Player Discussion Juraj Slafkovsky Discussion

[Miller Time]

Wait until Slaf is 26 and there's a shiny new highly touted prospect in the wings.

My my how the tables will turn.

So odd to be excited at the potential failure of a 21 year old athlete that plays for a team one supposedly is a fan of....

 

[417]

He spent 37% of his even strength ice time with Caufield. His 2nd most common ES linemate? RHP at 23%.


Up until January 21st:
.8 ppg and .55 at EV.


Caufield got injured on the 21st of january. Nick Suzuki has a .81 PPG and .58 at EV after that

How many of the 6 goals Ylonen scored in 2022, assisted by Nick Suzuki?

 

[River Meadow]

So odd to be excited at the potential failure of a 21 year old athlete that plays for a team one supposedly is a fan of....

That's crazy!

@Mrb1p how could you do this?

 

[Miller Time]

That's crazy!

@Mrb1p how could you do this?

I don't know about crazy... Just odd.

But hey, whatever floats your boat down the river!

Habs tent is a big one, the more the merrier,

 

[River Meadow]

I don't know about crazy... Just odd.

But hey, whatever floats your boat down the river!

Habs tent is a big one, the more the merrier,

Just as an FYI, be careful regarding assumptions (E.g., believing something thinks X).

Always best to verify than to assume.

 

[EveryDay]

I know the 1st line is great but I would line to see some experiment in the next training camp.

Hoping KH add a 2nd line center, it's vital.

Caufield-Suzuki-Dach
Demidov-Bennett-Slafkovski

 

[Yep]

Hi guys,

I find Slaf not be a confident scorer or play driver as of now, which makes him more dependent on linemates for racking up points.

However, he has shown good flashes, has been dominant at times even against the NHL elite. He create spaces for linemates and he seems cocky and fearless. Talentand skillwise he doesn't have clear weaknesses or glaring holes in his game that prevent me from projecting him as a top liner for the rest of his career.

I'm not worried at all.

PS : What a beautiful sunny day.

 

[salbutera]

If you were to back to 1997 when the bruins drafted Thornton and samsonov #1 and #7ish respectively.... both guys who made the team out of camp.... the same guys slamming slafkovksky right now are the ones that would have said samsonov is the better player than thornton at the end of year three in Boston.

Exactly!

Back-to-back 50 point seasons in D+2 and D+3 for a player who just turned 21 is something to be excited about, not shit on. There are so many examples of players that aren't generational and taken at the top end of the draft to take 3-5 years before breaking out.

Look at Byfield (2OA), he's d+5 producing at Slaf's pace.

So the idea that Slaf will plateau at 21 is unlikely. Also, the fact that Slaf produced 50+ and flirted with 20g in a year he was "ill prepared for" and "started off badly" indicates there is a lot more room to grow.

You just don't 50 points by fluke or by playing with Nick and Cole. If that was the case, Newhook and Dach would have been able to keep up the same pace as Slaf did when they were paired with them at various points in the season. But they didn't.

I'd also argue that it is not coincidence that Caufield went from a 50 point to 70 point winger, and Nick from a 60 point to 80 point centre with Slaf joining their wing. He does so much work for that line to generate offense.

It’s very important to look at the demands of the market Slaf is actually producing in - not all 50Pts production pace is the same.

We’ve seen it time & again - high visibility markets are not for every player let alone the “highest visibility market”

 

[Sorinth]

Hi guys,

I find Slaf not be a confident scorer or play driver as of now, which makes him more dependent on linemates for racking up points.

However, he has shown good flashes, has been dominant at times even against the NHL elite. He create spaces for linemates and he seems cocky and fearless. Talentand skillwise he doesn't have clear weaknesses or glaring holes in his game that prevent me from projecting him as a top liner for the rest of his career.

I'm not worried at all.

PS : What a beautiful sunny day.

I'm not sure it's confidence, but there's no doubt he doesn't assert himself as he maybe should. Part of that is likely he's still growing into his body/man-strength, part of it is probably just deferring to the team's leaders, part of it is likely that he's still trying to work on/develop specific things that Nicholas/MSL want him to be focused/working on.

Is he more dependent on his linemates for racking up points then is typical for other NHL players? I kind of doubt that, one reason he isn't racking up points is because often his contributions to a goal aren't registered as assists. Creating space, causing turn overs through his physical play, battling in front of the net, keeping the cycle alive, etc... These are all things we ask Slaf to be do that often contribute to a goal without him getting a point on the play. He would score more goals if he spent his time in the O-zone slipping out of coverage into open space so that Suzuki could find him for a one timer, but I'm not sure we actually want him doing that or playing that way.

Now there's obviously still things he can work on/improve that will boost his point totals while still playing the style of game we want from him. And I do expect that to happen over the next few seasons.

 

[canucklover123]

Hi guys,

I find Slaf not be a confident scorer or play driver as of now, which makes him more dependent on linemates for racking up points.

