Player Discussion Juraj Slafkovsky Discussion

At no point in his career was he consistent, so what does it take for a player to overcome inconsistency? If it's just time and patience, I guess we really got unlucky with the Kostitsyn and Kotkanimi picks.
Kotkaniemi, like Slafkovsky, was never really skilled. He was a bad pick at that spot because Bergevin drafted for position. Tkachuk was always going to be a better player overall.

Kostytsin never put it together because he always lacked a fraction of a second in reaction time. I blame epilepsy, or his medications or both. Eventually partying and drugs allegedly came into play, and the rest is history.
 
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A big bodied 60-65 points winger that needs good linemates was his upside.
Seems fair then to say the Habs will need two or three better wingers to be a cup contender.

And what a shame we didn't get the 2C we need in that draft, Logan Cooley is playing 1C for Utah as a sophomore.
 
He wasn't rushed.

It was obvious that Slafkovsky should have spent one more year in LIIGA and perhaps a year in the AHL, as he didn't learn to dominate prior to being in the NHL. A key issue is he's not assisting himself, he's not shooting, that's because he didn't experience years of positive validation (winning) from asserting himself.

I'm glad that Reinbacher and Demidov -- who are both better prospects than Slafkovsky -- were given more time to develop and to mature. In Demidov's case it was accidental but it was also a very good outcome.
 
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Cooley came back from injury, I'm not sure why youre even using that to argue. You're aware that Cooley has ten more points than Slaf, right ?
Cooley was at nearly a PPG halfway through the season, he’s been invisible last 12-weeks as Utah’s been trying to push for the playoffs - just like last season he seems to disappear when game become more intense thus far at NHL level
 
Seems fair then to say the Habs will need two or three better wingers to be a cup contender.

And what a shame we didn't get the 2C we need in that draft, Logan Cooley is playing 1C for Utah as a sophomore.
Sure, but we already have a 34+ goal scorer in Caufield and Demidov coming up. And Laine.

We do need a 2nd line C, but I don't think Cooley was the right choice for a top6 with Suzuki and Caufield. They thought Dach was it, he isn't. Let's find another one - could be Hage.
 
Cooley was at nearly a PPG halfway through the season, he’s been invisible last 12-weeks as Utah’s been trying to push for the playoffs
Screenshot 2025-03-29 at 17.15.56.png

Invisible LOSER Logan Cooley only has 7pts in his last 7gp.

Visible BEAST Slafkovsky has a whopping 4pts in his last 7gp.
Screenshot 2025-03-29 at 17.17.02.png
 
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I think that Slaf was the best player available, I just wish they had managed him properly.
Yeah I disagree. I got it wrong about his development. Hughes has reiterated they wanted him to learn to play the game against NHLers -- I have to think they know what they're talking about, at least in terms of the upside of leaving him in Liiga or the AHL. Their argument is he would "cheat" and use his size too much.

I think Slaf's issues are with his consistency and his so-called "toolbox"
Sure, but we already have a 34+ goal scorer in Caufield and Demidov coming up. And Laine.

We do need a 2nd line C, but I don't think Cooley was the right choice for a top6 with Suzuki and Caufield. They thought Dach was it, he isn't. Let's find another one - could be Hage.
Laine and Demidov were acquired after the Slaf draft, as you know. I also don't think Cooley's the optimal 2C but we're in a pretty tough place right now.

Slaf can be a relevant player in the future but he's VERY frustrating right now and I can't be the only one who is exhausted by his bad games. I'm not talking about his age, or his trajectory, or his future greatness here -- it's the playoff race and he's not showing up as expected. These are must-win games, he has to step up and set the tone. He seems so easily rattled and distracted (like that awful game he had against Ottawa where he was playing in front of his nan).
 
Maybe look at their last 20 games and see who has been the loser vs the beast

But of course these posters just have one mission and it’s to shit on a player every opportunity they get. An ongoing agenda since his draft. f***ing pathetic. Seriously, complete and utter silence when he produces and then like rats when there’s a pointless game.
 
Maybe look at their last 20 games and see who has been the loser vs the beast

But of course these posters just have one mission and it’s to shit on a player every opportunity they get. An ongoing agenda since his draft. f***ing pathetic. Seriously, complete and utter silence when he produces and then like rats when there’s a pointless game.
We're on a five game losing streak. I simply hope he'll fire off more than 1 SoG tomorrow against FLA.
 
It was obvious that Slafkovsky should have spent one more year in LIIGA and perhaps a year in the AHL, as he didn't learn to dominate prior to being in the NHL
Nonsense. No validity to this argument.

The only factual thing we can say about Slaf relative to his development curve is that he is producing far ahead of all but one forward the Habs have ever developed... And is at the top of his draft class in terms of NHL production to date.

The rest is all conjecture.

We can note that his development has been well within the range expected by the group that selected him, and his performance validates their approach this far.

. A key issue is he's not assisting himself, he's not shooting, that's because he didn't experience years of positive validation (winning) from asserting himself.
Disagree completely.
The conclusion you draw has no factual basis. Opinions are all fine and good, but this one reflects very little/no experience with elite performance development.

