Player Discussion Juraj Slafkovsky Discussion

[Apfle Strubble]

He's been fine this season. Obviously it would have been great if Celebrini would have been 2 years older and available in the 2022 draft, but alas... Cooley and Wright are good young players, but nothing really to be losing sleep about

Release especially and also skating could use some work. Slaf will have to be a top player in the league at something in his prime and I think he'll do it. At this point, I think two-way play seems like his best bet. He's already got a lot of experience playing against top lines at his age (over 100 games now, maybe 120), if he can be a physical elite two-way player good for 65 points a season, it's worth a 80+ points in my mind

His biggest weakness to me is that he appears to hard on himself based on his interviews. When he enters his self-flagellation mode, he shuts down until he gets out of his funk

 

[EtLeBut2]

I think this is projection more than anything and the result of fans requiring that anyone with size be "mean", or else they're failing.

Someone who goes through the motions does not end up top 3 in winning 1-on-1 battles in the playoffs. You don't need to crush people to use your size effectively. Look at the flubbed Suzuki chance in the 1st yesterday. Slaf pressures the defender behind the net, generates a turnover, uses his frame to protect the puck and dish it to Suzuki.

In game 1, two goals from Nick and Cole come from Slaf being hard to move in front of the net and occupying a defender.

If someone only shows emotions by crushing people, then your expectations will never be met. But that is a you problem because those are unreasonable expectations.

Yeah I don't really know if I'd describe him as a "finesse" player solely, he hits a ton and is willing to go in front of the net and battle.

He's not mean and his hits aren't bone crushers, that's not who he is and never will be, but he's definitely not a perimeter player either.

Despite my many issues with him and skepticism of his ceiling, while his awareness and movement is still poor, he's gotten better at doing what we need him to do. He's physical, just not violent if that makes sense.

 

[canucklover123]

I like the player, love his passion. I don't think he's going to be a line driver for us, and alas sligtly below of what you wish for in a 1st overall. He does look committed to getting better and I hope he proves me wrong; he's got some time on his side as well to work with.

Exciting times

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

He's been fine this season. Obviously it would have been great if Celebrini would have been 2 years older and available in the 2022 draft, but alas... Cooley and Wright are good young players, but nothing really to be losing sleep about

Release especially and also skating could use some work. Slaf will have to be a top player in the league at something in his prime and I think he'll do it. At this point, I think two-way play seems like his best bet. He's already got a lot of experience playing against top lines at his age (over 100 games now, maybe 120), if he can be a physical elite two-way player good for 65 points a season, it's worth a 80+ points in my mind

His biggest weakness to me is that he appears to hard on himself based on his interviews. When he enters his self-flagellation mode, he shuts down until he gets out of his funk

Pretty much. The only player that’s outclassing Slaf in a serious way atm is the one we drafted with our 4th pick that draft.

Yeah I would like to see better gains in his offseason training. Get more explosive.
I think his shot along with his hands will come with confidence. But yeah I’m sure there’s some refining of mechanics could happen as well.

I don’t know if the self flagellation is a weakness. It’s probably a strength but I guess it can be a bit of both.

 

[Mrb1p]

Pretty much. The only player that’s outclassing Slaf in a serious way atm is the one we drafted with our 4th pick that draft.

Yeah I would like to see better gains in his offseason training. Get more explosive.
I think his shot along with his hands will come with confidence. But yeah I’m sure there’s some refining of mechanics could happen as well.

I don’t know if the self flagellation is a weakness. It’s probably a strength but I guess it can be a bit of both.

Lets be honest, Cooley is outclassing him too.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

Lets be honest, Cooley is outclassing him too.

In a serious way? Nah

 

[Bombshell11]

Lets be honest, Cooley is outclassing him too.

He’s just a very slow learner.

Once he trully gets it he might be able to dominate. At least thats my wishful thoughts on him.

It will be interesting to see how hes going to develop this summer

 

[Mrb1p]

In a serious way? Nah

Outproduced, outmatched, slightly worse linemates, more goals, harder position... Lets be serious.

 

[Kennerback]

Lets be honest, Cooley is outclassing him too.

The type of player that Cooley is, a tier under elite skilled players, just doesn’t appeal to me the way it does to you. Players that mixes size and strength to produce are so much more valuable to me. And Slaf is very physical in comparison. Cooley is a lightweight.

I know Slaf doesn’t hammer throw, do the jumping twist check or use both his hands to facewash, or whatever else you consider being physical. And I know Cooley is apparently bigger than he looks and stick checks with mature dexterity. Sorry, pass.

 

[KevSkillz4]

Really good season for Slaf in general. He have been more physical this year, he showed flash of a monster.

This guy was always been the right pick. I would re-select him over Cooley and Wright.

I hope 65 points + next year from him.

 

[Mrb1p]

The type of player that Cooley is, a tier under elite skilled players, just doesn’t appeal to me the way it does to you. Players that mixes size and strength to produce are so much more valuable to me. And Slaf is very physical in comparison. Cooley is a lightweight.

