Player Discussion Juraj Slafkovsky Discussion

[Skip Bayless]

Some jabroni actually asked him what does he remember of Kovalev's 84 pts season in 2006-2007.

Man having that job must be amazing.

 

[alko]

True haha.

Some people overreact with Slaf.

50 pts in his 19 and 20 years old seasons and some people complains. Come on.

There was a nice moment in Young Sheldon. Episode, when he was in Germany and wasn't the best in class.
Professor said something like:
There comes time, when you dont wonder that a dog is playing piano, but what is he playing.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

Slaf 2nd half of season since last year his the reason why he have been selected 1st overall.

He show more potential than Fantilli and Carlsson, but some people still complains lol!

It was accepted wisdom that those 2 were orders of magnitude better than Slaf. They very well could end up better but the gap is certainly not what people were projecting.

 

[Kojo]

He has comparable numbers with MacKinnon and Draisatl at the same age. Better than Draisatl. He's gonna be unstoppable in a couple of years.

 

[Skip Bayless]

I feel like his anticipation off the puck has been really improving lately, he's also talking trash and telling guys to FAFO like he does in team Slovakia. He's becoming annoying to play against.

 

[CzarDemidov]

I feel like his anticipation off the puck has been really improving lately, he's also talking trash and telling guys to FAFO like he does in team Slovakia. He's becoming annoying to play against.

Arrogant, playing on instinct Slaf >>> trying to be a playmaker Slaf

 

[Mrb1p]

He has comparable numbers with MacKinnon and Draisatl at the same age. Better than Draisatl. He's gonna be unstoppable in a couple of years.

Also has comparable numbers to Yakupov and Galchenyuk, this means absolutely nothing.

I dont like his game lately. He needs to shoot, he needs to drive the net. Hes a unicorn that plays like Pierre Alexandre Parenteau right now.

 

[Galchenyuk15]

People need to take a step back when they talk about Slafkovsky because he doesn't deserve that. He will never be a perfect player, some up and down in his game, some bad decision with the puck, doesn't choose the right time to shoot, pass the puck way too hard, take dumb penalty, didn't maximize the way he use his size but look at it like a bottle of water half empty and half full.

At 19-20 and 20-21 years old, he was already a part of one of the most productive line at even strength in all the NHL. He play against the toughest opponent without being shelter. He is a beast at Even Strength, he do way more good things than bad things already and just remember where these player were at the same stage of their career.

My goal is not to compare Slaf to them. He will never be a point producer like they have become, he didn't touch the puck in PP already and with Demidov, Hutson and Suzuki, 3 motors, it will not be better in the future but because it take time to built your game and for a big guy it take way more time to establish their game. At the same age, Kreider were at 3 points in 23 games.

Look at the next table to have a better perspective of where Slaf are in his developpement against others at the same age, under 21 or close!

Matthew Tkachuk
37-60=97 en 144 / 13-17=30 PP / 24-43=67 EV
20 year – 296 days at the beginning of the next season

Brady Tkachuk
43-46=89 en 142 / 6-12=18 PP / 37-34=71 EV
21 year – 126 days at the beginning of the next season

Mikko Rantanen
20-18=38 en 84 / 4-6=10 PP / 16-12=28 EV
20 year – 336 days at the beginning of the next season

Leon Draisatl
21-39=60 en 109 / 6-5=11 PP / 15-28=43 EV
20 year – 350 days at the beginning of the next season

Juraj Slafkovsky I (Full Career)
41-67=108 en 194 / 11-14=25 PP / 30-53=83 EV
21 year – 17 days at the end of this season

Juraj Slafkovsky II (Last 2 years)
37-61=98 en 155 / 10-13=23 PP / 27-48=75 EV
21 year – 17 days at the end of this season

Nick Suzuki
13-28=41 en 71 / 6-8=14 PP / 7-20=27 EV
21 year – 146 days at the start of the next season

Cole Caufield
4-1=5 en 10 / 0-0=0 PP / 4-1=5 EV
20 year – 286 days at the start of the next season

People are way too hard on this guy. He will become a real monster and one of the main reason we will became a contender sooner than later because in playoffs he will shine like a diamond where the game are play mainly at Even Strength. It can be better, it can be worse but we have not built Rome in a day, give him some time and he will became the unicorn everyone wanted. This guy will help us big time to reach the next Stanley Cup!

 

[bbfh]

 

[Kennerback]

Also has comparable numbers to Yakupov and Galchenyuk, this means absolutely nothing.

I dont like his game lately. He needs to shoot, he needs to drive the net. Hes a unicorn that plays like Pierre Alexandre Parenteau right now.

I agree with the bold. I'm hopeful there's a click in his brain one day that goes: "20 feet from the net+ Middle slot=Shoot".

But he's the 3rd wheel on the best NHL line in the NHL since the 4 nations. He's certainly not an anchor. And he does much of the dirty work on that line, letting the two others worry about scoring. That's worth something.

 

[Jaaanosik]

I agree with the bold. I'm hopeful there's a click in his brain one day that goes: "20 feet from the net+ Middle slot=Shoot".

But he's the 3rd wheel on the best NHL line in the NHL since the 4 nations. He's certainly not an anchor. And he does much of the dirty work on that line, letting the two others worry about scoring. That's worth something.

