Player Discussion Juraj Slafkovsky Discussion

[River Meadow]

He needs to increase his hockey IQ. He's reminding me of a big Chad version of AK46. Even has the spurts of physicality down.

AK46 oozed skill and had a killer, HEAVY shot.

The only 'big Chad' Slaf reminds me of is Chad Kilger.

 

[the valiant effort]

I’m not down on Slaf like most in here, but, yeah, when that puck came loose for him at the top of the zone all I could think was what Demidov would have created from that gift

 

[River Meadow]

I’m not down on Slaf like most in here, but, yeah, when that puck came loose for him at the top of the zone all I could think was what Demidov would have created from that gift

Tbh I don't even want to blame the player.

He was not ready to start in the NHL when he did, he had zero time to actually find himself, find his game, and develop properly.

Instead they threw him with our 2 best players, where he can just dish the puck off to them at will, and he does exactly that.

Amazing development plan, he is clearly learning so much and has not at all been coddled in the NHL with gifted opportunities because of the position he was drafted at.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

It's exactly this.

There's evidence we're seeing Slafkovsky at his peak already, a common risk when it comes to players who are physical specimens who don't know how to play hockey.

That's the problem, his strengths and weaknesses continue to be the same as before he was drafted.

That was always the worry with him, he's a physical beast who can and has looked dominant in multi game stretches only to disappear for a long time after that.

The cliche that big players need longer to develop is true, especially the ones drafted for their size more than their finished product. But the other part of this equation is that for every successful project power forward, a lot end up as busts.

Slaf at least isn't a total bust but I worry he might actually be a lot closer to his ceiling than many want to admit - he's young but he's been a pro hockey player for a while now and seems to fall into the same patterns every year. Development can only go so far if he lacks the mental side of the game or cannot figure out how to remain an active offensive player.

110 points in 200 games at 20 years old... I don't see a problem.

I don't get why you'd think he's close to his ceiling being so young. That just doesn't make any sense to me at all.

 

[River Meadow]

110 points in 200 games at 20 years old... I don't see a problem.

I don't get why you'd think he's close to his ceiling being so young. That just doesn't make any sense to me at all.

Throw Joe Blow from Shawinigan on a line with Suzuki and Caufield and he will also get points and score goals from the puck hitting his skate off Caufield shots going into the net.

Everyone knows his point totals are inflated due to his line mates.

 

[Tyson]

110 points in 200 games at 20 years old... I don't see a problem.

I don't get why you'd think he's close to his ceiling being so young. That just doesn't make any sense to me at all.

Barely 21. His future is bright

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Saying he needs to be better =/= pitchforks. I like Slaf, I'm glad he's on the Habs. He still needs to show significantly more. He should be going balls-to-the-walls every shift. I'm not looking for results on the scoresheet, just not the baby-shit-soft plays he's been doing lately.

Yeah, he could be better.

But tonight he made several strong plays and the usual suspects were shitting on him non-stop. It's ridiculous.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Throw Joe Blow from Shawinigan on a line with Suzuki and Caufield and he will also get points and score goals from the puck hitting his skate off Caufield shots going into the net.

Bullshit. He contributes a lot to that line.

Everyone knows his point totals are inflated due to his line mates.

That doesn't mean he isn't contributing on that line. He's not just a passenger.

 

[River Meadow]

Bullshit. He contributes a lot to that line.

That doesn't mean he isn't contributing on that line. He's not just a passenger.

Who's the passenger, Suzuki, Caufield or Slaf if you had to pick one?

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Who's the passenger, Suzuki, Caufield or Slaf if you had to pick one?

If one was a passenger I'd say so. It's a really good line.

 

[DemidovSZN]

Yeah, he could be better.

But tonight he made several strong plays and the usual suspects were shitting on him non-stop. It's ridiculous.

Got laughed at by the same suspect when I said he was playing good. Created great plays that didn’t end up in the back of the net.

 

[DemidovSZN]

Who's the passenger, Suzuki, Caufield or Slaf if you had to pick one?

Caufield, for the last 10 games or so.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Got laughed at by the same suspect when I said he was playing good. Created great plays that didn’t end up in the back of the net.