I know Slaf doesn’t hammer throw, do the jumping twist check or use both his hands to facewash, or whatever else you consider being physical. And I know Cooley is apparently bigger than he looks and stick checks with mature dexterity. Sorry, pass.

Im not getting into this again, sorry.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

Outproduced, outmatched, slightly worse linemates, more goals, harder position... Let’s be serious.

I mean he’s just better. Last year Slaf out produced him and this year Cooley had 9 more points than him.

Wouldn’t be too surprised if Slaf takes the lead again next year point wise.

 

[Paddy17]

Yeah I don't really know if I'd describe him as a "finesse" player solely, he hits a ton and is willing to go in front of the net and battle.

He's not mean and his hits aren't bone crushers, that's not who he is and never will be, but he's definitely not a perimeter player either.

Despite my many issues with him and skepticism of his ceiling, while his awareness and movement is still poor, he's gotten better at doing what we need him to do. He's physical, just not violent if that makes sense.

Rantanen isn’t a bruiser either despite his size. Look at his play since leaving Colorado. Hasn't been stellar compared to Slaf. Our kid is not that far.

 

[Kennerback]

In a serious way? Nah

Seriously more classy in table manners? Perhaps more polite?

 

[Team_Spirit]

He needs to do finger pushups like Guy Lafleur his shot will be lethal and unstoppable

 

[Victoire HuGo]

I'd be happy with 57-62 pts pace. I want him to continue to play like he did in 2nd half and shoot 2 SOG on average. If the PP unit keeps Demidov as a fellow LHS it should help open up plays for Slaf to.shoot

 

[26Mats]

More than that I want Michkov to show us tonight how dumb we were not to pick him.

Reinbacher could be a hell of a piece.

Reinbacher vs. Michkov (vs. Leonard) is too early for me to call. Let's wait and see how each develops. Some players start out fast, then hit a ceiling. Some surge late. Some are injury prone. Etc...

 

[Habricot]

Assuming we get a bonafide 2nd line center I would move Slaf with Demidov on tbat 2nd line and re-Bootstrap Dach on the first line with Suzuki and Caufield. Its important to raise Dach's value IMO.

 

[Kennerback]

Reinbacher could be a hell of a piece.

Reinbacher vs. Michkov (vs. Leonard) is too early for me to call. Let's wait and see how each develops. Some players start out fast, then hit a ceiling. Some surge late. Some are injury prone. Etc...

We now have an almost existential need of a RD yesterday. I hope he can make the team out of camp.

 

[Kennerback]

Unflattering Slaf comparable #1.

Zubrus was a big forward, that was less physical, and had less of a mean streak than Slaf. He’d score around the net. A typical zubrus goal was stepping from behind the net to shoot a loose puck. It would rarely happen.

He’s like Armia, but skated slightly better but not by much. I have no recollection during his time in Montreal that anyone considered him anything more than what he was.

 

[417]

Outproduced, outmatched, slightly worse linemates, more goals, harder position... Lets be serious.

Yes, let's...

 

[417]

Unflattering Slaf comparable #1.

Zubrus was a big forward, that was less physical, and had less of a mean streak than Slaf. He’d score around the net. A typical zubrus goal was stepping from behind the net to shoot a loose puck. It would rarely happen.

He’s like Armia, but skated slightly better but not by much. I have no recollection during his time in Montreal that anyone considered him anything more than what he was.

Zubrus best NHL season came at the age of 27 when he had 57 points riding shotgun with Alex Ovechkin.

At the same age as Slaf...Zubrus had a 16pt season in 82 games.

They are nothing alike and Slafkovsky is already a much better player than Danius Zubrus ever was at any stage of his career.

 

[LaP]

Unflattering Slaf comparable #1.

Zubrus was a big forward, that was less physical, and had less of a mean streak than Slaf. He’d score around the net. A typical zubrus goal was stepping from behind the net to shoot a loose puck. It would rarely happen.

He’s like Armia, but skated slightly better but not by much. I have no recollection during his time in Montreal that anyone considered him anything more than what he was.

Zubrus was like a bear he was hibernating 60 games a year. Despite all his flaws Slaf is more wake up than him when he's off. Zubrus was a total ghost when he was in a bad sequence you would not even notice he was playing. You tend to notice Slaf in a bad sequence because he's not pplaying well but he's playing.

 

[Kennerback]

Unflattering Slaf comparable #2

Kotkianemi. First of all, they’ve always been seen as completely different players, one was to be a tall center that in a dream projection would play like Nicklas Backstrom. Instead, Slaf was to be some sort of a power forward.

People never considered KK particularly close to attain a dream projection. It was more of a wait and see approach. Slaf is much closer to become what we want him to be than KK ever was.

 

[le_sean]

Like Anthony Martineau said, they tried so many players on the wing of Nick and Cole - Armia, Anderson, Heineman, Newhook, Dach. It never worked. But as soon as they put Slaf on it becomes one of the best lines in the entire league. This isn’t a coincidence.