Player Discussion Juraj Slafkovsky Discussion

[Kennerback]

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’s made poor decisions and bad passes that he never makes. To me something’s wrong. And if he doesn’t go, on his line, no one goes.

 

[River Meadow]

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.

That shouldn't piss off anyone, lol, it's literally just facts.

 

[DemidovSZN]

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?

He’s doing the job fine, working to give 2 on 1’s to his linemates, good in the neutral zone or give them the puck on the tape in the slot. Would obviously like to see him being more ‘’selfish’’ and create for himself but I feel the dump and chase game they play doesn’t do him justice, he’s actually awesome when the puck gets carried in the zone and he can receive it and drives the middle to create plays. That way he would be able to get his shot off more also.

 

[DemidovSZN]

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.

Slaf hasn’t played with them all season, though.

And him and Demidov should play together, not being talked as if one takes the ‘’spot’’ of the other.

Hard to use your shot when you have to play on the boards almost all the time. They need to make plays by carrying the puck in the ozone and less dump and chase.

 

[Toene]

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.

Oh I know, I've said so in the GDT.

 

[Mrb1p]

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.

Aks skill level is a lot closer to Cole than it is Slaf

 

[crosbyshow]

We all know the future 1st line is gonna be

Caufield-Suzuki-Demidov.

Can a package around Slaf++ net us an elite 2C?

I said before (like many others), the 3 core pieces are Nick, Lane and Demidov… I’d really like to keep Caufield tho, he can score the puck.

I would trade Slaf for Leo Carlsson in a heartbeat.

Carlsson is so dominant since 2 months.

The first overall in 2022 for the second overall in 2023.

Leo wil be domninant innall 3 zones soon...

I am not sure that the Ducks would do it

 

[Mrb1p]

I would trade Slaf for Leo Carlsson in a heartbeat.

Carlsson is so dominant since 2 months.

The first overall in 2022 for the second overall in 2023.

Leo wil be domninant innall 3 zones soon...

I am not sure that the Ducks would do it

Youre adding Caufield? A first??

 

[crosbyshow]

Youre adding Caufield? A first??

At least a first..I dont care.

Carlsson will be a type of Barkov , Kopitar

 

[Kojo]

Without him we probably would have lost 4-2 but yeah let's trade him.

Meanwhile Laine is doing nothing and some want to keep him to pair Laine with Demidov.

Put Slaf in with Demidov and that's our new first line.

 

[Heffyhoof]

I would trade Slaf for Leo Carlsson in a heartbeat.

Carlsson is so dominant since 2 months.

The first overall in 2022 for the second overall in 2023.

Leo wil be domninant innall 3 zones soon...

I am not sure that the Ducks would do it

Wow a big bodied player in his D+2 playing well in the second half. Wait a second...

Carlsson has as many goals and less points (D+2). I find it harder and harder to bother trying to discuss anything with people who clearly have no interest in anything but posting whatever nonsense they've recently pulled from where the sun don't shine.

 

[CzarDemidov]

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

If he played like Chris Kunitz, sure. But the problem with this set up is he’s not meant to be a good gopher, he has ambitions to be a playmaking winger.

 

[CzarDemidov]

Wow a big bodied player in his D+2 playing well in the second half. Wait a second...

Carlsson has as many goals and less points (D+2). I find it harder and harder to bother trying to discuss anything with people who clearly have no interest in anything but posting whatever nonsense they've recently pulled from where the sun don't shine.

Comparing Slaf and Carlsson is indeed ridiculous. Don’t get too worked up over it, Habs fans tend to overrate Habs players and undervalue other talent on other teams. The two of them are nowhere close to each other in terms of on ice value or long term trajectory.

 

[River Meadow]

Comparing Slaf and Carlsson is indeed ridiculous. Don’t get too worked up over it, Habs fans tend to overrate Habs players and undervalue other talent on other teams. The two of them are nowhere close to each other in terms of on ice value or long term trajectory.

IF the Habs ever traded Slaf...

Within 15-20minutes of the trade, a lot of these fans who are RIDE OR DIE types for Slaf will 'turn on him' and sing a different song about him, one that isn't so full of sugar and spice and everything nice.

 

[Miller Time]

IF the Habs ever traded Slaf...

Within 15-20minutes of the trade, a lot of these fans who are RIDE OR DIE types for Slaf will 'turn on him' and sing a different song about him, one that isn't so full of sugar and spice and everything nice.

When Slaf has his first ppg season...

Within 15-20minutes of the milestone, a lot of these fans who are always complaining about Slaf will eat crow for a night before 'turning on him' the very next game and keep singing the same tired song about him, one that is full of piss and vinegar and bitter tears.

 

[River Meadow]

When Slaf has his first ppg season...

Within 15-20minutes of the milestone, a lot of these fans who are always complaining about Slaf will eat crow for a night before 'turning on him' the very next game and keep singing the same tired song about him, one that is full of piss and vinegar and bitter tears.

You're not wrong, it goes both ways.

The only question is, who will be right in the end.