However, he has shown good flashes, has been dominant at times even against the NHL elite. He create spaces for linemates and he seems cocky and fearless. Talentand skillwise he doesn't have clear weaknesses or glaring holes in his game that prevent me from projecting him as a top liner for the rest of his career.

I'm not worried at all.

PS : What a beautiful sunny day.

I have not looked up any underlying numbers other than just watching but I just don't think at the moment (still very early), he is a line driver, rather a complimentary piece in the top 6. I would be very curious to see how he does away from Suzuki/Caufield. To devils' advocate though, he has to play the toughest matchups night in and out so that also might aid him, if he moves away from the first.

Again only 21 YO i think, so a lot of room for growth and expected growth. so room to be exited for

 

[Mrb1p]

I have not looked up any underlying numbers other than just watching but I just don't think at the moment (still very early), he is a line driver, rather a complimentary piece in the top 6. I would be very curious to see how he does away from Suzuki/Caufield. To devils' advocate though, he has to play the toughest matchups night in and out so that also might aid him, if he moves away from the first.

Again only 21 YO i think, so a lot of room for growth and expected growth. so room to be exited for

I would keep him with Suzuki. Hes starting to become good at the little things, especially defensively. Suzuki needs help on his line and he hasnt had it defensively. If Slaf can be a nuisance in all three zones, thats massive for Nick.

I would slide Demidov in the top RW spot, or better yet, Marner.

 

[Erika]

Is Slafkovsky underrated now? Being compared with Kotkaniemi and Mete and Poehling and Galchenyuk and Kostitsyn and Perezhogin and Higgins.

He could make a major jump next year. Are you sure you want to bet against him?

It's just one or two clueless ones...
It's like they have an agenda against him or something. Either they don't watch the same games normal people does or they just wanted another player on draft day like Wright or Cooley and want to make life miserable for those who still believe in Juraj.

 

[Mrb1p]

It's just one or two clueless ones...
It's like they have an agenda against him or something. Either they don't watch the same games normal people does or they just wanted another player on draft day like Wright or Cooley and want to make life miserable for those who still believe in Juraj.

Read my post above yours, does it sound like I have an agenda?

 

[River Meadow]

Thats how it goes around these parts

All hail Slafkovsky

See,

That's why I flipped, CuH.

Slafkovsky for President!


EDIT: You got exposed, man.....

 

[Jaaanosik]

He spent 37% of his even strength ice time with Caufield. His 2nd most common ES linemate? RHP at 23%.


Up until January 21st:
.8 ppg and .55 at EV.


Caufield got injured on the 21st of january. Nick Suzuki has a .81 PPG and .58 at EV after that

Here is something for your consideration.
Suzuki is PPG player in his first 26 games with 27pts in the past season.
Suzuki is 100pts player in his last 26 games with 37pts since the break.

How it happened?

 

[A55P2]

I know the 1st line is great but I would line to see some experiment in the next training camp.

Hoping KH add a 2nd line center, it's vital.

Caufield-Suzuki-Dach
Demidov-Bennett-Slafkovski

If there's someone that can take Slaf place on the first line it would be Dach. Either Slaf or him. But clearly we need someone with reach and some physicality on this line.

Sort of funny when you think about it because the place where Dach fits the most is either the first line, because he'll be carried, or basically nowhere.

 

[Mrb1p]

If there's someone that can take Slaf place on the first line it would be Dach. Either Slaf or him. But clearly we need someone with reach and some physicality on this line.

Sort of funny when you think about it because the place where Dach fits the most is either the first line, because he'll be carried, or basically nowhere.

He'd be fine on the RW of any line. The Dach hate has been exagerrated at this point.

 

[LaP]

I have not looked up any underlying numbers other than just watching but I just don't think at the moment (still very early), he is a line driver, rather a complimentary piece in the top 6. I would be very curious to see how he does away from Suzuki/Caufield. To devils' advocate though, he has to play the toughest matchups night in and out so that also might aid him, if he moves away from the first.

Again only 21 YO i think, so a lot of room for growth and expected growth. so room to be exited for

Let's call a cat a cat. Not many wingers in this league would do great with Newhook or Dach as a center. You probably have enough fingers to count them. So until we get a 2nd line center not sure it's worth seeing Slaf without Suzuki. I've not seen many wingers capable of driving a 1st line by themselves in my life. Bure, Ovy, Kaprisov, Jagr, ... it's very hard to drive a line from along the board if we are being honest. I personally have always considered wingers as complimentary.

 

[Sorinth]

Let's call a cat a cat. Not many wingers in this league would do great with Newhook or Dach as a center. You probably have enough fingers to count them. So until we get a 2nd line center not sure it's worth seeing Slaf without Suzuki. I've not seen many wingers capable of driving a 1st line by themselves in my life. Bure, Ovy, Kaprisov, Jagr, ... it's very hard to drive a line from along the board if we are being honest. I personally have always considered wingers as complimentary.