I don't think the team played a good game tonight and they all could've been better. But Slaf played alright. Made some strong plays.

I don't disagree that he could be better. I was hoping for a stronger season but it wasn't too bad. I think in the long run he's going to be a really solid player. Not a superstar but good.

 

[River Meadow]

Caufield, for the last 10 games or so.

It seems like Caufield and Suzuki are a tad tired from carrying the team on their backs.

 

[Kennerback]

Who's the passenger, Suzuki, Caufield or Slaf if you had to pick one?

No passengers. However the driver of that line is Suzuki. My humble opinion is he’s concussed from that big open ice hit a couple of games ago and not playing 100%.

I also think he was injured before the 4 nations. If Suzuki’s game dips Caufield and Slaf follow.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Caufield, for the last 10 games or so.

Yeah, he's been disapointing. A few good shifts here or there but he hasn't been good enough. Was fantastic for most of the season though.

Suzuki was superstarlike after 4 Nations but he's been quiet the past few games. We played 5 in 8 and a back to back this weekend. I think the team is just flat out gassed.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

No passengers. However the driver of that line is Suzuki. My humble opinion is he’s concussed from that big open ice hit a couple of games ago and not playing 100%.

I also think he was injured before the 4 nations. If Suzuki’d game dips Caufield and Slaf follow.

If he was concussed he wouldn't have been in the lineup.

 

[DemidovSZN]

It seems like Caufield and Suzuki are a tad tired from carrying the team on their backs.

I mean, yes. But that doesn’t mean Slaf doesn’t bring great things to that line. The only one who had some jump and actually tried things tonight.

 

[Kennerback]

If he was concussed he wouldn't have been in the lineup.

I look at the hit and i don’t know how he wasn’t. He hasn’t missed a game since forever. I think he would hide it and play anyways. But it’s speculation on my part.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I look at the hit and i don’t know how he wasn’t. He hasn’t missed a game since forever. I think he would hide it and play anyways. But it’s speculation on my part.

They don't play around with concussions. There's no way he'd be in the lineup if they knew he had a concussion.

 

[River Meadow]

I mean, yes. But that doesn’t mean Slaf doesn’t bring great things to that line. The only one who had some jump and actually tried things tonight.

Again, aside from some of his slow mental processing at times, my main gripe was that play where he was all alone, with all the time and space in the world, and he just wanted to dish the puck away as if it was a hot potato, probably because that's what he's used to doing 99.8% of the time with his line mates.

I don't blame Slaf, I question the way we're developing him. There's still time.

Are we just gonna glue him to 2 superior players and have him be the goffer forever and ever?

 

[DemidovSZN]

They don't play around with concussions. There's no way he'd be in the lineup if they knew he had a concussion.

He’s still playing weird since that hit, he looks kinda lost some shifts. Plus he got hit again tonight and looked even more sluggish after.

 

[Kennerback]

They don't play around with concussions. There's no way he'd be in the lineup if they knew he had a concussion.

I agree. But I presume they don’t know. Or suspect it and can’t prove it. It would not be the first time it happens.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

He’s still playing weird since that hit, he looks kinda lost some shifts. Plus he got hit again tonight and looked even more sluggish after.

He might be hurt. Or he might be gassed. Or it's a bit of both.

But if he were concussed, they wouldn't let him play.

 

[Dagistitsyn]

He needs to increase his hockey IQ. He's reminding me of a big Chad version of AK46. Even has the spurts of physicality down. There's time to improve so hopefully he grinds it out with the high iq guys.

This is going to piss a lot of people off on here but, if we’re being honest, Andrei had way way better hands, better shot. Arguably better play making.
As inconsistent as Andrei was, he also had a lot of highlight reel plays that made fans jump out of their seat because he had the skill to pull them off. I know Slafkovsky is still young, but he hasn’t displayed that at all yet. He’s put up respectable numbers with Suzuki..
If ol AK46 was playing with this Suzuki all season he would have probably put up 60-65 points.

I personally don’t see the level of hype that others see in him. I want to be wrong. My gut tells me that Suzuki made him a lot richer than he should be and Demidov will take his spot on the top line sooner than later. Then things could get ugly if he doesn’t start moving his feet and making use of his shot.