Xspyrit
DJ Dorion
Jesse Puljujärvi had great potential too. He reminds me of JP back then. Will he develop the same? That is the question IMO
Juraj Slafkovsky potential.
- Thread starter KevSkillz4
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Voodoo Child
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To be fair Puljujarvi looks and plays like he spells spells Edmonton with an ampersand in the middle.
At worst I think he’s a Nik Antropov type, a big body who takes time to put it together and then becomes a solid 50-60 guy.
But if developed properly - that means AHL this year unless he’s clearly too good and semi-sheltered for 1-2 years, he could be a Rantanen clone.
I voted 80-90.
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He could go many different ways. If things go right he has decently high potential. Im just curious if he realizes hes too big and its affecting his skating/endurance. Wouldnt be surprised if in the future he drops from that reported 238lbs or whatever they say he is.
For example Ovechkin was drafted at 200lbs and was the electric Ovi we all know and loved. Took a bit into his career to bulk up to what he is now
For example Ovechkin was drafted at 200lbs and was the electric Ovi we all know and loved. Took a bit into his career to bulk up to what he is now
SlafCaufield
formely KotkaCaufield
yes,, hes a top pick like all of those players you listed
With his size, skill and vision i could see him being better than Mariner
Mariner is small and somehow has success,, now imagine Slaf with his size
KevinRedkey
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Not a bad comparable but I don't see him matching Nash's goal scoring ability overall.
Alexander the Gr8
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Ovi was drafted at 200 lbs but came into the league around 220-225. It was around the age of 25-26 that he went up to 240.
The Devilish Buffoon
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You are off your rocker lol.
All those players are exponentially more skilled than Slaf.
DearDiary
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I remember a study years back that estimated Ovechkin to have the fastest 1st step in the NHL, which is crazy considering his weight.
I always wondered about his technique since he was quick going in a straight line, but was never that quick at stopping and starting.
Alexander the Gr8
Registered User
I remember that one too. I’m not sure how reliable that study was, but Ovi in his prime was up there in terms of straight line speed.
He doesn’t have the prettiest skating technique, but he generate a lot of power with his choppy strides.
A friend of mine who played pro told me that the key to being a fast skater was to do a lot of crossovers and to lift your feet often. Maybe that’s the key to skate fast as a 240 lbs guy.
ReimanSum1908
Registered User
He's going to be the second coming of Joel Armia during his best seasons, a grinding winger with great puck protection abilities who can put up 10-15 goals and 30 points. He'll probably hit a level slightly above the Mark 1.0 version, reaching something like 40 points on a good year.
Ceiling? A 30/30 player.
Ceiling? A 30/30 player.
Voight
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JohnLennon
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ITT: Everyone falling for a Habs fan clearly trolling them
As for Slafkovsky, he showed through multiple tournaments versus grown men that he can dominate physically and can put up high-end offense. He's got VERY soft hands, which is rare for someone of his size. He is strong on the boards and finds open areas on the ice to exploit to give himself a scoring opportunity. He's also a pretty smart passer at times.
He needs to work on his skating, which is quite slow. He needs to continue to improve his playmaking, as he can make nice passes but doesn't always make the play, often holding the puck too long. He needs to continue improving his defensive play. All of these are normal for a kid his age. The good news is that he seems very open to learning, and you see him constantly communicating on the ice during the preseason, asking questions on the bench, etc. All good signs. In fact, I think his over-eagerness to learn and improve is a top-3 reason the Habs took him first overall.
If all goes well, and there are a lot of good reasons to believe it will, what with his unique combination of gifts, he has the potential to hit 80-90 points, absolutely. People answering in this thread "he probably hits X points" already forgot what the question was. If you asked me "most likely point pace" then I'd go between 50-70 points. Asking for potential, after what he showed last year and what we know about him, I will stick with 80-90 points.
As for Slafkovsky, he showed through multiple tournaments versus grown men that he can dominate physically and can put up high-end offense. He's got VERY soft hands, which is rare for someone of his size. He is strong on the boards and finds open areas on the ice to exploit to give himself a scoring opportunity. He's also a pretty smart passer at times.
He needs to work on his skating, which is quite slow. He needs to continue to improve his playmaking, as he can make nice passes but doesn't always make the play, often holding the puck too long. He needs to continue improving his defensive play. All of these are normal for a kid his age. The good news is that he seems very open to learning, and you see him constantly communicating on the ice during the preseason, asking questions on the bench, etc. All good signs. In fact, I think his over-eagerness to learn and improve is a top-3 reason the Habs took him first overall.
If all goes well, and there are a lot of good reasons to believe it will, what with his unique combination of gifts, he has the potential to hit 80-90 points, absolutely. People answering in this thread "he probably hits X points" already forgot what the question was. If you asked me "most likely point pace" then I'd go between 50-70 points. Asking for potential, after what he showed last year and what we know about him, I will stick with 80-90 points.
KirkAlbuquerque
#WeNeverGetAGoodCoach
2003 1st pick was traded by Florida to Pitt i thought
40 + 30 +30 = 100 checkmate doubters
SeanMoneyHands
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leafsfan5
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I'm actually surprised those are the only 3, wow
Dion TheFluff
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Roasted Nuts
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About 200 points give or take. Right behind future HOFer Vitali Kratsov. These two are going to dominate the league like Lemieux and Gretzky.
There's this horrible assumption that he's somehow going to become so much faster and more explosive and agile, as a 6'4", 240 player. It's pointless fantasy. That does not happen. People have fantasized about it happening every year with various big slow forwards. What if Matthew Strome could learn to skate like Connor McDavid? What if Michael Rassmussen could learn to skate like Connor McDavid?