Pacioretty was the driving force behind his line. Opinions might have changed but at the time Gallagher/Tatar were considered the drivers of the line with Danault, Radulov drove the line when he was with us as well.

In fact I'd argue the Pacioretty-Danault-Radulov line is a decent template. Just having a center where the play doesn't die on their stick even if they don't bring much offence themselves which was pretty much what Danault was back then is enough. And it being the 2nd line instead of the 1st would also really benefit the line.

 

[LaP]

Pacioretty was the driving force behind his line. Opinions might have changed but at the time Gallagher/Tatar were considered the drivers of the line with Danault, Radulov drove the line when he was with us as well.

In fact I'd argue the Pacioretty-Danault-Radulov line is a decent template. Just having a center where the play doesn't die on their stick even if they don't bring much offence themselves which was pretty much what Danault was back then is enough. And it being the 2nd line instead of the 1st would also really benefit the line.

Tatar has been passenger all his career. He's probably one of the most overrated player in CH history. He's been exposed as a fraud in playoffs all his craeer. Patch yes during the regular season he was driving his line and his playoffs stats are not nearly as bad as people say.

Danault is a far better center than Newhook and Dach not sure any lines with Danault would be a comparable. I don't dislike Dach and Newhook i think they can be pieces on a winning team. Dach is not a bad top 6 winger with size. Newhook is a decent middle six player with speed. But when it comes to centering a line yikes ...

 

[Sorinth]

Tatar has been passenger all his career. He's probably one of the most overrated player in CH history. He's been exposed as a fraud in playoffs all his craeer. Patch yes during the regular season he was driving his line and his playoffs stats are not nearly as bad as people say.

Danault is a far better center than Newhook and Dach not sure any lines with Danault would be a comparable. I don't dislike Dach and Newhook i think they can be pieces on a winning team. Dach is not a bad top 6 winger with size. Newhook is a decent middle six player with speed. But when it comes to centering a line yikes ...

Regardless of your feelings of Tatar, at the time most people didn't consider Danault to be the one driving that line. Anyways there's clearly more then 10 wingers who could bring Pacioretty level of play, and we certainly expect Demidov to be one of them if not immediatly then pretty soon.

As for the 40 points Danault achieved between Pacioretty/Radulov, I was thinking Evans moreso Dach/Newhook. Both guys weren't big point producers themselves but brought speed and defensive responsibility to the line and could make simple plays and allow the wingers to be the scorers.

 

[Apfle Strubble]

For a big guy like Slaf, conditioning plays a huge role, especially as he's pretty heavy for his height compared to other NHLers. An 82-game season is gruelling for big guys. To this day, I'd say Kotkaniemi's abysmal conditioning and stamina continue to be his worst weakness. I think Slafkovsky will continue to experiment a bit in the next offseasons before finding his optimal weight

I don't see him exploding in points as the offence pie will be spread a bit more with Demidov (and hopefully a healthy productive Dach). Over 60 points would be great, but even then I'm not too sure it happens. Even better play in the neutral zone and beginning to make his mark as an elite 2-way winger, that I can see though. With Caufield in the lineup and as a teammate, Slafkovsky's role will be more oriented with risk mitigation if the Habs want to compete

 

[Naslundforever]

B

If there's someone that can take Slaf place on the first line it would be Dach. Either Slaf or him. But clearly we need someone with reach and some physicality on this line.

Sort of funny when you think about it because the place where Dach fits the most is either the first line, because he'll be carried, or basically nowhere.

Lol. If Dach even makes the team he’s had an insane good summer.

Habs are no longer the joke of the league where rehabbing players get key roles. Convos should be how players immediately improve the team moving forward, not the other way around.

Slaf on the other hand will only get better. He will never be less efficient unless hurt.. I never saw him (and still don’t) as imaginative or play-driving; he will however never be smaller, weaker, slower, have less dexterity or have less experience. He should keep incrementally improving through his prime. Belongs right where he is until someone takes his spot, no charity work. Only unknown is his ceiling.

 

[Soaker]

So odd to be excited at the potential failure of a 21 year old athlete that plays for a team one supposedly is a fan of....

Odd? the planet is crawling with freaks, weirdos, oddballs and psychos, none being a hockey fan would be unrealistic, so why not here too then? I've even read around here that you'd think some are auditioning for the reboot of ''one flew over the cuckoos nest'' lol

 

[KevSkillz4]

Demidov and Slafkovsky are different type of players, but they have 2 important qualities to become special players, hard working and talented (Like Hutson). Slaf is a very talented playmaker, he have great hands aswell. Not like Demidov, for sure, but he can put some magics with his stick.

Slafkovsky can explode at any moment and when he is going to explode, he is going to be such dominant player. He have 194 hits this year, that's a solid progression at that department.

I'm very high on him.