Juraj Slafkovsky - Year Two

[Jaynki]

I've been reading an interesting comment on Habs reddit (I couldn't watch yesterday game outside some of the 3rd) and the poster was saying that Slaf was the one playing C on line outside of the faceoff (coming back low in the dzone, winning the dzone board battles and executing the zone exit/transition).

Newhook is not the center for Slaf. Or they need a winger who can share the load in the dzone.

He has been doing quality zone exit but usually he did them in the position of a winger tho passing it to the guy who was getting speed througu the center.

Also, TVAsports displayed a nice stats. According to SportLogiq, he is the best player with the most offensive chances off the cycle in the team. (Sorry for the shitty ass pics).

I think having 2-3 more points would change the perspective of him right now. Which would be entirely possible with the chance he had. But if we are being honest, having 2-3 less brain fart would go a long way too.

 

[Gustave]

The Rangers... actually, they've done worse.

Conversely, we hired their head euro scout...

 

[Gustave]

I don't know what I'm going to do for the next game guys, Simba died in vain.

A dolphin.

 

[River Meadow]

Conversely, we hired their head scout...

AND their GM from 2015 to 2021.

 

[River Meadow]

I've been reading an interesting comment on Habs reddit (I couldn't watch yesterday game outside some of the 3rd) and the poster was saying that Slaf was the one playing C on line outside of the faceoff (coming back low in the dzone, winning the dzone board battles and executing the zone exit/transition).

Newhook is not the center for Slaf. Or they need a winger who can share the load in the dzone.

I'm getting a wee bit tired of the narrative that Slafkowsky needs the perfect players to play with, and the stars and the planets and moon needs to align for him.

I get it, and it would be very helpful, but this is soooo far from the one sticking point when it comes to his play.

If we need to put Gretzky and Lemieux on his line for him to look decent, he ain't ready.

 

[Gustave]

AND their GM from 2015 to 2021.

Tell you the truth, I don't have a problem with Gorton. There's more to being a "GM" than just prospects...

But Bobrov is the architect behind the Rangers abysmal choices: a couple of good hits, but high euro preference that were scratchers. Not blaming him on Kakko and Laf, I can't know if he had a hand in developmental choices afterwards. But if he pitched Kakko to the pro scouts come season time like his pitch to our staff on the Slaf choice... you kinda feel like you need to keep him up.

I won't lie, I can't digest his hiring. The prospect pool of the Rangers as always been a problem and we turn around and sign him.

 

[NotProkofievian]

I've been reading an interesting comment on Habs reddit (I couldn't watch yesterday game outside some of the 3rd) and the poster was saying that Slaf was the one playing C on line outside of the faceoff (coming back low in the dzone, winning the dzone board battles and executing the zone exit/transition).

Newhook is not the center for Slaf. Or they need a winger who can share the load in the dzone.

He used to do that in Liiga as well. It's mostly not a good thing.

 

[morhilane]

I'm getting a wee bit tired of the narrative that Slafkowsky needs the perfect players to play with, and the stars and the planets and moon needs to align for him.

I get it, and it would be very helpful, but this is soooo far from the one sticking point when it comes to his play.

If we need to put Gretzky and Lemieux on his line for him to look decent, he ain't ready.

This isn't about having the perfect players with him. Newhook isn't a 2nd line center as the Avalanche already learned last season and Anderson is useless in the dzone since all he does is wait for breakout passes.

Slaf isn't at the point in his development where he can take the majority of the forward defensive and transitive load of the 2nd line on the team. It demands too much energy from him, and tired players makes bad decisions.

 

[River Meadow]

Tell you the truth, I don't have a problem with Gorton. There's more to being a "GM" than just prospects...

But Bobrov is the architect behind the Rangers abysmal choices: a couple of good hits, but high euro preference that were scratchers. Not blaming him on Kakko and Laf, I can't know if he had a hand in developmental choices afterwards. But if he pitched Kakko to the pro scouts come season time like his pitch to our staff on the Slaf choice... you kinda feel like you need to keep him up.

