Juraj Slafkovsky - Unicorn

[waitin425]

you wouldn't be happy with him having the exact same career path as Miller?

I would lol Miller is sick.

You misunderstood. I think Slaf is going to hit that peak sooner than Miller who didn't really hit the show full time until his 21 year old and 22 year old season. In his 22/23 year old season he hit 43 points in 82 games. Slaf has an outside shot of hitting that, this year in his 19/20 year old season (Both have March birthdays).

Miller is a hell of a player, and I would be happy with Slaf having a similar path. I just think, Slaf can hit that peak sooner, and possibly produce at that peak longer than Miller has. Mind you, Miller is now 30 and arguably still at peak, which is rare as well.

 

[Jee]

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

His progression is parabolic. His shot was a concern but you can see he can unload (see 1-timer on pp) and has confidence now rather than trying to tee up Caufield.

Defensively he is improving rapidly. Once he gets man strength- watch out!

5pts in last 5 games.

So glad he was picked 1OA. He was the wright choice!

He's a promising young player, but I still don't think the Habs made the right pick. Slaf wasn't a bad pick, and they certainly dodged a bullet with Wright, but I think they missed an opportunity to draft a dynamic top line center in Cooley, which has been a need in Montreal since I can remember. Cooley + Caufield would have been a pretty dangerous duo, and would have allowed Suzuki to eventually slot in as a 2C, which is a better fit for him.

That doesn't detract from the fact that Slaf is playing very well, and he does in fact have an extremely rare and valuable combination of skills. But he also gets to play with arguably the best linemates of anyone from his draft, and is still only 5th in PPG among 2022 picks (with 2 of the guys ahead of him being defenseman).

Among guys already in the NHL, I would probably rank Slaf 4th or 5th in a redraft. Cooley, Nemec, and Mintyukov have all shown more promise IMO (and that's not a knock and Slaf). I think he would be battling it out with Jiricek for that 4th spot. I know that makes it sound like I am hating on the kid, but that draft is looking pretty strong, especially among D.

 

[GrandBison]

He's a promising young player, but I still don't think the Habs made the right pick. Slaf wasn't a bad pick, and they certainly dodged a bullet with Wright, but I think they missed an opportunity to draft a dynamic top line center in Cooley, which has been a need in Montreal since I can remember. Cooley + Caufield would have been a pretty dangerous duo, and would have allowed Suzuki to eventually slot in as a 2C, which is a better fit for him.

That doesn't detract from the fact that Slaf is playing very well, and he does in fact have an extremely rare and valuable combination of skills. But he also gets to play with arguably the best linemates of anyone from his draft, and is still only 5th in PPG among 2022 picks (with 2 of the guys ahead of him being defenseman).

View attachment 815898

Among guys already in the NHL, I would probably rank Slaf 4th or 5th in a redraft. Cooley, Nemec, and Mintyukov have all shown more promise IMO (and that's not a knock and Slaf). I think he would be battling it out with Jiricek for that 4th spot. I know that makes it sound like I am hating on the kid, but that draft is looking pretty strong, especially among D.

Are you stating that you would be a bad GM?

 

[Andy]

Jinx thread. it was better when no one talked about him. Let's go back to that.

 

[waitin425]

Jinx thread. it was better when no one talked about him. Let's go back to that.

 

[HockeyWooot]

Beast. LOL at those who wrote him off so soon.

 

[Whaddagoal]

Jesper Bratt is what I would label an absolute unicorn.

6th round pick unexpectedly ends up having 1st line talent (top 6 at worst) (with elite skating, edgework and good mostly everything else) and great training drive/work ethic.

Slafkovsky, is turning a good corner and getting better, but he isn't what I would call a unicorn at all being drafted 1oa. I'm not taking away his progress at all which is happening, just the usage of unicorn!

 

[Hockey Know it all]

Crazy to think he is not yet 20 years old.

He can become scary good. I think his overall physical package, paired with the skillset he is taunting, may make him more than a "weak 1OA". He will not be a McDavid/Hughes/MacKinnon level of 1OA, but possibly better than a Hischier/RNH/Power.

All drafts don't include a perennial all-star, but he is still a special player.

He will probably not be better than Hischier or RNH.

RNH had an 100pt season, while yes with Drai and Mcd. I still don’t think Slaf will even be a ppg player.

Hischier is an elite two way forward and still gets you 65+ points every year. Selke type player. Something Slaf won’t be.

 

[Prendan Brust]

Alexander Daigle was also a ‘good player’. Just saying.

Expectations weren't the same with Daigle. He was seen as a generational talent. Slafkovsky was more seen as a project, a diamond to be polished let's say. I think his development curve is pretty good right now, I'm happy with what we have.

 

[Jared Dunn]

Hope they resign him long-term this summer before he breaks out for 25-30ish next season. Last year he should have been in the AHL and I was worried that might set him back but his progression in-season this year has been undeniable

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

still not a great 1st overall pick but better than Laf and Yakupov

 

[Bouboumaster]

Where's that stupid f***ing thread about him being the worst 1st overall ever?

 

[Sting]

He's never going to live up to 1st overall hype because he isn't that player. I think he will be a good top 6 power forward if he continues his development. I think the issue is when you're drafting at #1 you are expecting a franchise C or a franchise D talent. Doesn't always happen.

 

[Andy]

He's never going to live up to 1st overall hype because he isn't that player. I think he will be a good top 6 power forward if he continues his development. I think the issue is when you're drafting at #1 you are expecting a franchise C or a franchise D talent. Doesn't always happen.

There might not be a "1st overall" type of player in the entire 2022 draft. So people need to shift from "true 1OA" to whether he will be the best player in the 2022 draft.

He definitely has the talent for him to be the best of the 2022 draft.

