Juraj Slafkovsky - Year Two

[RationalExpectations]

The babying?

He got f***ing booed in the arena, got booed during his selection, he had an entire summer of people on twitter blasting him because they didn't take Shane Wright.. and the whole organization is working with him to keep his confidence up to shield him from the toxic negativity, childish and unreasonable behaviour from grown ass humans wanting him to fail at every turn.

The worst part is there's no self awareness or maturation because those same people did the same thing to Reinbacher to the point another fan had to make him a book of nice tweets to counter-act the incessant disgusting behavior of the fans.

There's no babying, there's people trying to pull back on the relentless and rampant stupidity that is angled at a 19 year old kid.

There is a difference between insulting him on twitter (which is stupid) and saying you are disappointed from his game and that he needs to improve regardless of his linemates. Of course Rantanen would produce less without mackinnon but he would still produce.

You re mixing everything up…

 

[WeThreeKings]

There is a difference between insulting him on twitter (which is stupid) and saying you are disappointed from his game and that he needs to improve regardless of his linemates. Of course Rantanen would produce less without mackinnon but he would still produce.

You re mixing everything up…

There is a difference but let's be realistic and say that a lot of the times things aren't communicated in that manner, they are more bashing than objective observations.

He's getting beat down because people expect him to be like a typical 1OA but he's not, that class didn't produce one, so holding him to those unreasonable expectations isn't fair to the player.

He's making progress, the progress is small pieces at a time, it's slow and it hasn't manifested into points yet.. but can we be realistic and understand that - Nemec isn't even in the NHL right now. Cooley is successful but is getting PP points mainly. Wright is in the AHL and Jiricek is in the NHL and looking pedestrian right now.

 

[Kennerback]

I think he should be just fine with Newhook.

The problem is not his linemates, the problem is Slaf. Typical Slaf play is he’s behind the net and the front of net is free. Instead of taking the front of the net like everyone else and trying to score, he looks for a pass through a defenseman.

It’s not even bad luck that he’s not scoring. Anderson has double the shot and still hasn’t scored. Slaf has 7 shots this season. He’s declined so many, it’s ridiculous. Good players can shoot that much in one single given game. When Caufield was sent down he still Had the worst shooting percentage in the NHL. Slaf looks like he has not a single inkling of offensive bent in his mind.

 

[Scriptor]

The problem is not his linemates, the problem is Slaf. Typical Slaf play is he’s behind the net and the front of net is free. Instead of taking the front of the net like everyone else and trying to score, he looks for a pass through a defenseman.

It’s not even bad luck that he’s not scoring. Anderson has double the shot and still hasn’t scored. Slaf has 7 shots this season. He’s declined so many, it’s ridiculous. Good players can shoot that much in one single given game. When Caufield was sent down he still Had the worst shooting percentage in the NHL. Slaf looks like he has not a single inkling of offensive bent in his mind.

Warped take.

Because it's an all or nothing take that looks hell bent on disgracing the kid as utterly useless.

Reality tends to fall somewhere else.

 

[Kennerback]

Warped take.

Because it's an all or nothing take that looks hell bent on disgracing the kid as utterly useless.

Reality tends to fall somewhere else.

He’s not utterly useless. I think he has proven his place on the club, just not in an offensive capacity.

He has some value as a Puck Possession player like Kapo Kakko. Rangers fans find he does well playing this role.

 

[BaseballCoach]

Because Slafkovsky was on the opening day roster and when the Habs put Dvorak and Price on LTIR if he gets sent down his bonuses get captured in the performance bonus pool. They can use that pool to call him back up and not have his full cap hit (bonuses and all count against the salary cap).

Vancouver did this with Podkolzin. He was on the opening day roster and when they put Poolman on LTIR. They then sent him down and his $850,000 in performance bonuses went into that pool. If he gets recalled his bonuses come out of that pool.

We have no bonus pool available though.

