Player Discussion Juraj Slafkovsky Discussion

[Sookind]

Proud of him,need to be himself and it's awsome for us. Glad we draft him #1 instead of Bo Callahan. Hughes said in a interview, he drafted not the best player right now but the one who will become the best player in the draft. He's better than mckinnon/rantanen/tkachuk in the same age. He look like a real gamer,that guy will be a monster in 2-3 years

 

[River Meadow]

LOL

This is ah, not giving him "props" tho bud..

The fact that you think it is , is the very problem everyone here keeps trying to make you aware of

The real question is just *why exactly* do you dislike him so much in the first place?
-simply wanted somebody else? That's fair if the case, but own it
-just plain don't like the way he plays?, which is fair, but what is not fair is treating him like a finished product at this time
-orrrrr you just don't like that EVERYone else for the most part likes him and wants him to do well? And you just want to be different? (Which you're totally allowed to be btw, just own it is what we're saying)

I don't dislike him.

I didn't want anyone else, I wanted them to make the right pick with whoever they chose. I did NOT want Wright though after his showing in the OHL playoffs, that's for sure.

Based on what you said, the closest option is "just plain don't like the way he plays" (at times). When he doesn't move his feet and plays on the perimeter, he is extremely ineffective, and at the same time it's maddening to see because of how dominant he could be.

With that said, he's young, learning, and also very much still maturing into his body. He has to keep moving his feet for him to be most effective. I don't think he's too close to fully being mature in his body, looks like that will take some time, but once he does, and realizes how dominant he can be, he should be a beast for us.

FWIW I still disagree with Montreal deciding not to play him in the AHL at all and have him develop 100% in the NHL. I understand their reasoning and I've heard their side of it. I just hope they're right, because not every team would have done that.

 

[Non Player Canadiens]

I’d argue that Caufield and Nick don’t take the next step in their production without Slaf digging pucks, screening the goalie, and his defensive zone transition pass.

His size has created so mud space for Nick and Cole and it’s 100% under appreciated

lots of plays, and goals, where Slaf was first on the puck creating havoc but "third" assist and thus, not on the scoresheet

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

No wonder Habs fans aren't respected on the main boards. This is almost cult level.

You getting called out has nothing to do with the main boards. Cult level? No idea what that even means.

You’re just being called out. Don’t want to be called out? Stop making trollish posts.

 

[Non Player Canadiens]

who are you all replying to??? this thread is very confusing for me

 

[River Meadow]

You getting called out has nothing to do with the main boards. Cult level? No idea what that even means.

You’re just being called out. Don’t want to be called out? Stop making trollish posts.

I'm getting called out for what?

Giving my opinion that Slaf was playing meh when he was playing meh, and now he's played well and I've given my opinion that he's playing well?

So you called me out for what exactly?

The cult comment is in reference to some posters having a tendency of propping up our prospects as if they're the 2nd coming of Christ before they've done anything.

 

[Skip Bayless]

 

[Mrb1p]

Slaf finally f***ing drove the net instead of circling it. Beautiful f***ing play. Thats what we need.

Hes still a bit soft on the forecheck but if he can be an offensive force like this, sure.

The Wilson thing while being 45 feet away is a bit cringe though, troll but back it up.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I'm getting called out for what?

I don’t know man. Weird that all these posters are calling you out for nothing…

 

[Reimannsum1988]

I've made no secret of my distaste for Slafkovsky from the draft choice itself through to just about every development decision that's been made over the course of his tenure with the Habs, and while it's impossible to determine how he would have grown under other circumstances, I will freely admit that the last three games have been some of the best that he's played in his career; forechecking wisely, positioning to win pucks and move them, and use of his body, though not in the "bruising" and mean power forward way of Tkachuk, but one that might actually be in character, and thus sustainable for Slafkovsky himself, have all been excellent.

 

[Pazucha]

I think his last game of the season against hurricanes and his game 1 and 2 against capitals were as good, if not better than his game 3.

It just shows how important it is for a fans to see a player score a goal and get on a scoresheet.

 

[Lshap]

He has 14 shots on goals this playoffs, have you been watching? He would lead both teams in SOG if Caufield didn't have 11 SOG last game. Yes I think you are wrong. And also, how do you think Caufield was able to have 11 SOG? Slaf.

