Player Discussion Juraj Slafkovsky Discussion

[Lafleurs Guy]

Revisionist history...last night for over 2 periods he played poorly. Finally woke up in the 3rd. It seems to me a guy earning almost $8M per year and playing in the last game of the year to make the playoffs for the first time in his career and with his physical attributes should hit the ON switch when the puck drops in the first period. That is my issue.

I think you’re confusing a couple of bad plays with him having a bad game. There are mistakes you can point to for sure - the biotched 2 on 1 or the penalty but he was a beast on the boards and made tons of great plays. He was our best forward last night.

 

[Miller Time]

i would love making $950K soon to be $7+M playing hockey. He needs to have his on switch on all the time and not just for a few minutes in the 3rd in a do or die game. Crosby, McDavid, Kucherov, etc don't take 2/3 of the game off.

Nonsense to suggest Slaf "takes 2/3 of the game off". Zero justification for that assessment.

And no wonder you seem unnecessarily cynical, your setting unrealistic comparables.

Mcdavid makes 12.5M now, and is about to make more than double what Slaf will start making next fall. His current deal was double the cap % of Slaf's extension.

Kucherov's contract was 11.7% of the cap when signed, Slaf's extension= 8%

Crosby's 20 year old RFA contract was 15.34% of the pens cap.


Now, I'm about as bullish as anyone about Slaf's ceiling... But I wouldn't bet on him ending up as a top 5 all time player like 2 of those 3 "comparables" are, nor would I bet on him being a top 2-3 all time European born NHLer.

Maybe he gets there, but that would be a huge stretch.

It's pretty silly to throw up those kinds of comparables when he isn't compensated anywhere close to where they are/were, nor is anyone suggesting he's a shoe-in HOF.

Comparing apples to oranges is an excercise in futility.

 

[Andrei79]

Revisionist history...last night for over 2 periods he played poorly. Finally woke up in the 3rd. It seems to me a guy earning almost $8M per year and playing in the last game of the year to make the playoffs for the first time in his career and with his physical attributes should hit the ON switch when the puck drops in the first period. That is my issue.

Completely disagree. He was the best player on his line quite easily for all three periods.

 

[Shutdown]

i would love making $950K soon to be $7+M playing hockey. He needs to have his on switch on all the time and not just for a few minutes in the 3rd in a do or die game. Crosby, McDavid, Kucherov, etc don't take 2/3 of the game off.

if you think he had a bad first and second period last night, i hate to tell you but hockey might not be your thing

 

[Mrb1p]

I don't cope with Cooley. I was never interested in him ever vs Slaf... We really have different values about what we look in a hockey player. And that's OK. You may be right, I may be wrong. Many hockey people (not just trolls on the main board) prefer Cooley. They might be right.

Heck, the HHOF has Pat Lafontaine in. Lafontaine had higher hockey IQ, was more productive, had betters skills than Claude Lemieux, who's not in the HHOF. Still, I would take Lemieux over Lafontaine in a nanosecond, because I feel he's a much harder player to play against. Yashin also had every single metrics double over Mike Peca. His offensive IQ was through the roof vs Peca. Still, I want Peca. Yashin does not interest me.

Cooley is harder to play against than Slaf.

Mic drop (Runs away)

 

[Kennerback]

Cooley is harder to play against than Slaf.

Mic drop

Again it’s subjective. The HHF obviously believed Lafontaine was harder to play than Lemieux. Those are very smart voters. I don’t question their intellect.

If I’m the coach of both Cooley and Slaf, and can only play one, and we are playing the Caps on Monday, I’m playing Slaf without a single afterthought.

I also think you guys have a conspiracy theory that if a given person likes Slaf over Cooley, it absolutely has to be cope because we’re Habs fans.

 

[Erika]

Cooley is harder to play against than Slaf.

Mic drop (Runs away)

You and ReHabs are getting boring with your anti Slafkovsky agenda and propaganda. Slafkovsky was by far the best Habs player yesterday. Without him, the Habs doesn't clinch and the Jackets gets in the playoffs by humiliating the Islanders tonight. That's a fact like it or not.

Also, on draft day, the choice was always between Slafkovsky and Wright. Cooley wasn't really an option if I can remember. I don't get why people come up with Cooley, but he was never in the equation... maybe a few fans wanted him but that's it.

 

[Mrb1p]

You and ReHabs are getting boring with your anti Slafkovsky agenda and propaganda. Slafkovsky was by far the best Habs player yesterday. Without him, the Habs doesn't clinch and the Jackets gets in the playoffs by humiliating the Islanders tonight. That's a fact like it or not.

Also, on draft day, the choice was always between Slafkovsky and Wright. Cooley wasn't really an option if I can remember. I don't get why people come up with Cooley, but he was never in the equation... maybe a few fans wanted him but that's it.

Was he though ? He was good, as he can be, but he wasn't the Habs best player, and certainly not "by far".

Lame excuse as Wright went fourth.

I'm also not the one making the ridiculous claims that he's better than Celibrini.

