Player Discussion Juraj Slafkovsky Discussion

[ExReHabs]

Its just luck, man. How many "clear cut" goals did he score this year? Were talking one hand.

Lucky goals are one thing, all players have varying degrees, but when its the bulk of your production, its not good.

His tip-ins are fine and good. The sort of goals someone with his frame should be getting.

 

[Mrb1p]

His tip-ins are fine and good. The sort of goals someone with his frame should be getting.

Its fine yes, but also requires some amount of luck.

Lucky goals are a thing, but they need to be supported by clear-cut goalscoring.

 

[ExReHabs]

Its fine yes, but also requires some amount of luck.

Lucky goals are a thing, but they need to be supported by clear-cut goalscoring.

I remember once I used the term 'incidental points' to describe the points he was picking up in a span of games and I think it got the usual suspects howling with rage at the notion that Slaf wasn't perfectly omniscient and intentional with all the points credited to him.

Btw this was game 40 of 70 this season where he shot the puck 1 or 0 times at goal. With maturity will maybe come some sorta in-game decision confidence to fire shots off but he'll have to be in the right positions to do so and that means making the right decisions at a higher rate and so on and so forth.

 

[Mrb1p]

I remember once I used the term 'incidental points' to describe the points he was picking up in a span of games and I think it got the usual suspects howling with rage at the notion that Slaf wasn't perfectly omniscient and intentional with all the points credited to him.

Btw this was game 40 of 70 this season where he shot the puck 1 or 0 times at goal. With maturity will maybe come some sorta in-game decision confidence to fire shots off but he'll have to be in the right positions to do so and that means making the right decisions at a higher rate and so on and so forth.

I still think his lack of shooting can be attributed to momentum, footspeed and or system related.

 

[Kennerback]

It's the one NHL player that needs in his contract, you get $$$ bonus, if you shoot an average of 2 shots a game.

 

[Artaud]

He defers to the perimeter way too much for a guy his size. In his draft year, hed usually cut inside on like 75% of his zone entries, now he goes and kills his own momentum in the corners and looks for a cheap pass. Just skate it Juraj, just put your shoulder down and go.

It seems a to me like that's what Marty coaches because the whole team seems to enter the zone that way. Gain the blue line, stop at the wall, protect the puck and wait for reinforcements. Though I'm not sure Slaf has that kind of rushing ability in his arsenal.

In any case, inside rushes are getting rare across the league except for elite players because they are low-percentage plays. 4 nations was a perfect example of the direction the league is going : most players either dumped or stayed in the perimeter when crossing the middle of the ice because even though it doesn't create a scoring chance as often, it's a high-percentage play that keeps possession and moves the play towards the opponent's net. That is winning hockey and it's the way the Habs play when they win.

 

[Mrb1p]

It seems a to me like that's what Marty coaches because the whole team seems to enter the zone that way. Gain the blue line, stop at the wall, protect the puck and wait for reinforcements. Though I'm not sure Slaf has that kind of rushing ability in his arsenal.

In any case, inside rushes are getting rare across the league except for elite players because they are low-percentage plays. 4 nations was a perfect example of the direction the league is going : most players either dumped or stayed in the perimeter when crossing the middle of the ice because even though it doesn't create a scoring chance as often, it's a high-percentage play that keeps possession and moves the play towards the opponent's net. That is winning hockey and it's the way the Habs play when they win.

Yes its coaching, and foot speed. Its not a play that needs to happen every possession, but Slaf is one of the player that should do it at a higher rate.

 

[ExReHabs]

It seems a to me like that's what Marty coaches because the whole team seems to enter the zone that way. Gain the blue line, stop at the wall, protect the puck and wait for reinforcements. Though I'm not sure Slaf has that kind of rushing ability in his arsenal.

In any case, inside rushes are getting rare across the league except for elite players because they are low-percentage plays. 4 nations was a perfect example of the direction the league is going : most players either dumped or stayed in the perimeter when crossing the middle of the ice because even though it doesn't create a scoring chance as often, it's a high-percentage play that keeps possession and moves the play towards the opponent's net. That is winning hockey and it's the way the Habs play when they win.

Yes its coaching, and foot speed. Its not a play that needs to happen every possession, but Slaf is one of the player that should do it at a higher rate.

One could say that all the references to his size and power have to do with this play that he should do but does too rarely.

It's rare but isn't that what UNICORNS are celebrated for in the first place?

 

[Mrb1p]

One could say that all the references to his size and power have to do with this play that he should do but does too rarely.

It's rare but isn't that was UNICORNS are celebrated for in the first place?

Precisely. My comparison for him in his draft year was Rick Nash. Both draft-year Juraj and Nash were players that cut inside regularly. Now hes playing like what... Zubrus?

 

[waitin425]

Its just luck, man. How many "clear cut" goals did he score this year? Were talking one hand.

