Player Discussion Juraj Slafkovsky discussion

[Whitesnake]

Slafkovsky was the Olympic MVP lol

I get your point but he actually had one of the most impressive achievements ever for a prospect pre draft

I do have to say that I hated Wright playoffs. Him too was seen as somewhat lazy. Only Cooley, for me, was worth it based on talent. Thing is in the end..no matter how we slice it, this was not the year to get top picks. And hopefully, we would have been able to trade that pick to get more picks later on. Maybe a 2023 top end pick. But for that to happen, you have to wish that a team would have appreciated 2022 more than we did.

In the end, Slaf pick made sense. What I personnally don't think did was to start him immediately in the NHL AND giving him such an expensive lengthy contract. Now that we are past that....you have to hope that he'll one day wake up and realize what he has.

 

[Whitesnake]

For the effort I think some people are underestimating that being paired and matched up against some of the leagues best will make you look lackadaisical or behind the play. I think sometimes the guy is just overmatched skating wise or being
shutdown by the NHL's elite. I don't think it's a coincidence that his best games have come against team who aren't good at defending. I don't think this is a huge reason for concern. I find his compete has been good since 4 nations break and last year was fine too. Some of it maybe frustration

Maybe he should stop at aiming at becoming somebody else and just concentrate at being the best version of himself. All those guys who wants to be this and that...just be you. Move you freakin feet. Stop coasting. IF the effort level isn't the problem, well it means it's the IQ who isn't 'cause him coasting is him trying to process where he should go or do. And yes, maybe it will improve with time. We have to hope it does.

 

[TomKosto]

I think the main concern is the identity of Slaf has a player. He’s not a sniper, not a superb playmaker, not a powerfoward. He says he wants to play like Tkachuk but I don’t think you can become that kind of player overnight. You got that in you or you don’t. There’s not too many player like Brady in the NHL, possibly two ? (Him and Wilson)

If we wanted him to be a finesse player, maybe it was better to let him developp in other leagues and not rush him at 18?

I also think he needs to protect himself better. Rarely saw a 230lbs guys getting rock by smurf like Ghostibere, Rossi and Greig.

 

[themilosh]

I do have to say that I hated Wright playoffs. Him too was seen as somewhat lazy. Only Cooley, for me, was worth it based on talent. Thing is in the end..no matter how we slice it, this was not the year to get top picks. And hopefully, we would have been able to trade that pick to get more picks later on. Maybe a 2023 top end pick. But for that to happen, you have to wish that a team would have appreciated 2022 more than we did.

In the end, Slaf pick made sense. What I personnally don't think did was to start him immediately in the NHL AND giving him such an expensive lengthy contract. Now that we are past that....you have to hope that he'll one day wake up and realize what he has.

Just remember, every draft is relative. Slaf year was a very weak draft (covid affected).. we got the best "specimen" from that draft, and the best mobile dman. But this also means, 32 other teams are going to be thin on depth once this draft year ages into prime.

 

[OldCraig71]

It really is boring entertainment. I Turned the Calgary game off after the 1st period...could not waste anymore time being this bored on a Saturday. Maybe Demidov will change the culture.

The Calgary game exposed an issue that has plagued the Habs since the smurf era. We lack forwards who are willing to claim the middle of the ice.

Calgary isn't a dynamic team by any stretch, but they had a game plan against us and shut us down for the first two periods simply because we lack the type of talent that can overcome it.

Slafkovsky was drafted to be that, but I don't see him dropping his shoulder and driving the net very often and we need some of that in the top 6.

It was very hard to watch and I don't blame you for turning it off. We don't have a shot to win any game if Caufield and Suzuki aren't dominating.

 

[Victoire HuGo]

Maybe he should stop at aiming at becoming somebody else and just concentrate at being the best version of himself. All those guys who wants to be this and that...just be you. Move you freakin feet. Stop coasting. IF the effort level isn't the problem, well it means it's the IQ who isn't 'cause him coasting is him trying to process where he should go or do. And yes, maybe it will improve with time. We have to hope it does.