I'm glad that Reinbacher and Demidov -- who are both better prospects than Slafkovsky -- were given more time to develop and to mature. In Demidov's case it was accidental but it was also a very good outcome.

Again, false causal links don't make for a particularly compelling narrative... There is no substance to this take, and framing it the way you do (with unsubstantiated certainty) makes it a very poor take/argument.
 
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Laine and Demidov were acquired after the Slaf draft, as you know.
You're moving goalposts. You're saying we need better wingers than him in the future. I'm saying we already have a few.

I maintain he was the BPA at that draft for the Habs. I understand the Cooley argument, he's more skilled, but not as good a fit in Mtl.
Slaf can be a relevant player in the future but he's VERY frustrating right now and I can't be the only one who is exhausted by his bad games. I'm not talking about his age, or his trajectory, or his future greatness here -- it's the playoff race and he's not showing up as expected. These are must-win games, he has to step up and set the tone. He seems so easily rattled and distracted (like that awful game he had against Ottawa where he was playing in front of his nan).
He's 20 and we just agreed he was never going to be a dominant player. Not sure why you expect him to "step up and set the tone".
No one expected the Habs to make the playoffs this year, we all knew why. We're seeing it happen exactly as expected.
 
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You're moving goalposts. You're saying we need better wingers than him in the future. I'm saying we already have a few.
The timeframes are moving, not the goalposts. I got mixed up between your BPA claim and my point about needing better Ws.

I maintain he was the BPA at that draft for the Habs. I understand the Cooley argument, he's more skilled, but not as good a fit in Mtl.
No argument here but it's still far too early to tell which signals were right and which were misread.

He's 20 and we just agreed he was never going to be a dominant player. Not sure why you expect him to "step up and set the tone".
No one expected the Habs to make the playoffs this year, we all knew why. We're seeing it happen exactly as expected.
Is asking for more than 1 SoG in 20min asking for domination? He's a frustrating player, one of the most frustrating players I've ever seen. Hopefully he helps the team win tomorrow.
 
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Nonsense. No validity to this argument.

The only factual thing we can say about Slaf relative to his development curve is that he is producing far ahead of all but one forward the Habs have ever developed... And is at the top of his draft class in terms of NHL production to date.

The rest is all conjecture.

We can note that his development has been well within the range expected by the group that selected him, and his performance validates their approach this far.


Disagree completely.
The conclusion you draw has no factual basis. Opinions are all fine and good, but this one reflects very little/no experience with elite performance development.



Again, false causal links don't make for a particularly compelling narrative... There is no substance to this take, and framing it the way you do (with unsubstantiated certainty) makes it a very poor take/argument.

I realize that the effect of non-effect of development can't be proven for NHL players. We're never going to have the adequate twin studies.

But that's my impression from having observed excellence in the real world in non hockey areas. Talent is an ingredient but so are years of the obsession and positive reinforcement from frequent and ongoing successes.

If Gretzky had first picked up a hockey stick at age 18 nobody would have ever known his name.
 
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Yeah I disagree. I got it wrong about his development. Hughes has reiterated they wanted him to learn to play the game against NHLers -- I have to think they know what they're talking about, at least in terms of the upside of leaving him in Liiga or the AHL. Their argument is he would "cheat" and use his size too much.

I think Slaf's issues are with his consistency and his so-called "toolbox"

Laine and Demidov were acquired after the Slaf draft, as you know. I also don't think Cooley's the optimal 2C but we're in a pretty tough place right now.

Slaf can be a relevant player in the future but he's VERY frustrating right now and I can't be the only one who is exhausted by his bad games. I'm not talking about his age, or his trajectory, or his future greatness here -- it's the playoff race and he's not showing up as expected. These are must-win games, he has to step up and set the tone. He seems so easily rattled and distracted (like that awful game he had against Ottawa where he was playing in front of his nan).
Of course, not a word when he helped the team win or go to OT to place the habs in a playoffs spot or the ‘’mix’’ but come back in this thread when he has 2 meh games like the team as a whole.

The agenda is very easy to see and to predict.
 
Of course, not a word when he helped the team win or go to OT to place the habs in a playoffs spot or the ‘’mix’’ but come back in this thread when he has 2 meh games like the team as a whole.

The agenda is very easy to see and to predict.
Yes I have an agenda against the (imo) unearned hype around Slafkvosky, that is very clear and has been all along.

I have plenty of praise for Slaf when he does well — knowing he is not the finished product — but YOU my dear commentator have nothing to say when he doesn’t play well, in fact you deny it. You force and then enforce a false narrative.

He’s a frustrating player. I have agendas against them.
 
Yes I have an agenda against the (imo) unearned hype around Slafkvosky, that is very clear and has been all along.

I have plenty of praise for Slaf when he does well — knowing he is not the finished product — but YOU my dear commentator have nothing to say when he doesn’t play well, in fact you deny it. You force and then enforce a false narrative.

He’s a frustrating player. I have agendas against them.
No, you don’t. We don’t see you at all and you re-appear when has 1 meh game.

And no, I don’t have much to say and don’t rip the hair off my head everytime he has a lesser game. Like I don’t do it for Suzuki or Caufield.
 
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