Caufield - Suzuki - Monahan
Slafkovsky - Dach - Roy
RHP - Newhook - Anderson

Caufield - Suzuki- Dach
Slafkovsky - Newhook - Roy
RHP - Dvorak - Anderson

The more I think about it, the more I think Monahan should be extended (3 years) if he remains healthy.

Makes sense, frankly. A former 6OA who can win faceoffs,play C or LW, likes playing here, and has size and skill.

However, small quibble: I would try Dach at C and Newhook on the wing, if everyone is healthy.

 

[BaseballCoach]

Slafkowsky struggled in Liiga and now the Habs are trying to immediately crowbar him into the NHL when he's clearly not ready and would likely be much better served by playing top minutes in the AHL in all situations.

To be clear this isn't Slafkowsky's fault.

It is 100% on management.

He's ready for the NHL. He may not be ready to star in the NHL yet. but boo-hoo.

To be clear this is not management's fault. The disappointment is 100% on a segment of the fans.

 

[BaseballCoach]

Why?

It has to do with LTIR and bonuses, but I am now double checking.

 

[SlafySZN]

Acting like Dach wasn’t a great player for Slaf to play with. Possession, circling type game. And that he should do as good with guys like Newhook/Anderson who exclusively plays on the rush otherwise it’s ‘’excuses’’ really shows how people are disingenuous.

He has made real progress, looked like he was gonna take a big step forward having a player like Dach with him, now he doesn’t so he has to find a way to connect with other players.

 

[CHfan1]

We have no bonus pool available though.

If Slafkovsky were to get sent down his $3,500,00 would then go into the performance bonus pool, similar to Podkolzin and Vancouver. They could use that to recall him.

Thank You - CapFriendly - NHL Salary Caps

Thank you for the amazing 9 years

www.capfriendly.com

 

[Gravity]

I keep saying to play him on PP1 over Anderson. Give the kid confidence and let him rack up a few points (even if they're secondary assists).

 

[Habssince89]

Yes, and those who grew into themselves had some talent to begin with.

please go watch some games

 

[DinosaurBones]

If there’s there’s a pecking order for performance, Slafkofsky should be off the PP and off the top-9. Ylonen and Evans have more goals and Pezetta had his 1 assist in less games. What Slaf has is a good first pass which is usually the prerogative of a D. He’s good at digging the puck but so is Evans.

He doesn’t Push offense. Goes to extreme lengths to avoid shooting at all costs. He honestly looks like the net is a complete afterthought to his game. Ylonen, Evans and Pezetta are way more hungry to score. IDK where we go from here.

See I agree and I dont to this. He doesnt push offense PP wise because I think he shouldnt be the half wall guy. I wouldnt mind seeing him net front with guys like Suzy and Cauf running the walls for shots. I dont agree with him being a one T guy on the wall, or trying to chorale the puck to make a play.
Also another reason why I dont like him with Anderson because of the straight line play, and Slaf just trying to find footing based on what he thinks Andy does. I think there are better matches on the team, but you can see that he is improving and making smart plays to get him into opportunities. Management for him needs to be dealt with better

 

[morhilane]

just trying to find footing based on what he thinks Andy does.

Nobody knows what Andy will do beside "rush the puck and shoot", not even Andy sometimes.

 

[nhlfan9191]

The babying?

He got f***ing booed in the arena, got booed during his selection, he had an entire summer of people on twitter blasting him because they didn't take Shane Wright.. and the whole organization is working with him to keep his confidence up to shield him from the toxic negativity, childish and unreasonable behaviour from grown ass humans wanting him to fail at every turn.

The worst part is there's no self awareness or maturation because those same people did the same thing to Reinbacher to the point another fan had to make him a book of nice tweets to counter-act the incessant disgusting behavior of the fans.

There's no babying, there's people trying to pull back on the relentless and rampant stupidity that is angled at a 19 year old kid.