 

[Mrb1p]

Again it’s subjective. The HHF obviously believed Lafontaine was harder to play than Lemieux. Those are very smart voters. I don’t question their intellect.

If I’m the coach of both Cooley and Slaf, and can only play one, and we are playing the Caps on Monday, I’m playing Slaf without a single afterthought.

I also think you guys have a conspiracy theory that if a given person likes Slaf over Cooley, it absolutely has to be cope because we’re Habs fans.

Youre equating Lafontaine to a weak/soft/onedimensional player, thats not what Cooley is, lets stop.

 

[Rob Sense]

if you think he had a bad first and second period last night, i hate to tell you but hockey might not be your thing

sure junior

 

[Tyson]

You and ReHabs are getting boring with your anti Slafkovsky agenda and propaganda. Slafkovsky was by far the best Habs player yesterday. Without him, the Habs doesn't clinch and the Jackets gets in the playoffs by humiliating the Islanders tonight. That's a fact like it or not.

Also, on draft day, the choice was always between Slafkovsky and Wright. Cooley wasn't really an option if I can remember. I don't get why people come up with Cooley, but he was never in the equation... maybe a few fans wanted him but that's it.

Slaf was the total package on draft day, a big kid with skill...you had to take him and I am glad they did.

 

[themilosh]

Again it’s subjective. The HHF obviously believed Lafontaine was harder to play than Lemieux. Those are very smart voters. I don’t question their intellect.

If I’m the coach of both Cooley and Slaf, and can only play one, and we are playing the Caps on Monday, I’m playing Slaf without a single afterthought.

I also think you guys have a conspiracy theory that if a given person likes Slaf over Cooley, it absolutely has to be cope because we’re Habs fans.

The same people who were adamant about keeping Halak over Price are prolly the same guys wanting to chuck Slaf to the curb bc hes (get this) : not perfect.

A 6'3" 220lb Power winger who's 20yo and who has shown legit development each year --- but his first period was weak! Lol

 

[Kennerback]

Youre equating Lafontaine to a weak/soft/onedimensional player, thats not what Cooley is, let’s stop.

lol, Lafontaine would throw himself in traffic, takes hits to make plays, that’s why his career was shortened. He was fearless.

Cooley ticks every box for a weak peripheral player. And I know he won’t get better, because I scouted him like crazy while he was in the ntsdp and he played peripheral and would pirouette against players between 5’9 and 5’11. Don’t believe me, chop up my posting history. I think the same thing of him back then as now.

 

[Mrb1p]

lol, Lafontaine would throw himself in traffic, takes hits to make plays, that’s why his career was shortened. He was fearless.

Cooley ticks every box for a weak peripheral player. And I know he won’t get better, because I scouted him like crazy while he was in the ntsdp and he played peripheral and would pirouette against players between 5’9 and 5’11. Don’t believe me, chop up my posting history. I think the same thing of him back then as now.

This just tells me you've never watched him.

 

[Mrb1p]

The same people who were adamant about keeping Halak over Price are prolly the same guys wanting to chuck Slaf to the curb bc hes (get this) : not perfect.

A 6'3" 220lb Power winger who's 20yo and who has shown legit development each year --- but his first period was weak! Lol

Price is probably the greatest goaltender of all-time, at the very least of his generation.

Slaf is a 2nd line winger.

Holy moly.

 

[Kennerback]

This just tells me you've never watched him.

Again your conspiracy theories. If someone judges Logan Cooley differently than you it’s because they never watched him... He’ll never score a single dirty goal in his whole career. He’s a one-trick pony that always scores the same pretty clean goal with no one close to him, on reception at the bottom of the left circle.

But he has no offensive creativity. Cooley skates beautifull peripheral circles in the offensive zone, turns and turns, skates and skates, and creates nothing. Celebrini gets the puck, makes one pass to the best positioned guy, uses deception to get in traffic in the middle of the crease, bang it’s in. He’ll fight like a crazed animal in the crease to score. Lafontaine would go straight to the dirty area. This shit is not in Cooley’s repertoire.

 

[themilosh]

Price is probably the greatest goaltender of all-time, at the very least of his generation.

Slaf is a 2nd line winger.

Holy moly.

And still... after Halak's miracle 2 x gm7 wins v Pitts and Wash in playoffs - people were freaking out when BG traded him instead of Price.. i was replying to your comp of Slaf v Cooley

My point is: cooley is another Keller.. Slaf bring way more tangibles to the top 6. It's not just about points.

 

[ahmedou]

Slaf*** you to all Anti-Slaf. If y'all support the Habs for real. You should also support Slaf.

 

[Erika]

Was he though ? He was good, as he can be, but he wasn't the Habs best player, and certainly not "by far".

Lame excuse as Wright went fourth.

I'm also not the one making the ridiculous claims that he's better than Celibrini.

What do you mean by lame excuse ?! On draft day, this board was pretty much divised between drafting Wright or Slafkovsky for their 1st overall pick. Wright being drafted 4th overall has nothing to do with this discussion. For the majority of Habs fans, it was between him and Slaf. Cooley was like the minority 3rd choice. No one wanted Nemec, or Jiricek and Cutter Gauthier was considered a huge reach for 1st overall.