Is he coasting though? He's playing well defensively. FWIW his distance per 60 is higher this year than last year. I just think some of you have some unrealistic expectations.

I do not have a problem with his effort level lately. I just think teams have adapted to him and I'd be curious to see his production at home vs away when controlling match ups.

What I have issue with is his reluctance to shoot, him not getting as many high dangers chances his role on the PP. I did not like the turnovers he was doing after Christmas or his effort level at times before that.

 

[SlafySZN]

I stand with Slaf. He's always been a long-run project, and he will be the product of guys like Demidov taking our team to the next level offensively. Slafkovsky is a very important piece for us, but I think a lot of fans misunderstand how his value is largely in putting him with other players to exploit his size and skill combination.

I agree with this. Demidov will help him and he will help him too.

 

[Wats]

Slafkovsky was the Olympic MVP lol

I get your point but he actually had one of the most impressive achievements ever for a prospect pre draft

Not in league play. International play is fine but his in season production was never super impressive.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

Not in league play. International play is fine but his in season production was never super impressive.

If you disregard most people’s biggest achievement they become much less impressive

 

[Wats]

If you disregard most people’s biggest achievement they become much less impressive

Not disregarding, just suggesting it's not fair to be looking for him to be a big time point producer in the regular season when he's never really done it anywhere. He might be a playoff/international monster but regular season point guy likely not.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

Not disregarding, just suggesting it's not fair to be looking for him to be a big time point producer in the regular season when he's never really done it anywhere. He might be a playoff/international monster but regular season point guy likely not.

Agreed

 

[SlafySZN]

Not disregarding, just suggesting it's not fair to be looking for him to be a big time point producer in the regular season when he's never really done it anywhere. He might be a playoff/international monster but regular season point guy likely not.

Most European kids who are better than their age group are making the jump to professional hockey when they’re between 17-18. So in their draft year or the year after. Slaf was too good for U20 at 17 years old so they called him up to the liiga, he was playing 9 minutes a night and by year end he worked himself to the top 6 and finished the year PPG and had great playoffs. The liiga is also not a high scoring league.

 

[ReHabs]

Slaf was too good for U20 at 17 years old so they called him up to the liiga, he was playing 9 minutes a night and by year end he worked himself to the top 6 and finished the year PPG and had great playoffs. The liiga is also not a high scoring league.

10pts in 31 games becomes “finished the year PPG”.

7pts in 18 games becomes “had a great playoffs”.

Slafkvosky fans work harder than Slafkvosky himself. If only he did something to earn so much breathless attention.

 

[The Real Timo]

The Calgary game exposed an issue that has plagued the Habs since the smurf era. We lack forwards who are willing to claim the middle of the ice.

Calgary isn't a dynamic team by any stretch, but they had a game plan against us and shut us down for the first two periods simply because we lack the type of talent that can overcome it.

Slafkovsky was drafted to be that, but I don't see him dropping his shoulder and driving the net very often and we need some of that in the top 6.

It was very hard to watch and I don't blame you for turning it off. We don't have a shot to win any game if Caufield and Suzuki aren't dominating.

Slaf could use some Gallagher in him, that's for sure. Playing like he means it 2 out of every 10 games isn't gonna cut it.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

So in the end....if power forwards break out much later on...what made us so sure that he was the breaking out type of player so that you give him a contract like that? I really thought we were done as an organization about bad contracts....Even if the guy ends up a 50-point player...that contract is bad nonetheless...

I disgreed with the contract, but 7.8 mil will be a far less cap% by the 3rd year of his contract. 8 mil will be what 5 mil represented 10 years ago. CC and Suzuki will be bargains, while Slaf will be a fair contract if he can get between 50-60 pts

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Not his fault Suzuki is gonna be paid like a 2nd liner with the cap going up.

Suzuki is gonna need another contract in 4 years you think he’s gonna make 7.9 again?

