Player Discussion Juraj Slafkovsky Discussion

[GHJimmy]

Dude..
Thank you.

The making fun of Slaf for actually caring about all this is absolutely disgusting.
It's pathetic really.

I actually liked Sasha too for a while there..

It's crazy how pathetic some people are even when the team BARELY clinched to begin with, against all odds in the playoffs too...

 

[Captain97]

If you're dressing Laine, you pretty much have to put him on PP1.. he's a detriment 5 on 5 and will cost Demidov minutes.

I don't see any other way right now.

I agree but I now think you bench Laine after last game. He's only effective on the PP and we get 2 a game bot worth it imo.

Honestly let's put Pezetta in with Arber and go full psycho. If murder is legal let's play the game

 

[Miller Time]

Tbf to Slaf...

It's technically not Slaf's fault he was thrust into the NHL as a kid instead of developing in the AHL/Europe or even juniors.

It's also not his fault our GM decided to give him a huge contract based on a very small sample size of play.

Not is it his fault that some fans don't seem to understand how cap management works and why teams are smart to make calculated bets on young players...

Heck, a year ago some pundits had Suzuki's contract as one of the worst in the league lol

None of our long term contract extensions were for the immediate performance/production level.

So far, all of them have proven to be good bets, with Suzuki & Caufield's already quite clearly massive wins for the team.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

The Slaf expectations are insane.

He had a great game yesterday, but made two weird plays and reads and it’s all people can focus on.

It like people expect a perfect game and any mid read or one play fumble completely overrules any other positive play.

The last 3 games have been the most important of his career as well as the team’s in the last few years.

He’s been a contributor and arguably one of our best players in these 3 games and people are acting like he’s been one of the worst.

It’s not a matter of defending my adopted boy, it’s just having a pair of functioning eyes.

But no slag off the youngest least inexperienced player on a line that he was very realistically the best player on. At the very least the most implicated.

 

[CzarDemidov]

Gets paid too much, cries when not Crosby, this kid really deserves all the hate he gets.

I mentioned his frustration in context of his performance, I couldn’t care less he cried and didn’t make fun of him. Come on, man.

I know you guys hate seeing a Habs player criticized by other Habs fans but absent success you should get used to it.

 

[CzarDemidov]

This is a pretty oversimplified view of history, empirically incorrect view of Slafkovsky's season and frankly a misunderstanding of Slafkovsky as a player.

He was not just brought into the NHL early because he was a 1st OA pick. He was brought into the NHL early because as a rebuilding team management though they could offer better development for him here than he would get in Europe. And considering he was playing in Finland for a team that doesn't really develop guys, that isn't an outrageous view.

And the point is moving him up to play with Suzuki and Caufield was the right call. He was a better fit than anyone else. And he did play well this season there, just not as consistently as some would like (and others demand).

But a problem is that he isn't going to be "Slafsquatch" consistently because that's never been his game. And expecting it is unfair and unrealistic. What the hope is that he engages more consistently, because when he does he's a special player. And it is not unusual for young players to take time in doing that. Time that some fans in this market are frequently unwilling to give.

The patience in the rebuild has been nice, but you'd think Montreal was rebuilding longer than Buffalo, Detroit, Ottawa, etc. the way some fans are complaining about guys playing in the playoffs a year or two ahead of schedule. To say nothing about immediately wanting the team to spend like crazy in Free Agency and Trades.

And its literally just Montreal fans, some media and fans who hate the Canadiens. Everyone outside of the toxic bubble is talking about how nice it is Montreal was able to make the playoffs and its good experience and a sign the rebuild is progressing well.

A lot of criticism of Slafkovsky and the team in general seems to be born of not seriously paying attention to what happens in the rest of the league and what other teams do or look like. There's nothing unique about a player like Slafkovsky struggling to find the right level of engagement all the time and then figuring it out later, so the pearl clutching about it seems excessive. He'll figure it out or he wont, but there isn't really a reason to be concerned about it right now.

This is a pretty oversimplified view of history, empirically incorrect view of Slafkovsky's season and frankly a misunderstanding of Slafkovsky as a player.

He was not just brought into the NHL early because he was a 1st OA pick. He was brought into the NHL early because as a rebuilding team management though they could offer better development for him here than he would get in Europe. And considering he was playing in Finland for a team that doesn't really develop guys, that isn't an outrageous view.