Did you not read my post? The entire point is that Slafkovsky has stepped up his game from where it was in the regular season. Your numbers reinforce exactly what I said. Friday night was his best game. What am I 'wrong' about?

 

[BLONG7]

I've made no secret of my distaste for Slafkovsky from the draft choice itself through to just about every development decision that's been made over the course of his tenure with the Habs, and while it's impossible to determine how he would have grown under other circumstances, I will freely admit that the last three games have been some of the best that he's played in his career; forechecking wisely, positioning to win pucks and move them, and use of his body, though not in the "bruising" and mean power forward way of Tkachuk, but one that might actually be in character, and thus sustainable for Slafkovsky himself, have all been excellent.

The kid is just 21
He is a real work in progress for sure.......he still has no idea on how to use his body and size to his full advantage.
They said, when drafting, he may not be the best player in the draft at this moment............but we are taking him for what he can morph into being....

I do really think he will be a star for us.

 

[BLONG7]

Did you not read my post? The entire point is that Slafkovsky has stepped up his game from where it was in the regular season. Your numbers reinforce exactly what I said. Friday night was his best game.

Slaf does things away from the play at times, that helps us score, and rarely gets credit.
The kid is ours, and I am glad....
Ramping it up for big games, love to see it. Friday night, was definitely a huge game for him.....if he gets his confidence going, we will have some fun watching.

 

[Lshap]

Slaf does things away from the play at times, that helps us score, and rarely gets credit.
The kid is ours, and I am glad....
Ramping it up for big games, love to see it. Friday night, was definitely a huge game for him.....if he gets his confidence going, we will have some fun watching.

Yup - add a little intensity to his confidence and you have a serious threat! I remember that game a few months ago against the Rangers, where they were getting away with a lot of shit. Slaf was noticeably pissed and became more aggressive and stronger on the puck. There it was – the power forward we all hoped for! His intensity came and went like a flickering light bulb, but at least we knew he had that gear. And now we're watching it emerge during the playoffs.

We don't want the poor kid to have to turn into the Hulk every game – how would that even work with the uniforms? – but once he learns how to play angry without actually being angry, he'll have arrived.

 

[CzarDemidov]

Did you not read my post? The entire point is that Slafkovsky has stepped up his game from where it was in the regular season. Your numbers reinforce exactly what I said. Friday night was his best game. What am I 'wrong' about?

It's like during Revolutionary Terror (you pick which one), you can never be enough of a supporter.

If you say he had a good game, the vanguard will spit and demand you apologize for suggesting he was even capable of having a bad game. If you say you like where his game has arrived, they will punch the walls and insist that haters who didn't respect his game before have no right to appreciate him today. So on and so forth.

It makes it difficult to root for his success when his "fans" behave like this. Three years running now.

 

[Andy]

It makes it difficult to root for his success when his "fans" behave like this. Three years running now.

Fans behave this way because there is a tiny contingent of detractors who don’t like to be wrong.

These detractors developed a hard opinion about Slaf at the draft table BEFORE they same him play any actual live games. Since then, they’ve been trying to shoehorn a narrative that doesn’t fit on an almost daily basis and it’s completely nauseating.

Instead of having an honest discussion about the areas of his game he needs to improve upon, we stil have to hear nonsense like low IQ, and Nick and Cole moocher when it’s plain false.

How can we have an honest discussion about his development when people still throw around plainly false shit or move the goalposts when Slaf proves his doubters wrong.

Someone said he “needed to be better” after he had 9 shots, 4 hits, in two games, while playing a pivotal role in 2 of the team’s 3 goals. And this ignoring the clinching game just prior when Slaf was the best player and a key part of that win, as he was involved in three of the team’s goals that game.

The doubters are insatiable because they aren’t looking for Slaf to actually improve, they are just looking to be right.

 

[CzarDemidov]

Fans behave this way because there is a tiny contingent of detractors who don’t like to be wrong.

Applies "both ways". When Slaf struggled, certain fans insisted he wasn't struggling. When he called his own game out, certain fans insisted he was wrong to self-criticise. It was never enough for certain fans -- they had to be right and insist the rest of people had lying eyes.