5 years. Still has 5 more seasons to go after this one.

Someone mentioned him and Arber spending lots of nights out on the town. Do we know if there is any truth to that?

Somebody needs to find him a ball n chain so he gets settled

 

[SlafySZN]

10pts in 31 games becomes “finished the year PPG”.

7pts in 18 games becomes “had a great playoffs”.

Slafkvosky fans work harder than Slafkvosky himself. If only he did something to earn so much breathless attention.

For someone who admitted you didn’t watch him or follow him in his draft year you have many things to say.

 

[ReHabs]

For someone who admitted you didn’t watch him or follow him in his draft year you have many things to say.

You certainly watched all his Liiga games I’m sure. He went point per game if you ignore the games he didn’t score. Hell, he’s point per game in the NHL if you ignore the games he didn’t score!

Legend.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

Not disregarding, just suggesting it's not fair to be looking for him to be a big time point producer in the regular season when he's never really done it anywhere. He might be a playoff/international monster but regular season point guy likely not.

He did just set the Montreal Canadiens all time record for regular season points by a 19 year old.....perhaps some of us are rushing to judgement far too quickly??

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

He did just set the Montreal Canadiens all time record for regular season points by a 19 year old.....perhaps some of us are rushing to judgement far too quickly??

That record doesn't mean much when Habs spent most of their history bringing up players at 20+. On top of getting most of his points with the team's two best players.

 

[Whitesnake]

He did just set the Montreal Canadiens all time record for regular season points by a 19 year old.....perhaps some of us are rushing to judgement far too quickly??

It's not like the list is that indicative of anything though....Tremblay is 1st. Galchy 3rd. JK 5th. It's more a question of opportunity than talent.

 

[TomKosto]

He did just set the Montreal Canadiens all time record for regular season points by a 19 year old.....perhaps some of us are rushing to judgement far too quickly??

Doesn’t mean much to be honest..

 

[Tabarouette]

remember the angry slaf era? those were the days

sorry I mean day, since it only lasted one

 

[Wats]

He did just set the Montreal Canadiens all time record for regular season points by a 19 year old.....perhaps some of us are rushing to judgement far too quickly??

He had 50 points but it doesn't prove any point. Pretty good but for a Habs organization that hasn't had much in offensive talent for a generation. NHL only allowed 18 year old to be drafted in 1980 so teenagers only really played for Montreal in their no real Offensive superstar generation.

 

[River Meadow]

I do have to say that I hated Wright playoffs. Him too was seen as somewhat lazy. Only Cooley, for me, was worth it based on talent. Thing is in the end..no matter how we slice it, this was not the year to get top picks. And hopefully, we would have been able to trade that pick to get more picks later on. Maybe a 2023 top end pick. But for that to happen, you have to wish that a team would have appreciated 2022 more than we did.

In the end, Slaf pick made sense. What I personnally don't think did was to start him immediately in the NHL AND giving him such an expensive lengthy contract. Now that we are past that....you have to hope that he'll one day wake up and realize what he has.

Absolutely.

Wright's POs were a complete nightmare and I'm glad many of us on this board saw that.

His compete level was non-existent.

Also agree on them starting Slaf right away in the NHL, there's no way in hell that was the best choice for his development, but I understand there was maybe pressure to do so as he was the 1st overall pick.

What's done is done, and now we have a very young, still very much developing player, who is about to earn 8 million dollars~ a year, and will be expected to produce accordingly.

It's not like the list is that indicative of anything though....Tremblay is 1st. Galchy 3rd. JK 5th. It's more a question of opportunity than talent.

Correct. It's not like Slaf completely forced their hand and set the world ablaze.

He was gifted an opportunity largely based off of draft pedigree. He played well in the 2nd half of his second season, which included giving him lots of opportunities and playing on the 1st line and PP. He played very well, but also he could have, just as easily, been playing in the AHL.

Let's also not forget Galchy scored 30 goals in his 4th NHL season (coincidentally next year will be Slaf's 4th season).