight to save his life. Brady picks his fights and is an a-hole.