These detractors developed a hard opinion about Slaf at the draft table BEFORE they same him play any actual live games. Since then, they’ve been trying to shoehorn a narrative that doesn’t fit on an almost daily basis and it’s completely nauseating.

Nope, not true.

Instead of having an honest discussion about the areas of his game he needs to improve upon, we stil have to hear nonsense like low IQ, and Nick and Cole moocher when it’s plain false.

Nope, not true.

How can we have an honest discussion about his development when people still throw around plainly false shit or move the goalposts when Slaf proves his doubters wrong.

"Plainly false shit" like how some fans insisted the Habs did right by Slaf to keep him out of AHL for his own development's sake due to the head-hunting AHL ogres (who don't chase Farrell or Reinbacher or any other prospect). Or how the line "the best place to learn to play in the NHL is in the NHL" became vogue. Indeed, lots of false shit.

Someone said he “needed to be better” after he had 9 shots, 4 hits, in two games, while playing a pivotal role in 2 of the team’s 3 goals. And this ignoring the clinching game just prior when Slaf was the best player and a key part of that win, as he was involved in three of the team’s goals that game.

Players can always play better. Slaf himself said he could play better, but that's not enough for certain fans -- they have to be right and insist that Slaf cannot possibly play better (and therefore any word of discussion that is less than 100% praiseworthy is illegitimate). You saw it right there with LShap's brief encounter with that Kojo character. You can continue to act like you don't see it, not my problem.

The doubters are insatiable because they aren’t looking for Slaf to actually improve, they are just looking to be right.

Nope, not remotely true.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

I don't understand why the detractors are in here saying that he's played well these playoffs.

He's played pretty much as well as his good stretches during the regular season. He's not playing on some sort of other level right now

It just proves to me that they are reactionary, giving him his flowers only because it's the playoffs and it's exciting times lol. He's played exactly like this in games during the regular season let's not act surprised.

The best part is there IS another level to Slaf we haven't seen yet and it will come with age experience and strength.

If it's taken you the playoffs to realise what Slaf does for that Suzuki and Caufield line that's not on the scoreboard you haven't been paying attention or have been biased

 

[OldCraig71]

Just watched a video on YT about Slaf's performance in game 3. He did so many good things in the game, stuff that wouldn't be as noticeable at game speed. He was effective on both sides of the puck and can hopefully build on his performance. He is the key to us winning the series in my opinion.

 

[Naslundforever]

Much focus on posters and not so much the player again I see in so many posts.

Are hot takes forbidden now? That would be boring. Bold predictions mean you must eat crow? Boring.. Contrarian opinions begging for well illustrated replies? Called hating, boring. Hockey forums are supposed to be fun.

 

[Naslundforever]

I don't understand why the detractors are in here saying that he's played well these playoffs.

He's played pretty much as well as his good stretches during the regular season. He's not playing on some sort of other level right now

It just proves to me that they are reactionary, giving him his flowers only because it's the playoffs and it's exciting times lol. He's played exactly like this in games during the regular season let's not act surprised.

The best part is there IS another level to Slaf we haven't seen yet and it will come with age experience and strength.

If it's taken you the playoffs to realise what Slaf does for that Suzuki and Caufield line that's not on the scoreboard you haven't been paying attention or have been biased

bucketing people in to groups of “lovers vs detractors” is silly and not usefull. Just say what you think of the player, or build arguments about opinions you don’t agree with.

I thought we’d collectively grow out of that social media phenomenon a decade ago. zzzzzzz

 

[CHwest]

Just watched a video on YT about Slaf's performance in game 3. He did so many good things in the game, stuff that wouldn't be as noticeable at game speed. He was effective on both sides of the puck and can hopefully build on his performance. He is the key to us winning the series in my opinion.

I am hoping being in the playoffs becomes a lightning rod for him. An ah, that's what it takes moment.

 

[luiginb]

As someone who doesn't support Montreal and only watched Slaf in important games (NHL and international), what's obvious is he's a big game player. I never got why his regular season stats didn't match what I saw from him in big game.

 

[Lshap]

bucketing people in to groups of “lovers vs detractors” is silly and not usefull. Just say what you think of the player, or build arguments about opinions you don’t agree with.

I thought we’d collectively grow out of that social media phenomenon a decade ago. zzzzzzz

You Unique-Individual types are all alike.