And the point is moving him up to play with Suzuki and Caufield was the right call. He was a better fit than anyone else. And he did play well this season there, just not as consistently as some would like (and others demand).

But a problem is that he isn't going to be "Slafsquatch" consistently because that's never been his game. And expecting it is unfair and unrealistic. What the hope is that he engages more consistently, because when he does he's a special player. And it is not unusual for young players to take time in doing that. Time that some fans in this market are frequently unwilling to give.

The patience in the rebuild has been nice, but you'd think Montreal was rebuilding longer than Buffalo, Detroit, Ottawa, etc. the way some fans are complaining about guys playing in the playoffs a year or two ahead of schedule. To say nothing about immediately wanting the team to spend like crazy in Free Agency and Trades.

And its literally just Montreal fans, some media and fans who hate the Canadiens. Everyone outside of the toxic bubble is talking about how nice it is Montreal was able to make the playoffs and its good experience and a sign the rebuild is progressing well.

A lot of criticism of Slafkovsky and the team in general seems to be born of not seriously paying attention to what happens in the rest of the league and what other teams do or look like. There's nothing unique about a player like Slafkovsky struggling to find the right level of engagement all the time and then figuring it out later, so the pearl clutching about it seems excessive. He'll figure it out or he wont, but there isn't really a reason to be concerned about it right now.

Won’t go tit for tat. You’re largely right (we’re looking at the same thing with different perspectives) but I don’t think you’re properly acknowledging the core of the issue: his lack of consistent engagement.

Until that is solved, and there is NO guarantee it will be, he will be criticized for his low impact games.

 

[OldCraig71]

Slaf cares. He's not the player he is expected to be yet, and it's getting to him.

Not gonna lie, as a father, this hit me right in the heart. I didn't watch any of the post-game stuff(zzzzz), but I feel bad for Slaf. That was a combo of anxiety and disappointment and having to face the media in that state was a failure on the part of the coaching staff and media relations.

 

[OldCraig71]

Hopefully he translates all that emotion into drive in the offseason.

For all the skilll & talent that guys like Crosby & McD have, it's their relentless work ethic that put them where they are.

Not to be "that guy" but if I wrote what you wrote here you would call me an insensitive asshole in one form of wording or another.

 

[Mrb1p]

Yeah the Cooley that like 5 people wanted is not THAT much better.

Slaf would have to really stagnate for me to hate this pick. Even small very fixable and highly likely improvements would be huge.

What I’m betting on that might be different from others is that he has enough runway to become elite

I didn't want Cooley, I had Wright at 1st, I don't want Wright today, i want Cooley. I'm just a fan and arm chair scout and I expect the team to make the right choice.

The team chose Slaf, rightfully so, because he looked like an animal in his draft year. He used to drive the middle of the ice with speed and he would hold onto the puck for long periods and make plays happen. I'm not sure if its because he was rushed or because the step from Liiga to NHL is just too big for his lack of speed, IQ and hands or (likely) a bit of both, but now he's regressed to a halfboard riverboat playmaker where most plays he either sends it to caufield or he blindly tosses it at the net for a (usual) turnover. They drafted him for that, and to be a physical force, to be a trainwreck, to be a guy that brings intensity and size. Can you say he's been that ?

Cooley is a better player, theres no doubt about it. I think Cooley is right up there with Suzuki as a franchise asset. He's going to be a 1C for a decade. He plays the right way, isn't bad defensively and isn't even small at 6'.

I hate the pick, hated it the moment they decided to bring him in on day 1 of camp. I said on draft day that Slaf could be the best player in the draft if they forgot about him in europe for 2-3 years, well the opposite happened and how much money would you put on him being the best ? I'm not that financially responsible, I gamble on Pokémon and Hockey cards all the time, but I wouldn't put a dime on Slaf. Cooley I would (Even if I think Lane is the guy).

There was no clear 1st overall that year. You can pretend there was one if you want but hindsight is 20/20. Also Cooley has yet to prove he can be a first line center of a winning team. Jury is sitll out. I have no doubt Cooley will be the best offensive player between the two. But he has a lot to learn before being a top 10 center in this league which is what you would want a first overall to be. Center is a lot harder to play than winger.