It's funny because this assist that people are going crazy about is actually almost the perfect example. As the commentator points out, Josh Anderson does the lion's share of the work by driving the puck down the middle with blazing speed through the defense and hands it off to Slafkovsky who slowly takes a couple steps and shoots the puck. What Anderson did is essentially what people fantasize that Slafkovsky will someday do. Be able to drive play with his speed and power. But go watch Anderson when he was back on the London Knights. He already had blazing speed back then. It wasn't something he picked up. The same thing is true of comparisons to Mikko Rantanen and Blake Wheeler. The only reason they get compared is because they're all tall. At the same age, Rantanen and Wheeler were incomparably better skaters.
Time and time and time and time again over the past two decades, some huge hulking slow forward has been overrated because people assumed his skating would get better and maybe it got a bit better but not better enough to be a driver of play at the NHL level. And that's why over time, the scouting community fell completely out of love with slow "power forwards." Because it doesn't happen. I really can't think of any exceptions. I don't think there is anything about Slafkovsky that warrants him being an exception.
Yes, he does some things nicely. He has good vision, he has good hands, he's cerebral enough to sometimes make a guy miss, good shot. But he's not a high upside player, unless you just assume that all of his flaws will disappear and become strengths, in which case you could make the same assumption for any other player and that player would also be elite. He's a turret. There is some zone where him having the puck on his stick is dangerous because he can make a nifty move and shoot a good shot or find a nice pass. But he's slow to get to the spot on the forecheck, he's slow to get to the spot on the backcheck, and he doesn't get separation from defensemen. As a result, in the minority of circumstances he makes a defenseman miss with some move, in the majority of circumstances he gets separated from the puck.
When I think "potential" or "high upside" players I think like Brad Lambert. Watch him on the Pelicans literally walking defensemen, it reminds you of Mikko Rantanen walking defensemen at the same age. Juraj Slafkovsky doesn't. The discussion around Slafkovsky is going to be how do we enable this guy. How do we get him linemates who are fast and strong and can retrieve the puck and give it to him in specific contexts in the offensive zone where he can use his skills as a turret to dish out shots and assists. That's always going to cap his potential. For me, a high potential player can drive his own line. Because that player is flying everywhere on the ice, one moment dispossessing a forward in the defensive zone, the next moment walking a defenseman in the offensive zone, seemingly always on top of the puck and the puck is always finding a way onto his stick. I don't think Slafkovsky is ever going to be that player. I think he's supporting cast for a better player.
It's funny because this assist that people are going crazy about is actually almost the perfect example. As the commentator points out, Josh Anderson does the lion's share of the work by driving the puck down the middle with blazing speed through the defense and hands it off to Slafkovsky who slowly takes a couple steps and shoots the puck. What Anderson did is essentially what people fantasize that Slafkovsky will someday do. Be able to drive play with his speed and power. But go watch Anderson when he was back on the London Knights. He already had blazing speed back then. It wasn't something he picked up. The same thing is true of comparisons to Mikko Rantanen and Blake Wheeler. The only reason they get compared is because they're all tall. At the same age, Rantanen and Wheeler were incomparably better skaters.
Time and time and time and time again over the past two decades, some huge hulking slow forward has been overrated because people assumed his skating would get better and maybe it got a bit better but not better enough to be a driver of play at the NHL level. And that's why over time, the scouting community fell completely out of love with slow "power forwards." Because it doesn't happen. I really can't think of any exceptions. I don't think there is anything about Slafkovsky that warrants him being an exception.
Yes, he does some things nicely. He has good vision, he has good hands, he's cerebral enough to sometimes make a guy miss, good shot. But he's not a high upside player, unless you just assume that all of his flaws will disappear and become strengths, in which case you could make the same assumption for any other player and that player would also be elite. He's a turret. There is some zone where him having the puck on his stick is dangerous because he can make a nifty move and shoot a good shot or find a nice pass. But he's slow to get to the spot on the forecheck, he's slow to get to the spot on the backcheck, and he doesn't get separation from defensemen. As a result, in the minority of circumstances he makes a defenseman miss with some move, in the majority of circumstances he gets separated from the puck.
When I think "potential" or "high upside" players I think like Brad Lambert. Watch him on the Pelicans literally walking defensemen, it reminds you of Mikko Rantanen walking defensemen at the same age. Juraj Slafkovsky doesn't. The discussion around Slafkovsky is going to be how do we enable this guy. How do we get him linemates who are fast and strong and can retrieve the puck and give it to him in specific contexts in the offensive zone where he can use his skills as a turret to dish out shots and assists. That's always going to cap his potential. For me, a high potential player can drive his own line. Because that player is flying everywhere on the ice, one moment dispossessing a forward in the defensive zone, the next moment walking a defenseman in the offensive zone, seemingly always on top of the puck and the puck is always finding a way onto his stick. I don't think Slafkovsky is ever going to be that player. I think he's supporting cast for a better player.
Kudo Shinichi
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Who are you talking about when you say "slow forward"? Because that can't be Slafkovsky.
FrankSidebottom
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MuckOG
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I never understood the hype around this kid and thought the Habs blew an opportunity by not picking Wright or Cooley. I see him as a top 6 player with a ceiling of ~ 65-70 pts/season.
I also don't think he is ready for NHL action and his rookie season will track similar to Lafreniere.
I also don't think he is ready for NHL action and his rookie season will track similar to Lafreniere.