I agree there’s a radical part of the fanbase that go way too far. But I really don’t see how that’s my problem as I’ve never participated in anything like that and i’m certainly not going to change how my approach giving my opinions on a players performance just because some idiots can’t control themselves. When I mention babying, I’m talking about the opposite end of the spectrum that just defend a players on ice performance just for the sake. And there’s a lot of that happening in this thread and with this player specifically. There’s times where people get bullied just for giving on an honest opinion on Slaf’s game and that’s not right either.

 

[Team_Spirit]

 

[Jaynki]

He barely looked. He was not going for the pass. He aimed for an icing because the play was too fast and he did not knew what to do.

/s

 

[Habs]

He's ready for the NHL. He may not be ready to star in the NHL yet. but boo-hoo.

To be clear this is not management's fault. The disappointment is 100% on a segment of the fans.

I don't know man, look at how Cooley is working the puck out there compared to Slaf, he really doesn't look ready for prime time. His confidence looks off. If we had a good team up here this would be a good spot for him, no doubt but I think Laval would be nice so he could play with other prospects and learn a bit.

 

[zx81]

The only thing I really worry about is his stamina. He looks like sometimes he doesn't have the energy to finish the play.

I particularly noticed that last game. He was very slow to back check after a few seconds on the ice.

 

[NotProkofievian]

Okay so the power of positive thinking did not yield the desired Slaf goal, so tonight we're going with animal offerings.

 

[cave troll]

Hat-trick tonight !

 

[RationalExpectations]

The problem is not his linemates, the problem is Slaf. Typical Slaf play is he’s behind the net and the front of net is free. Instead of taking the front of the net like everyone else and trying to score, he looks for a pass through a defenseman.

It’s not even bad luck that he’s not scoring. Anderson has double the shot and still hasn’t scored. Slaf has 7 shots this season. He’s declined so many, it’s ridiculous. Good players can shoot that much in one single given game. When Caufield was sent down he still Had the worst shooting percentage in the NHL. Slaf looks like he has not a single inkling of offensive bent in his mind.

That s my point. I meant it as he should be fine with Newhook as in „it should not be used as an excuse that Dach is not here“

Okay so the power of positive thinking did not yield the desired Slaf goal, so tonight we're going with animal offerings.

Realize that if he scores tonight a lot of puppies will die throughout the year right ?

 

[RationalExpectations]

There is a difference but let's be realistic and say that a lot of the times things aren't communicated in that manner, they are more bashing than objective observations.

He's getting beat down because people expect him to be like a typical 1OA but he's not, that class didn't produce one, so holding him to those unreasonable expectations isn't fair to the player.

He's making progress, the progress is small pieces at a time, it's slow and it hasn't manifested into points yet.. but can we be realistic and understand that - Nemec isn't even in the NHL right now. Cooley is successful but is getting PP points mainly. Wright is in the AHL and Jiricek is in the NHL and looking pedestrian right now.

1) I disagree, some people are just saying „he sucks„ and those are usually ignored, most of the time critica have a legit point of concern.

2) wrong about that : Power Beniers were not in the NHL immediately, Lafreniere is needing time to establish himself, like Kakko (2nd OA)… the draft quality is not an excuse. Prospect mostly do need time and Slaf needs this time

3) I fully agree that we should not expect the moon from him which is why I wanted him in the AHL but it s too late for that now anyways. I can only speak for myself but my issue is that I don t see the elite part to his game that so many people seem to see (esp. Hockey IQ wise) and that his shot is not dangerous at all since he is in the NHL (few exceptions last year).

As far as I am concerned I see progress, I just don t seem to see the potential so many of you see in him, which is fine it is merely an opinion

 

[DinosaurBones]

Nobody knows what Andy will do beside "rush the puck and shoot", not even Andy sometimes.

Massive problem

 

[SlafCaufield]

that's the kind of skill you can't teach

you're born with that and its glimpses like this for why he went 1OA