Who cares about the "No clear 1st overall". Their job is to find the best player.

They drafted him for a reason and he's not that. They drafted him to be a powerforward, well he's more Armia than he is Wilson. Thats coming straight from Hughes words, "if we wanted a skill guy we shouldve picked someone else". Well guess what.

The Slaf expectations are insane.

He had a great game yesterday, but made two weird plays and reads and it’s all people can focus on.

It like people expect a perfect game and any mid read or one play fumble completely overrules any other positive play.

The Slaf expectations comes from Hughes himself.

He’s been flat out better and out produced all those players mentioned in the first paragraph.

None of them could hang on a competitive and high performing 1st line*.

Edit: at the same age at the very least

Has he though ?
79 5v5 points in 200 games for Slaf, while of course playing at least 50% of those with Suzuki and Cole. (Avg 13.5 minutes)
51 5v5 in 171 for Kotkaniemi, while of course, not playing with Suzuki and Cole, lol. (Avg 11.8 mintues)
75 5v5 in 195 for Galchy while mostly playing with EGG/Prust. (Third line minutes) (Average 12.3 minutes)

Galchenyuk outproduced him, Kotkaniemi produced a bit less. Both had lesser situations.

To be fair, I don't expect Slaf to be monumental busts like these two, he has what they didn't/don't have, a head on his shoulder. Or at least he seems to have one.

You’re embarrassed for these forums because I don’t think our players should be crying in postgame interviews? Weird

Meh its kinda lame to take this angle man. You can say he looks like a fool because he's rattled, thats kinda true, but crying isnt the problem.

 

[Tyson]

Not gonna lie, as a father, this hit me right in the heart. I didn't watch any of the post-game stuff(zzzzz), but I feel bad for Slaf. That was a combo of anxiety and disappointment and having to face the media in that state was a failure on the part of the coaching staff and media relations.

Yep he is just a kid with alot of weight on his shoulders. He legitimately cares.

 

[Jaaanosik]

I’ve ignored your hysteria so long and I’ll continue to do so. Don’t tag me, there’s no need to do so.

This post has nothing to do with Slaf. That proves the baiting point.

 

[River Meadow]

Not to be "that guy" but if I wrote what you wrote here you would call me an insensitive asshole in one form of wording or another.

Also not to be that guy either but if I wrote that (Hopefully he translates all that emotion into drive in the offseason.) in relation to him putting that into his play on the ice I'd get called a "hater".

So I guess where we draw the line is questioning or criticizing any on ice stuff, but anything related to the offseason is fine.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

Meh its kinda lame to take this angle man. You can say he looks like a fool because he's rattled, thats kinda true, but crying isnt the problem.

I think this is pretty clearly what I’m saying lol

 

[Captain Mountain]

Won’t go tit for tat. You’re largely right (we’re looking at the same thing with different perspectives) but I don’t think you’re properly acknowledging the core of the issue: his lack of consistent engagement.

Until that is solved, and there is NO guarantee it will be, he will be criticized for his low impact games.

My main point is that lack of consistent engagement is pretty common issue in young players with size in the NHL and that the criticism of it seems excessive.

There are no guarantees but death. There's no guarantee that Montembault will be as good as he has been. This season could be the best of Hutson's career. Suzuki may develop injury problems. Demidov could bust. Slaf is young. He has improved. Hopefully he will keep improving. But belabouring the lack of consistency in engagement is tiring because everyone sees it and its the same debate that has been going on for years with nothing substantive added to it and a lot of people being entrenched in views

Criticism is fine, it frankly fuels there boards, but 75% of player debates turn into fans either complaining about other fans for being blind to concerns about a player or fans complaining about other fans' criticism being more whining than constructive.

What I'm trying to say is that everyone needs to calm the **** down and enjoy the ride a little more.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

I didn't want Cooley, I had Wright at 1st, I don't want Wright today, i want Cooley. I'm just a fan and arm chair scout and I expect the team to make the right choice.

