Player Discussion Juraj Slafkovsky discussion

[Fatbiggie]

It was nice seeing him score a goal off the rush and beat the goalies from a distance, I sometimes forgot he has a nice shot

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Been great since the break. He deserved the three points and could’ve had more.

The best part is that hes shooting a lot more. That alone will yield a lot more offense.

 

[badfish]

Someone was mentioning on here they wish that Slaf would score a nice goal for a change instead of a deflection or a garbage goal in front of the net. That poster got their wish last night!

 

[Andrei79]

His skating is night and day. He's actually quite a good and fast skater for a guy who's 230lbs. I'm wondering if his back was hindering him because he was objectively slower than last year.

 

[DrBizz4r3]

Yeah he was often invisible. Compared to his line mates he was. Just need to read the recent GDTs. Alot of people been saying it. He's probablygonna get around 45 points while his line mates are getting 70+ . I think it's normal to be critical of a 1st overall who is already in his third season.

I'm sorry but at this moment Slaf contract starting next season is simply not worth what we be paying. Can he get better yes. Is he the reason why his line his doing well? No.


I think some people gotta see both sides of arguments before just stating random one sided opinions

It’s a bit disingenuous to say that at this moment, he is not worth the money that starts next year. At this age, a good offseason/maturity can change a player night and day. We talked a lot about Thornton/Rantanen production that spiked after 40-50 points seasons. I’m not saying that he will reach 100pts, but let’s evaluate his 7 million-ish contract at thé statt of his contract… I Still believe that those contracts are made to overpay a bit at the beginning of the contract to eventually be cheap at his Prime (sharp in a rebuilding team)

 

[Tyson]

He has a shot at exceeding 50 points again

 

[417]

It was nice seeing him score a goal off the rush and beat the goalies from a distance, I sometimes forgot he has a nice shot

I think he does too.

 

[417]

Yeah he was often invisible. Compared to his line mates he was. Just need to read the recent GDTs. Alot of people been saying it. He's probablygonna get around 45 points while his line mates are getting 70+ . I think it's normal to be critical of a 1st overall who is already in his third season.

I'm sorry but at this moment Slaf contract starting next season is simply not worth what we be paying. Can he get better yes. Is he the reason why his line his doing well? No.


I think some people gotta see both sides of arguments before just stating random one sided opinions

That's why he's not signed for just next year at whatever he's going to be making.

People said the same thing about Nick Suzuki when he signed his extension, how's that looking now?

 

[BLONG7]

He has a shot at exceeding 50 points again

He just needs a little more consistency.............that said, coming out of a 12 day break, he has been just that.

Let's hope he continues to morph himself into a power forward who can do it most nights.....

 

[le_sean]

Someone was mentioning on here they wish that Slaf would score a nice goal for a change instead of a deflection or a garbage goal in front of the net. That poster got their wish last night!

Which is funny because a goal is a goal. We’d be lucky if he had a similar career to Ryan Smyth, the king of garbage goals

 

[Andrei79]

It was nice seeing him score a goal off the rush and beat the goalies from a distance, I sometimes forgot he has a nice shot

He has a good shot. But if you look at the velocity stats, he barely ever uses it.

 

[salbutera]

Yeah he was often invisible. Compared to his line mates he was. Just need to read the recent GDTs. Alot of people been saying it. He's probablygonna get around 45 points while his line mates are getting 70+ . I think it's normal to be critical of a 1st overall who is already in his third season.

I'm sorry but at this moment Slaf contract starting next season is simply not worth what we be paying. Can he get better yes. Is he the reason why his line his doing well? No.


I think some people gotta see both sides of arguments before just stating random one sided opinions

He’s on track for 50pts

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

 

[le_sean]

He’s on track for 50pts

Passed last season in hits already and is tied for the team lead with Xhekaj. And some people claim he’ll never be a power forward.

 

[Frankenheimer]

At this juncture, not sure what the debate about Slaf is about. Seems on track to be a great player once fully developped. He was dominant last night.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

He has a good shot. But if you look at the velocity stats, he barely ever uses it.

But he’s starting to.

Somebody talked to him - and Nick. They’re taking shots and getting rewarded for it.

I have no idea why Suzuki hasn’t shot more. Due has got a killer shot and should be getting 30 plus goals a year.

 

[Schooner Guy]

That's why he's not signed for just next year at whatever he's going to be making.

People said the same thing about Nick Suzuki when he signed his extension, how's that looking now?

Yup. He's still 20 years old.

Nathan MacKinnon had 53 points in his 4th full season in the NHL. So many barely casual hockey fans in here who don't understand development cycles.

 

[Kennerback]

Slaf shoot the puck.

 

[covfefe]

It’s a bit disingenuous to say that at this moment, he is not worth the money that starts next year. At this age, a good offseason/maturity can change a player night and day. We talked a lot about Thornton/Rantanen production that spiked after 40-50 points seasons. I’m not saying that he will reach 100pts, but let’s evaluate his 7 million-ish contract at thé statt of his contract… I Still believe that those contracts are made to overpay a bit at the beginning of the contract to eventually be cheap at his Prime (sharp in a rebuilding team)

Agreed. Also should consider where the cap is going:

$7.6m in 25/26 = $8.3m in 26/27 = $9.1m in 27/28.

 

[MTL Dirty Birdy]

Some really good times ahead. Him and Demidov at age 23-28 will be must-watch TV.

I’d throw in Hutson too. Kids gonna be a game breaker

 

[HabsCode]

Agreed. Also should consider where the cap is going:

$7.6m in 25/26 = $8.3m in 26/27 = $9.1m in 27/28.

Or, what is interesting is comparing the value 7.6 will be in 26/27 and 27/28.

In 26/27, 7.6 will be equivalent to 6.96
In 27/28, 7.6 will be equivalent to 6.39

Slafkovsky will be pretty much paid like a high end 2nd line player for the first half of his contract, and a average 2nd line player for the rest if cap keep going up. Even if he were to plateau, that would be ok value. If he improves next few season, this will actually be a really good deal.

 

[MasterD]

Which is funny because a goal is a goal. We’d be lucky if he had a similar career to Ryan Smyth, the king of garbage goals

Exactly who I hope he'd model his play around, 'cause with his body he'd be legendary.

 

[Tyson]

He has improved his +/- from -19 to -4 and is two points away from 100 career points. 3 weeks away from his 21st birthday.

Yup. He's still 20 years old.

Nathan MacKinnon had 53 points in his 4th full season in the NHL. So many barely casual hockey fans in here who don't understand development cycles.

Lafleur scored 21 goals in year 3 and most were starting to think he was not going to become the player they thought he would...

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

Really? So what do you believe an $8M in 2028 AAV is? His contract represents inflated cap not todays cap.

FYI, todays $5M-$6M player will be 2028 $8M player….. that’s a 40-50 pts player in todays NHL

I would just have bridged him. it was to early

 

[Andrei79]

Yup. He's still 20 years old.

Nathan MacKinnon had 53 points in his 4th full season in the NHL. So many barely casual hockey fans in here who don't understand development cycles.

I find that this last game and the one right after the 4 nations were the best I've ever seen from him. He's a dominant force when he's on and a rare breed of player.