 

[Captain97]

He's never going to live up to 1st overall hype because he isn't that player. I think he will be a good top 6 power forward if he continues his development. I think the issue is when you're drafting at #1 you are expecting a franchise C or a franchise D talent. Doesn't always happen.

Sadly not every year has that known player to pick at 1. Slaf looks like he's going to be a very good top 6 forward that is responsible defensibly and isn't afraid to go to the dirty arrest at 6'3 230.

That's an important player on a playoff team.

 

[SensontheRush]

This guy looked good from the start. Production wasn't there, but you could tell pretty much immediately that he was going to be a force.

 

[tmlmatus]

Jesper Bratt is what I would label an absolute unicorn.

6th round pick unexpectedly ends up having 1st line talent (top 6 at worst) (with elite skating, edgework and good mostly everything else) and great training drive/work ethic.

Slafkovsky, is turning a good corner and getting better, but he isn't what I would call a unicorn at all being drafted 1oa. I'm not taking away his progress at all which is happening, just the usage of unicorn!

I think 'unicorn' is used to describe a type of player that doesn't come around very often.

Slaf is a huge body, that skates really well for his size, has good vision and is slowly showing off his shot too. (usually skill is not something you get with someone that size).

We'll see what his ceiling will be; but i'll be happy if he is a consistent 60-70 point type player; with a great 2 way game.

 

[Nico Cauzuki]

This guy looked good from the start. Production wasn't there, but you could tell pretty much immediately that he was going to be a force.

thats not true he looked terrible last year and bad at the beginning of this season we kept talking about sending him back down but lately hes been great

 

[Whaddagoal]

I think 'unicorn' is used to describe a type of player that doesn't come around very often.

Slaf is a huge body, that skates really well for his size, has good vision and is slowly showing off his shot too. (usually skill is not something you get with someone that size).

We'll see what his ceiling will be; but i'll be happy if he is a consistent 60-70 point type player; with a great 2 way game.

I guess we differ on those terms. I see what you are saying of course.

I'd view that type of player as a generational full package player. (Eric lindros comes to mind specifically to me)

In theory slafkovsky could have been there but since he has the physical toolbox, but he is more a project full package player than generational because it was pretty clear coming into the final draft that he was not going to dominate like a Crosby or mcdavid or Malkin / ovechkin impact right away.

 

[Miller Time]

He's a promising young player, but I still don't think the Habs made the right pick. Slaf wasn't a bad pick, and they certainly dodged a bullet with Wright, but I think they missed an opportunity to draft a dynamic top line center in Cooley, which has been a need in Montreal since I can remember. Cooley + Caufield would have been a pretty dangerous duo, and would have allowed Suzuki to eventually slot in as a 2C, which is a better fit for him.

That doesn't detract from the fact that Slaf is playing very well, and he does in fact have an extremely rare and valuable combination of skills. But he also gets to play with arguably the best linemates of anyone from his draft, and is still only 5th in PPG among 2022 picks (with 2 of the guys ahead of him being defenseman).

View attachment 815898

Among guys already in the NHL, I would probably rank Slaf 4th or 5th in a redraft. Cooley, Nemec, and Mintyukov have all shown more promise IMO (and that's not a knock and Slaf). I think he would be battling it out with Jiricek for that 4th spot. I know that makes it sound like I am hating on the kid, but that draft is looking pretty strong, especially among D.

Zero chance the Habs would not take Slaf 1OA if they had a redo today... If anything, he's shown their assessment & rationale for picking him 1st to be bang on.

He has the highest ceiling of that draft class, and has the attitude & work ethic to reach it (& the personality to handle playing in an intense hockey market).

 

[SoundAndFury]

still not a great 1st overall pick but better than Laf and Yakupov

Not a complete bust at age 19. Now that's a relief.

 

[jbeck5]

You misunderstood. I think Slaf is going to hit that peak sooner than Miller who didn't really hit the show full time until his 21 year old and 22 year old season. In his 22/23 year old season he hit 43 points in 82 games. Slaf has an outside shot of hitting that, this year in his 19/20 year old season (Both have March birthdays).

Miller is a hell of a player, and I would be happy with Slaf having a similar path. I just think, Slaf can hit that peak sooner, and possibly produce at that peak longer than Miller has. Mind you, Miller is now 30 and arguably still at peak, which is rare as well.

By "hit that peak sooner and possibly produce at that peak longer than Miller has"

Are we talking about Miller's peak or slaf?

Because Miller has 249 points over 211 games in the last 3 years which averages to 97 points over 82 games for those years.

Are you saying slaf will hit his own peak earlier and keep it for long...

Or are you saying slaf will be producing at roughly 100 point pace per season soon and will keep it up for longer?

That's super high hopes considering much better players have struggle to do so.

 

[waitin425]

By "hit that peak sooner and possibly produce at that peak longer than Miller has"

Are we talking about Miller's peak or slaf?

Because Miller has 249 points over 211 games in the last 3 years which averages to 97 points over 82 games for those years.

Are you saying slaf will hit his own peak earlier and keep it for long...

Or are you saying slaf will be producing at roughly 100 point pace per season soon and will keep it up for longer?

That's super high hopes considering much better players have struggle to do so.

yes

 

[Andy]

Let's be honest. 90% of non-habs fans expressing an opinion on Slaf have not watched him on a consistent basis outside of highlights. Let's not bullshit each other here.

Trust habs fans when they say that he's been developing very well and showing high end skill. He's been growing into his skill level every game. There has been no regression in his game. Everything he's had to learn, he has been learning and has shown 0 slow down.

Also, just because there isn't a McDavid/Hughes/Crosby level talent in the 2022 draft doesn't mean Slaf isnt 1OA worthy. If he's the best player in the 2022 draft, then he was a 1OA pick.