Juraj Slafkovsky - Unicorn

Status
Not open for further replies.

sennysensen

Registered User
Feb 7, 2018
976
1,204
Unicorn?

At best he'll become a poor-man's Brady Tkachuk. With less shots, less goals, less hitting, less strength, less domination down low and on the boards, less (or no) intimidation, less leadership, and zero fighting. Brady does everything a best-case Slaf does better (except skating, but power forwards in the NHL don't need to be great skaters).

I do think he will become a very good player, 25+ goal scorer. And a decent pick considering the top of that draft was weak. Only Nemec looks like he'll become a star (IMO) out of the top 10.
 

MeHateHe

Registered User
Dec 24, 2006
2,735
3,129
A continuous rate of growth over time is actually inherent in the definition of "exponentially".
1707324039820.png
 

Sasha Orlov

Lord of the Manor
Sponsor
Jun 22, 2018
8,953
21,213
Unicorn?

At best he'll become a poor-man's Brady Tkachuk. With less shots, less goals, less hitting, less (or no) intimidation, less leadership, and zero fighting. Brady does everything a best-case Slaf does better.

I do think he will become a very good player, 25+ goal scorer. And a decent pick considering the top of that draft was weak. Only Nemec looks like he'll become a star (IMO) out of the top 10.
Yo can I get the powerball winning numbers while you’re at it?
 

Kudo Shinichi

Registered User
Apr 20, 2012
21,251
28,255
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).

1707319087008.png

Slafkovsky wasn't playing with Caufield or Suzuki in his first dozen games.

Since November 14th, which is around the time he got Caufield on his line, he's been the top scorer among 2022 picks by a decent amount.

1707324272795.png


Slaf also just keeps on getting better. He now has 7 goals and 15 pts in his last 21 games.
 

waitin425

Registered User
Jan 10, 2009
8,228
12,418
Canada
Unicorn?

At best he'll become a poor-man's Brady Tkachuk. With less shots, less goals, less hitting, less strength, less domination down low and on the boards, less (or no) intimidation, less leadership, and zero fighting. Brady does everything a best-case Slaf does better (except skating, but power forwards in the NHL don't need to be great skaters).

I do think he will become a very good player, 25+ goal scorer. And a decent pick considering the top of that draft was weak. Only Nemec looks like he'll become a star (IMO) out of the top 10.
ayy-lmao.gif
 

HaNotsri

Regstred User
Dec 29, 2013
8,684
6,579
Closer to a common pig than a unicorn. A lot of people like bacon though.
 

Plastic Joseph

Unregistered User
Mar 21, 2014
2,015
483
Why exactly is he a unicorn?


How many guys are the heaviest player at their position (he was for all forwards) at 18 years old?

The idea is that if a player were to be able to have high end skill at that size they could be a force to be reckoned with, Nichuskin who I have also seen the terms thrown around for, seeing as he doesn't really have a comparable in the league and was the best player in the finals for a cup winning team.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MoneyManny

klefbombs shoulder

Registered User
Jul 21, 2023
542
978
Forwards of his size with his skating and talent are a rarity in the NHL.

Last year, he was the heaviest forward in the nhl (alongside Ovechkin).
He dropped to 230lbs this season, but he's still among the heaviest forwards.

View attachment 815941
NHL has him listed as the 25th heaviest NHLer. So there are 25+ unicorns in the NHL?

Louis Crevier may also be a unicorn then.
 

Moose Head

Registered User
Mar 12, 2002
5,177
2,495
Toronto
Visit site
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.

With the benefit of hindsight the only guy I’d take over him is Nemec. Mintyukov is better right now, but he wasn’t on the radar for #1 so that’s not realistic. Cooley was better in October and has been stagnant since then. Since then, Slaf has been as good or the better player month to month and has continued to improve. Wouldn’t be surprised if he overtakes Cooley in points by the end of the season given his rate of improvement versus Cooley.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: viceroy

klefbombs shoulder

Registered User
Jul 21, 2023
542
978
Unicorn?