The bold part appears to me as a contradiction.
He is an anchor, winning bottles, doing the dirty work and passing to teammates.
When this is done in offensive zone, winning the battles in the offensive zone then he is an anchor in the offensive zone!

 

[Erika]

Also has comparable numbers to Yakupov and Galchenyuk, this means absolutely nothing.

I dont like his game lately. He needs to shoot, he needs to drive the net. Hes a unicorn that plays like Pierre Alexandre Parenteau right now.

Why such negativity ? Maybe you should look on the other side...shrimp Caufield is the weakest link of that line by far. Slaf is doing all the dirty work, but Caufield is a passenger.

Can't wait for a Slafkovsky - Suzuki - Demidov next year so that Caufield can be relegated on the second line.

 

[Skip Bayless]

I hope Slaf continues being a bully and Hughes builds the bottom 6 in consequence.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Why such negativity ? Maybe you should look on the other side...shrimp Caufield is the weakest link of that line by far. Slaf is doing all the dirty work, but Caufield is a passenger.

Can't wait for a Slafkovsky - Suzuki - Demidov next year so that Caufield can be relegated on the second line.

Caufiled’s been disappointing down the stretch but he’s showing signs of breaking out of it. Great job of corralling the bouncing puck tonight.

 

[Egresch]

I hope Slaf continues being a bully and Hughes builds the bottom 6 in consequence.





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[CzarDemidov]

Uhh I Kinda really like Dickhead Slaf??

 

[LammaMonster]

If anyone expects Slaf to become beast in playoffs i have bad news. He would be it already now when they play for last spot and every point counts. I think he will get overmotivated, gets 3 penalties in first game and MSL will bench him for next game And i am fan of Slaf btw and hope he will atleast play with almost 95% effort for most of games from now on... I wish

 

[TT1]

when did HF MTL become Dr. Phil psychoanalysis? plz let's just stick to on ice hockey play

 

[Habssince89]

Why such negativity ? Maybe you should look on the other side...shrimp Caufield is the weakest link of that line by far. Slaf is doing all the dirty work, but Caufield is a passenger.

Can't wait for a Slafkovsky - Suzuki - Demidov next year so that Caufield can be relegated on the second line.

Don't agree but Slaf is doing a lot of work on that line. This is a hot take I did not expect haha

 

[rik schau]

I know a bunch of ya are really keen on this bloke but I haven't seen what it is that got him that massive extension

 

[HabsMD97]

 

[HabsMD97]

His inconsistencies drive you up a wall, but he's pacing very favourably to guys like rantanen, tkachuk, draisaitl at the same age.

 

[Habssince89]

Once again he did a bunch of little things to win the puck. He constantly takes on 2 defenders and wins. Love his progression and his ceiling is so high

 

[Galchenyuk15]

What some people still overlook is the evolution of his game. Slafkovsky is never going to be an elite point producer — and that’s perfectly fine. He doesn’t touch the puck much on the power play, because the Habs run a perimeter setup through Hutson, Suzuki, and Laine. We don’t work it down low like Florida does with Tkachuk and Reinhart in the bumper spot.

He also doesn’t have the raw offensive flair of guys like Cooley, Demidov, Caufield, Zegras, or Patrick Kane. But his game thrives in the details — and for his age, it’s already extremely mature.

He regularly matches up against top lines, holds his own, and still finds ways to make an impact. In fact, his line has become one of the most dominant 5-on-5 units in the entire NHL.

Slafkovsky line production since returning from the Four Nations Cup (22 games):

• Suzuki: 13G – 21A = 34 PTS / +16
• Caufield: 11G – 7A = 18 PTS / +14
• Slafkovsky: 9G – 9A = 18 PTS / +13

If you rewatch the last game, check out his role in Caufield’s goal — and again late in the third period (around the 6-minute mark) when Talbot robbed Caufield near the right post.

• On the first sequence, Slaf wins a battle along the right wall deep in the zone, then shifts the puck across the ice — sparking the play that led to the goal.
• On the second, he buys time on the boards, beats two defenders, and resets the puck to the point — eventually leading to a Grade-A chance for Caufield.

That’s Slafkovsky.

In a game where it might have looked like he didn’t stand out, he still created two A+ scoring chances in a tight 2-1 battle — the kind of plays that swing playoff games when space disappears and stars get shut down.

He’s a big-bodied European still adjusting to the North American game — learning how to use his frame. That takes time. And yeah, he’s still raw: a bit undisciplined, hesitant to shoot, sometimes makes the wrong read. But his intentions are clear, and his heart is in the right place.

By the time he’s 25 — when experience meets maturity — he’s going to be a MONSTER.
Not a guy rewriting the record books, but a unicorn who does things very few can. And when it matters most in the playoffs, that’s gold.

He’s becoming exactly what the Habs envisioned on draft day. These guys take time — but the trajectory is there. Once the team adds more forward depth, his line won’t have to carry the entire offensive burden — and that extra space will unlock even more.

So no, he’s not perfect. But he’s the type of guy who creates sparks when games get tight, messy, and physical — and that’s how playoff series are won.

If you’re expecting Draisaitl or Rantanen, you’ll always be disappointed.
But if you're trying to win playoff games decided by inches — you'll be glad he's on your side.

 

[Dagistitsyn]

I know a bunch of ya are really keen on this bloke but I haven't seen what it is that got him that massive extension

Suzuki helped add a couple million per year at the very least.