Player Discussion Juraj Slafkovsky Discussion

Playmaker in a Power Forward’s body. Danius Zubrus.

Easy to say, harder to do when that’s clearly not his game. I like Bully Dickhead Slaf too but it seems hard for him to play that way.
zubrus was a useful player but not at #1 OA
 
zubrus was a useful player but not at #1 OA
What’s good if he embraces the crash-bang-react style is no matter the line or team mates his play should be as useful and efficient, unlike a pure passer or shooter who needs to play with complimentary line mates. Stats might go down but that changes nothing to how useful that solid player could be at maturity.
 
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I've played hockey with/against a lot of big guys who had all the tools - but never reached their potential because they lacked meanness. Slaf reminds me of that.
Needs to make a few biker friends. Habs look sweet and all but barely any can even grow a beard and even the vets look like my grandma would have trusted them to babysit the kids. Even the « tough » ones look like teady bears making eyebrows.
 
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I have my doubts....yes...sometimes, he makes good passes and finds players on the ice....but he does not always know where to position himself and that screams hockey IQ. Could he improve it? You really wish he does. I wlil never believe it's a question of effort. It's a question of unable to read plays. And lacking confidence to do so which then brings out frustration.

I also believe that like EVERY PLAYER that comes in the NHL and aren't ready.....it needs maturity to understand that you have TONS to learn and that arriving in the NHL does NOT mean you have arrived as a player....Slaf is cocky. I have nothing against that. But you need to use that cockiness to be under the opponent's skin.....not your own...
 
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What’s good if he embraces the crash-bang-react style is no matter the line or team mates his play should be as useful and efficient, unlike a pure passer or shooter who needs to play with complimentary line mates. Stats might go down but that changes nothing to how useful that solid player could be at maturity.
Can he embrace that style every night? Doubt it’s in him. So inconsistent, at least he’s still young.
 
Like I said yesterday in the GDT, this really is the story of two different players.

At his best he's an absolute f***ing menace. A power winger with a heavy shot and upper-tier vision, who plays with an edge and creates time and space for his linemates.

At his worst, he's a floating winger who does nothing to impact a game in any meaningful way. He's just..there..as one of the least engaged players on the ice.

He's still young, but he absolutely MUST find that balance. We aren't expecting balls to the wall every night, but at the very least do something positive and impactful. While he'll never be the type of player who drives his line offensively like you're expecting from a 1st overall pick, it doesn't mean you have to be a passenger game in and game out either.

I'm of course hopeful he figures it out. He's just often leaving me wanting more. If he can turn into a 70-80 point nasty power winger which is exactly what this group needs..look out. But yeah, bring it more often Slaf. Because although I see a lot I like, I'm more often than not seeing things I don't like. That being said, two 50-point seasons already is certainly something to be satisfied about. But he can do SO much more especially in terms of effort level and engagement.
 
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Seriously, he should play like Gally (or remember Tomas Holmstrom?), always in front of the goalie. He should use his big body deflecting shots especially on the poweplay.
 
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Playmaker in a Power Forward’s body. Danius Zubrus.

Easy to say, harder to do when that’s clearly not his game. I like Bully Dickhead Slaf too but it seems hard for him to play that way.

Hey,

We've managed to snag the potential second coming of Danius Zubrus.

If that ain't a win then I don't know what is. :sarcasm:
 
If he never showed true high end upside, I’d worry more. He’s shown enough flashes where you know he has it. That’s more than half the battle.

It’s all about consistency and refining certain things.

This is his absolute floor. It’s a damn high floor.

If you want to bet or talk like he won’t get a single iota better, sure. I don’t know if you should be taken seriously or expect yourself to be. But if you need the attention that bad then who am I to deny you I guess?
 
I really hope so. Right now Knies is trending to be a better player than Slaf
Knies shooting percentage is at 20% this season it’ll go back to normal eventually and won’t score as much next season. He also produce less than Slaf 5 on 5 while playing with Matthews and Marner. All this while having only 6 more points right now, lol.
 
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On the score sheet , Slaf has more hits. But he doesnt deliver crushing hit enough. Anderson is a much better hitter than Slaf.

I could do with more crushing hits, but at this moment, my biggest criticism of his play is how slow he is to react.

Last night, Caufield dumped the puck, Slaf was F1...but he was so slow to react that Suzuki who was behind him had to turn on the jets to save the play. I feel like Suz and Caufield are getting frustrated with him.
 
I could do with more crushing hits, but at this moment, my biggest criticism of his play is how slow he is to react.

Last night, Caufield dumped the puck, Slaf was F1...but he was so slow to react that Suzuki who was behind him had to turn on the jets to save the play. I feel like Suz and Caufield are getting frustrated with him.

I don't like passive Slaf. There are games where he doesn't seem prepared. He has a lot more tools than Kapanen, but Kapanen is always ready for a one on one battle, to cut a passing line or go to the inside.
 

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