At best he'll become a poor-man's Brady Tkachuk. With less shots, less goals, less hitting, less strength, less domination down low and on the boards, less (or no) intimidation, less leadership, and zero fighting. Brady does everything a best-case Slaf does better (except skating, but power forwards in the NHL don't need to be great skaters).

I do think he will become a very good player, 25+ goal scorer. And a decent pick considering the top of that draft was weak. Only Nemec looks like he'll become a star (IMO) out of the top 10.
Its interesting to bring up B. Tkachuk. I think he is much more of a unicorn between the two. Came into the league and immediately was a 200+ shot, 20+ goal threat power forward. Will conceivably get 400+ shots in a season multiple times in his career. One of the more unique players in the game. Other than size how is Slaf unique? I don't see it.
 
  • Haha
  • Like
Reactions: gab6511 and Gravity

klefbombs shoulder

Registered User
Jul 21, 2023
542
978
I mentioned 3 aspects which make him a unicorn and you only looked at one of them?
Size was the only one of the three that I can agree is rare for him. Hes fast, but not outrageously so. NHL edge has him as a 81 percentile top speed bursts player, 69 percentile for speed bursts over 20 mph and 69 percentile for skating distance. As for skill, again several players enter the league each year that have more skill that Slaf.
 

thebestnic

Registered User
Jun 29, 2022
385
632
Unicorn?

At best he'll become a poor-man's Brady Tkachuk. With less shots, less goals, less hitting, less strength, less domination down low and on the boards, less (or no) intimidation, less leadership, and zero fighting. Brady does everything a best-case Slaf does better (except skating, but power forwards in the NHL don't need to be great skaters).

I do think he will become a very good player, 25+ goal scorer. And a decent pick considering the top of that draft was weak. Only Nemec looks like he'll become a star (IMO) out of the top 10.
He's more skilled than Brady
 
  • Haha
Reactions: swiftwin

WhiskeyYerTheDevils

yer leadin me astray
Sponsor
Apr 27, 2005
35,405
34,192
With the benefit of hindsight the only guy I’d take over him is Nemec. Mintyukov is better right now, but he wasn’t on the radar for #1 so that’s not realistic. Cooley was better in October and has been stagnant since then. Since then, Slaf has been the better player and continued to improve.
Before last night, Cooley and Slaf had identical stat lines in the new year. And now Slaf has played an extra game, they still have the same number of primary points. All this with Slaf getting 3 mins more per game of ice time with much better linemates, while playing the easier position.

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).
Okay, I still think it would be a mistake to pass on Cooley, who has the higher ceiling IMO. Slaf is great though and I am glad that Habs fans are happy with his development.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Canadienna

Miller Time

Registered User
Sep 16, 2004
24,458
17,405
Before last night, Cooley and Slaf had identical stat lines in the new year. And now Slaf has played an extra game, they still have the same number of primary points. All this with Slaf getting 3 mins more per game of ice time with much better linemates, while playing the easier position.

You might want to do better research... Perhaps start by looking into the first ~30 games of the season...

Okay, I still think it would be a mistake to pass on Cooley, who has the higher ceiling IMO. Slaf is great though and I am glad that Habs fans are happy with his development.
Nope. Cooley's ceiling falls short of Slaf's and he's a longer shot to reach it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: viceroy

waitin425

Registered User
Jan 10, 2009
8,228
12,418
Canada
Before last night, Cooley and Slaf had identical stat lines in the new year. And now Slaf has played an extra game, they still have the same number of primary points. All this with Slaf getting 3 mins more per game of ice time with much better linemates, while playing the easier position.
So here you are bringing primary point into the argument. Yet earlier, as seen below, you used PPG as an argument. Which one is it Whiskey? How many of Nemec's 12 assists or Minty's 17 assists are primary?
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.


#BUSTED
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad

Ad