The team chose Slaf, rightfully so, because he looked like an animal in his draft year. He used to drive the middle of the ice with speed and he would hold onto the puck for long periods and make plays happen. I'm not sure if its because he was rushed or because the step from Liiga to NHL is just too big for his lack of speed, IQ and hands or (likely) a bit of both, but now he's regressed to a halfboard riverboat playmaker where most plays he either sends it to caufield or he blindly tosses it at the net for a (usual) turnover. They drafted him for that, and to be a physical force, to be a trainwreck, to be a guy that brings intensity and size. Can you say he's been that ?

Cooley is a better player, theres no doubt about it. I think Cooley is right up there with Suzuki as a franchise asset. He's going to be a 1C for a decade. He plays the right way, isn't bad defensively and isn't even small at 6'.

I hate the pick, hated it the moment they decided to bring him in on day 1 of camp. I said on draft day that Slaf could be the best player in the draft if they forgot about him in europe for 2-3 years, well the opposite happened and how much money would you put on him being the best ? I'm not that financially responsible, I gamble on Pokémon and Hockey cards all the time, but I wouldn't put a dime on Slaf. Cooley I would (Even if I think Lane is the guy).


Who cares about the "No clear 1st overall". Their job is to find the best player.

They drafted him for a reason and he's not that. They drafted him to be a powerforward, well he's more Armia than he is Wilson. Thats coming straight from Hughes words, "if we wanted a skill guy we shouldve picked someone else". Well guess what.


The Slaf expectations comes from Hughes himself.






Has he though ?
79 5v5 points in 200 games for Slaf, while of course playing at least 50% of those with Suzuki and Cole. (Avg 13.5 minutes)
51 5v5 in 171 for Kotkaniemi, while of course, not playing with Suzuki and Cole, lol. (Avg 11.8 mintues)
75 5v5 in 195 for Galchy while mostly playing with EGG/Prust. (Third line minutes) (Average 12.3 minutes)

Galchenyuk outproduced him, Kotkaniemi produced a bit less. Both had lesser situations.

To be fair, I don't expect Slaf to be monumental busts like these two, he has what they didn't/don't have, a head on his shoulder. Or at least he seems to have one.

Meh its kinda lame to take this angle man. You can say he looks like a fool because he's rattled, thats kinda true, but crying isnt the problem.

Fair point but that was an exploitation line that didn’t have the matchups. Plus you still have the defensive side that Galch and KK could not do. Let alone board play and off the puck that Galch certainly couldn’t do. KK sometimes.

 

[Egresch]

Have you noticed that Hutson, Caufield, Suzuki, Guhle, Koivu, Subban, etc didn't need those excuse ? Theres just levels to players, and Slaf isn't in the second group, he's disappointing, thats all there is to it.

BS again, as usually. Hutson's bad coverage cost us two goals in game 1. He said he needs to get better.
Suzuki was totally erased in game 2, zero offensive impact. He said he needs to get better.
Why dont you just do yourself a favor and ignore this thread.

 

[OldCraig71]

Slaf was very emotional there, and I don't like seeing that on camera, and shame on the media for putting up that clip. It shows you how clicks are more important than anything to these assholes and I despise it. That was a failure on the part of the Habs to allow that to make it to the airwaves.

Hopefully, the Habs have someone on staff to talk to him and help him through that because it isn't healthy to be that devastated after a loss. There is plenty of time left to turn things around, and he needs to be convinced that he is one of the guys who can do it.

I don't know if he has a family member in Montreal, but it would be good if he had someone to help him out and build him back up.

On the hockey side of things, he reminds me of John Tavares, a guy who always could have been more and knew it. Every interview he gave, I always heard someone who made me believe he was on the right path, but for some reason, rarely delivered in games that mattered. It's odd, really. Is it self-doubt that holds certain players back, or is it a deflection aimed at the media in hopes that the spotlight won't be on them?

Everyone is different and he is still very young but for the love of God Slaf, please go out there and crush someone, keep your feet moving, abandon the poke check(that god damn poke check move) and enjoy yourself. Rome wasn't built in one day. That's it, I have nothing left.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

Not gonna lie, as a father, this hit me right in the heart. I didn't watch any of the post-game stuff(zzzzz), but I feel bad for Slaf. That was a combo of anxiety and disappointment and having to face the media in that state was a failure on the part of the coaching staff and media relations.

And it was only game 2! lol. He’s a beauty!