 

[CzarDemidov]

You're not wrong, it goes both ways.

The only question is, who will be right in the end.

There is not one Habs fan — especially not me — who wants Slaf to fail or who won’t be relieved and celebrate his success. I hope he succeeds and that I have another opportunity to understand what I got wrong in my perception of the player.

Compare this “1OA” with Hutson or Demidov… something is wrong here.

He’s an unusual player on an unusual trajectory. There is nothing wrong with being sceptical of his promise (like you and I might be) and there’s nothing wrong with hoping for his success. My agenda, as it were, is mostly against the BSer and liars in the commentary space who refuse to allow any criticism of his bad games and bad performances.

But I’m not going to lie and say I have blind faith in him, I clearly don’t. He plays like an oaf and doesn’t seem like he knows how to lean on his strengths/minimize his weaknesses. If he figures it out, hallelujah.

 

[Miller Time]

You're not wrong, it goes both ways.

The only question is, who will be right in the end.

Right now he's a back to back 50pt player... Who turned 21 2 weeks ago.

Crazy that any Habs fan would be upset about that lol

 

[River Meadow]

Right now he's a back to back 50pt player... Who turned 21 2 weeks ago.

Crazy that any Habs fan would be upset about that lol

He's glued on our top line and PP.

People focus way too much on points.

 

[CzarDemidov]

He's glued on our top line and PP.

People focus way too much on points.

When he wasn’t picking up points, it was about the little things that he was learning. Many were adamant about points being irrelevant. But back to back 50 whole point seasons with a reduction in TOI and fewer SoG is worth celebrating now? It’s a regression.

Emperor’s New Clothes style bullshit/cope is always associated with actual bad performances. Bergevin didn’t need a loyal paramilitary force to hound everyone who criticized his work, they did it to make themselves feel better. Same thing now.

 

[River Meadow]

There is not one Habs fan — especially not me — who wants Slaf to fail or who won’t be relieved and celebrate his success. I hope he succeeds and that I have another opportunity to understand what I got wrong in my perception of the player.

Compare this “1OA” with Hutson or Demidov… something is wrong here.

He’s an unusual player on an unusual trajectory. There is nothing wrong with being sceptical of his promise (like you and I might be) and there’s nothing wrong with hoping for his success. My agenda, as it were, is mostly against the BSer and liars in the commentary space who refuse to allow any criticism of his bad games and bad performances.

But I’m not going to lie and say I have blind faith in him, I clearly don’t. He plays like an oaf and doesn’t seem like he knows how to lean on his strengths/minimize his weaknesses. If he figures it out, hallelujah.

Completely agreed on all points.

 

[Miller Time]

He's glued on our top line and PP.

People focus way too much on points.

The stats backing up the easy eye test was just to avoid the silly retorts.

Point out Slaf is the best forward on the ice for large stretches of a game... "Yeah but where are the points"

Point out Slaf has put up consecutive seasons of an impressive point total for a kid his age.. "Yeah but what about the PP time.

Point out that he only has 10pp points to 40 ES points... "Yeah but he should have more pp points"

Point out that he leads his teams forwards in hits ... "Yeah but he doesn't hit hard enough"


The "yeah but ism" is tiresome.

If one can't watch his level of play and recognize how impressive it is for a player his age, thats a shame.

 

[Miller Time]

Wow a big bodied player in his D+2 playing well in the second half. Wait a second...

Carlsson has as many goals and less points (D+2). I find it harder and harder to bother trying to discuss anything with people who clearly have no interest in anything but posting whatever nonsense they've recently pulled from where the sun don't shine.

It's funny in the tragic comedy sense watching the same posters trip over themselves over and over again desperately trying to avoid those 3 simple words... "I was wrong".

 

[River Meadow]

The stats backing up the easy eye test was just to avoid the silly retorts.

Point out Slaf is the best forward on the ice for large stretches of a game... "Yeah but where are the points"

Point out Slaf has put up consecutive seasons of an impressive point total for a kid his age.. "Yeah but what about the PP time.

Point out that he only has 10pp points to 40 ES points... "Yeah but he should have more pp points"

Point out that he leads his teams forwards in hits ... "Yeah but he doesn't hit hard enough"


The "yeah but ism" is tiresome.

If one can't watch his level of play and recognize how impressive it is for a player his age, thats a shame.

ngl you make some valid points for sure.

I hope you're right about Slaf, and you very well may be. I'll be happy if so.

I expect him to get points playing on our top line and getting the opportunities he gets. I'm more concerned with his general play.

He has the frame and size to physically dominate and cause chaos if he so chooses but he does so very rarely, and he doesn't have the skill to dominate in the skills department. There should be a balance of course. If he wakes up in the playoffs, as many are predicting, that will completely change things, and I'll gladly eat my humble pie, served on a bed of fresh lettuce.

 

[River Meadow]

It's funny in the tragic comedy sense watching the same posters trip over themselves over and over again desperately trying to avoid those 3 simple words... "I was wrong".

Wrong about what?

Little early for the I was wrong talk, no?