Player Discussion Juraj Slafkovsky discussion

[Andrei79]

agree, but i don't think he needs to be that super-brainy player to be effective. just forecheck like crazy, park your ass in front of the net on the PP, throw a few goods hits per game, bam.

He'll become a much better player when he accepts he's not a high skill or cerebral player. He's dominant when he keeps his game simple and uses his monster size to his advantage, like you described. He just needs to accept who he is.

 

[Nedved]

That last sentence is just… not true at all.

he does do it when he drives the play. I just don't see him opening the ice for players without driving the play and using his body. He should play the game like a power forward and not a play maker. He's at his best when he's physical, drives the net, and wants to bang pucks in. He is a below average 1st line winger when he's playing along the perimeter. I feel like we see two versions of slafovsky and one has elite potential, a game breaker. The other slafovsky is an average winger.

 

[Tyson]

Slaf need to be on a line where he drives the play. I swear I would put him with Beck and Heineman and let them play.

 

[NotProkofievian]

Slaf need to be on a line where he drives the play. I swear I would put him with Beck and Heineman and let them play.

Might not be a bad line actually

 

[Victoire HuGo]

Slaf need to be on a line where he drives the play. I swear I would put him with Beck and Heineman and let them play.

Question then becomes who do you put on top line? Some people keep complaining about Slaf being gifted this spot but it's not like we have a lot of options. Armia and Anderson have not proven anything. Only true candidates are Laine Newhook and Heineman and they all have negatives tied to them (hole at C, liability at ES or still finding rhythm after injury)

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I can't handle how he's positioned on the boards when we have puck possession. they need to change this problem. he needs to shift the front of the net and someone slide into his board position. it makes zero sense. he's the worst play maker on his line and needs to cause traffic and be a menace. he did for a couple games and went perimeter mode again for most the night.

I think his playmaking is actually pretty impressive. But I agree with your overall point. He needs to go to the net. We don’t have enough guys who do that.