 

[OldCraig71]

Also not to be that guy either but if I wrote that (Hopefully he translates all that emotion into drive in the offseason.) in relation to him putting that into his play on the ice I'd get called a "hater".

So I guess where we draw the line is questioning or criticizing any on ice stuff, but anything related to the offseason is fine.

It's weird here at times. I was called a hater of Kirby Dach, and to this day, there are long-time posters who won't interact with me because of my takes on his game. He ended up injured but up till that point, he was in the running for the green jacket, even when the team had turned it's fortunes around.

I have been accused of being a Xhekaj lover/worshipper, when, in reality, I loved the physical element he brought to the team and how it allowed everyone to grow taller and bigger on the ice.

People defend David Savard because he kills penalties lol. That's not the only thing he kills, he is killing the careers of Struble and Xhekaj while he rides off into the sunset.

Message boards are strange. Even when the team is doing well, there are some who are more fixated on grinding axes than forgetting old grudges and enjoying the moment.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

Slaf was very emotional there, and I don't like seeing that on camera, and shame on the media for putting up that clip. It shows you how clicks are more important than anything to these assholes and I despise it. That was a failure on the part of the Habs to allow that to make it to the airwaves.

Hopefully, the Habs have someone on staff to talk to him and help him through that because it isn't healthy to be that devastated after a loss. There is plenty of time left to turn things around, and he needs to be convinced that he is one of the guys who can do it.

I don't know if he has a family member in Montreal, but it would be good if he had someone to help him out and build him back up.

On the hockey side of things, he reminds me of John Tavares, a guy who always could have been more and knew it. Every interview he gave, I always heard someone who made me believe he was on the right path, but for some reason, rarely delivered in games that mattered. It's odd, really. Is it self-doubt that holds certain players back, or is it a deflection aimed at the media in hopes that the spotlight won't be on them?

Everyone is different and he is still very young but for the love of God Slaf, please go out there and crush someone, keep your feet moving, abandon the poke check(that god damn poke check move) and enjoy yourself. Rome wasn't built in one day. That's it, I have nothing left.

It was tough to see. I don’t know if it was that much a blunder on our pr team but you have a point.

Slaf can be better for sure but again these last 3 games were huge and he’s been right in the thick of things.

 

[OldCraig71]

And it was only game 2! lol. He’s a beauty!

He cares and probably took too much on himself but looking at the glass half full, I hope that was a turning point in his career. I hope it was a shedding of peau de bébé and he comes out in game 3 and lets all hell break loose.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

He cares and probably took too much on himself but looking at the glass half full, I hope that was a turning point in his career. I hope it was a shedding of peau de bébé and he comes out in game 3 and lets all hell break loose.

Yep. If he can bring his dominant self…awesome.

I don’t see crying as a bad thing(NOT saying you do at all). I had a bunch of therapy and I’m WAY better now after having it. And I cry a LOT more lol.

 

[Tyson]

The kid cares and competes hard. Is he perfect ? No but he has heart and character. His line needs help

 

[DemidovSZN]

Slaf was very emotional there, and I don't like seeing that on camera, and shame on the media for putting up that clip. It shows you how clicks are more important than anything to these assholes and I despise it. That was a failure on the part of the Habs to allow that to make it to the airwaves.

Hopefully, the Habs have someone on staff to talk to him and help him through that because it isn't healthy to be that devastated after a loss. There is plenty of time left to turn things around, and he needs to be convinced that he is one of the guys who can do it.

I don't know if he has a family member in Montreal, but it would be good if he had someone to help him out and build him back up.

On the hockey side of things, he reminds me of John Tavares, a guy who always could have been more and knew it. Every interview he gave, I always heard someone who made me believe he was on the right path, but for some reason, rarely delivered in games that mattered. It's odd, really. Is it self-doubt that holds certain players back, or is it a deflection aimed at the media in hopes that the spotlight won't be on them?

Everyone is different and he is still very young but for the love of God Slaf, please go out there and crush someone, keep your feet moving, abandon the poke check(that god damn poke check move) and enjoy yourself. Rome wasn't built in one day. That's it, I have nothing left.

It’s totally normal reaction, we’re just not used to see it.

 

[FerrisRox]

I’m much bigger than both and have never cried in my life but nice try

Is this a real claim?

You've never cried in your life?