Lucky goals are one thing, all players have varying degrees, but when its the bulk of your production, its not good.

Luck is winning the lottery.

In sports, as in life....luck requires some skill and timing. It's not randomized and people improve their own odds through their own play. Are a majority of them pretty? hell no. But luck they aren't. Thats just lazy explaining Bip.

 

[Mrb1p]

Luck is winning the lottery.

In sports, as in life....luck requires some skill and timing. It's not randomized and people improve their own odds through their own play. Are a majority of them pretty? hell no. But luck they aren't. Thats just lazy explaining Bip.

You think the goal he scored tonight wasnt luck? Come on.

 

[Kennerback]

Yes its coaching, and foot speed. Its not a play that needs to happen every possession, but Slaf is one of the player that should do it at a higher rate.

I think foot speed is a cop out. He doesn't deserve that excuse. Tkachuk is the slowest player in the NHL. Slaf is MUCH faster. Tkachuk is at over 4 shots a game every year, for all I know Slaf will never have a season where he shoots 2 shots a game. It's a plain and simple refusal to shoot by Slaf.

 

[waitin425]

You think the goal he scored tonight wasnt luck? Come on.

Luck compared to what though? He still had to do something to create that luck. If he created something that caused the goal is it luck?

 

[Bouboumaster]

Amazing player
Suzuki, Caufield and him should play together for the rest of their career, with Hutson on the back

 

[Mrb1p]

I think foot speed is a cop out. He doesn't deserve that excuse. Tkachuk is the slowest player in the NHL. Slaf is MUCH faster. Tkachuk is at over 4 shots a game every year, for all I know Slaf will never have a season where he shoots 2 shots a game. It's a plain and simple refusal to shoot by Slaf.

I agree, Tkachuk is a demon around the net and if im honest, wastes a lot good rubber on bad shots, so Im not sure hes a good example.

A few reasons that combine:
-System
-Footspeed
-Play around the net
-Shot being subpar
-A bit of a tendency to play pretty hockey

Hes like Drouin sometimes. A bit frusyrating.

 

[Hope Of Glory]

Jesus the whining never stops lmfao

Obviously he's far from a perfect player and its fair to point out where he could improve but some of the criticism is way over the top.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Weird logic, arent we striving for this? Fall in love with winning, not players.

Yes, we're striving for future success. The best way to achieve that is with the best young players/prospects and patience. He will be in his prime in a few years. Right in time for us to hopefully be contending for a cup.

Trying to make 8th spot to squeak into the playoffs is different than trying to win cups. You go about that in two different ways.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

You think the goal he scored tonight wasnt luck? Come on.

Who cares? He was in the crease where he should be and the puck went in. Tons of players make a living doing that and we don't have enough guys who do. Gallagher does it. Dach used to do it. Slaf is doing it.

Awesome.

We need more of those kinds of plays.

 

[Kennerback]

I agree, Tkachuk is a demon around the net and if im honest, wastes a lot good rubber on bad shots, so Im not sure hes a good example.

A few reasons that combine:
-System
-Footspeed
-Play around the net
-Shot being subpar
-A bit of a tendency to play pretty hockey

Hes like Drouin sometimes. A bit frusyrating.

A few reasons that combine:
-System (Yes)
-Footspeed (cop out, he gets where he needs and doesn't shoot)
-Play around the net (he needs to improve this A LOT! He's OK but there's still much room for improvement.
-Shot being subpar (he need to work on his delivery, his shot is hard and has always have a decent shooting percentage in his career)
-A bit of a tendency to play pretty hockey (This a 1000X, he seems to value much more getting an assist through 4 pairs of skates to Suzuki vs a tap-in goal in the empty net.)

 

[the valiant effort]

Jesus the whining never stops lmfao

Obviously he's far from a perfect player and its fair to point out where he could improve but some of the criticism is way over the top.

When they’re done dissecting his flaws they will move on to what he did well today

 

[Rapala]

21 today and showing that he will have multi multi point games in his career.
This guy will be a PPG player in a a couple of seasons.

 

[le_sean]

When they’re done dissecting his flaws they will move on to what he did well today

No they won’t. That’s the problem. They aren’t ever honest. It’s an agenda

 

[Kennerback]

No they won’t. That’s the problem. They aren’t ever honest. It’s an agenda

We all love him. He's going to be a monster for this spring's playoffs.

 

[ExReHabs]

Precisely. My comparison for him in his draft year was Rick Nash. Both draft-year Juraj and Nash were players that cut inside regularly. Now hes playing like what... Zubrus?

The Zubrus comparison is a particularly gruesome one that comes to mind every so often when Slaf has a bad game.

No they won’t. That’s the problem. They aren’t ever honest. It’s an agenda

It's dishonest to say Slafkovsky should shoot more and drive to the net more - gotcha.

 

[ahmedou]

Slaf to the Anti-Slaf