As for making claims that he's better than Celebrini... No sane person would choose Slafkovsky over Celebrini right now. They weren't even in the same draft year, so I don't even know what you are talking about or which poster said that. I have no idea why you came up with this Celebrini comparison lol, it makes no sense.

 

[Mrb1p]

Again your conspiracy theories. If someone judges Logan Cooley differently than you it’s because they never watched him... He’ll never score a single dirty goal in his whole career. He’s a one-trick pony that always scores the same pretty clean goal with no one close to him, on reception at the bottom of the left circle.

But he has no offensive creativity. Cooley skates beautifull peripheral circles in the offensive zone , turns and turns, skates and skates, and creates nothing. Celebrini get the puck, makes one pass to the best positioned guy, uses deception to get in traffic in the middle of the crease, bang it’s in. He’ll fight like a crazed animal in the crease to get in the crease. Lafontaine would go straight to the dirty area. This shit is not in Cooley’s repertoire.

It's so funny because Cooley thrives in a position that Slaf cannot play, which is the bumper on the PP.

Really though, just stop. We can be happy with Slaf, and he's a good player, but it's so asinine to act like he's a better player and to somehow invent things for other players.

By the way theres like a dozen more of goals just like that. Also, a bunch of ENG, because Cooley is trusted in defensive situations.

 

[Mrb1p]

And still... after Halak's miracle 2 x gm7 wins v Pitts and Wash in playoffs - people were freaking out when BG traded him instead of Price.. i was replying to your comp of Slaf v Cooley

My point is: cooley is another Keller.. Slaf bring way more tangibles to the top 6. It's not just about points.

Keller is just a top 10 winger in the game don't mind me with that lmao. The takes I read on here.

Also Cooley plays a drastically different game than Keller.

What do you mean by lame excuse ?! On draft day, this board was pretty much divised between drafting Wright or Slafkovsky for their 1st overall pick. Wright being drafted 4th overall has nothing to do with this discussion. For the majority of Habs fans, it was between him and Slaf. Cooley was like the minority 3rd choice. No one wanted Nemec, or Jiricek and Cutter Gauthier was considered a huge reach for 1st overall.

As for making claims that he's better than Celebrini... No sane person would choose Slafkovsky over Celebrini right now. They weren't even in the same draft year, so I don't even know what you are talking about or which poster said that. I have no idea why you came up with this Celebrini comparison lol, it makes no sense.

It doesn't matter what this board believes or what this board thought was the best pick. This board isn't the NHL execs.

The message chain to which you replied started because I replied to someone that was saying Slaf was better than Celebrini, Cooley, Wright, Bedard and Fantilli.

 

[Erika]

Keller is just a top 10 winger in the game don't mind me with that lmao. The takes I read on here.

Also Cooley plays a drastically different game than Keller.

It doesn't matter what this board believes or what this board thought was the best pick. This board isn't the NHL execs.

The message chain to which you replied started because I replied to someone that was saying Slaf was better than Celebrini, Cooley, Wright, Bedard and Fantilli.

Okay... but in a redraft, Slafkovsky still goes top 3 right now.

In ten years, if Slaf still goes top 5 in a redraft (which I'm pretty confident he will be), then it'll still be a success for the Habs regardless on how he performs compared to the players drafted 1st overall in the other years.

 

[Kennerback]

It's so funny because Cooley thrives in a position that Slaf cannot play, which is the bumper on the PP.

Really though, just stop. We can be happy with Slaf, and he's a good player, but it's so asinine to act like he's a better player and to somehow invent things for other players.

By the way theres like a dozen more of goals just like that. Also, a bunch of ENG, because Cooley is trusted in defensive situations.

Oh, good G-d, the humanity. It’s what we call putting his body on the line.

If he’d get a quarter of the scrutiny Slafkovsky gets, he’d be torn apart. The only reason he’s been spared is because we don’t want to put another 20 year through the grinder. He’s a smaller-sized speedster with slightly above average creativity that will only ever play top center on a bad team. He has a fraction of the intelligence of real first-liners. Your Emperor has no clothes.

 

[Mrb1p]

Okay... but in a redraft, Slafkovsky still goes top 3 right now.

In ten years, if Slaf still goes top 5 in a redraft (which I'm pretty confident he will be), then it'll still be a success for the Habs regardless on how he performs compared to the players drafted 1st overall in the other years.

He goes 3rd at a minimum, yes. Its fine, Im way over the pick. Its not what Im debating.

Im saying its stupid to lie to ourselves and say "we prefer" Slaf because x and y flaws of other players, most of them fabricated.

 

[Mrb1p]

Oh, good G-d, the humanity. It’s what we call putting his body on the line.

If he’d get a quarter of the scrutiny Slafkovsky gets, he’d be torn apart. The only reason he’s been spared is because we don’t want to put another 20 year through the grinder. He’s a smaller-sized speedster with slightly above average creativity that will only ever play top center on a bad team. He has a fraction of the intelligence of real first-liners. Your Emperor has no clothes.

Yeah okay T.