I won't lie, I can't digest his hiring. The prospect pool of the Rangers as always been a problem and we turn around and sign him.

That's fair, Gorton seems decent in his dealings, however don't forget, without Gorton, there is no Bobrov.

 

[Lshap]

I'm getting a wee bit tired of the narrative that Slafkowsky needs the perfect players to play with, and the stars and the planets and moon needs to align for him.

I get it, and it would be very helpful, but this is soooo far from the one sticking point when it comes to his play.

If we need to put Gretzky and Lemieux on his line for him to look decent, he ain't ready.

Have to admit this is fair. Most of us agree Slafkovsky should've started his pro career in the AHL, and a year later it's clear he still has a long way to go. He's simply not keeping up.

Sending him to the AHL now might be a blow to his pride, but the upside of developing his skills and timing far outweigh any downside, IMO.

Slafkovsky can become the poster-boy for slow development – not ideal, but an acceptable longterm win. On the other hand, if management keeps him with the Habs for the sake of perception and marketing, Slaf will be the poster-boy for terrible scouting and worse development.

 

[Gustave]

AND their GM from 2015 to 2021.

Just want to edit my post that you quoted for context: Head Euro scout.

 

[eklund the clown]

Ya i have been a big supporter of him but he looks useless/clueless out there.He looks like he is only worried about his defensive game and afraid to make a mistake.Time to send him down to work on his offensive game and get some confidence

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I like that choice.

A few lines I'd like to see:


Caufield Suzuki Slaf
RHP Newhook Anderson
RHP Monahan Anderson
RHP Monahan Slaf
RHP Newhook Slaf
Slaf Monahan Ylonen

If they’re going to keep him up, might as well see what he can do on the top line. They’ve tried everyone else there…

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Conversely, we hired their head euro scout...

Development is their problem. Two top picks who they play on the third line. I mean wtf?

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I'm getting a wee bit tired of the narrative that Slafkowsky needs the perfect players to play with, and the stars and the planets and moon needs to align for him.

I get it, and it would be very helpful, but this is soooo far from the one sticking point when it comes to his play.

If we need to put Gretzky and Lemieux on his line for him to look decent, he ain't ready.

Stop being silly with these stupid strawman comments. Dach would’ve been fine. Nobody said he needs Mario Lemieux.

And YES it matters who he plays with.

 

[Gustave]

Development is their problem. Two top picks who they play on the third line. I mean wtf?

Awful. Truly.

Now, Kravtsov and our very own Anderssen....

 

[DAChampion]

It was dim as f*** to bring Slafkovsky to the NHL. They burned a year off his ELC when they could have had him develop and mature in LIIGA.

The only bright side is that maybe they learned their mistake with Reinbacher. But that price is needlessly high.

 

[ReimanSum1908]

I think I was three years off in my prediction:

God-awful mistakes as we smash our faces against a wall over and over again, repeating the errors of the past. Slafkovsky is already well on his way down the path of Kotkaniemi and Galchenyuk, as I stated; in five years, he'll be despised and reframed as a talentless bust with a terrible work-ethic or other character issues by this fanbase.

Confirmed with Link: - Slafkovsky, Guhle, Harris and Xhekaj made the team!!

Cool that Guhle, Xhekaj and Slafkovsky hung other together in August-September and find out together they make the team. Only Robin is missing. It’s good for team-building. Guhle & Kirby Dach are good friends also, they were training together in the summer (before the Dach trade).

forums.hfboards.com

 

[BergevinBurner]

Armia 2.0 seems a bit optimistic, he's more like Armia 0.5.

Hopefully he can pick it up soon, but man I'd be lying if I said I expect him to hit 30 this season.
He just doesn't have the offensive talent to fit into the top 6, management needs to bite the bullet and get him to Laval asap so he can (hopefully) start producing and gain some confidence.

 

[HeussLenfoire]

I've been reading an interesting comment on Habs reddit (I couldn't watch yesterday game outside some of the 3rd) and the poster was saying that Slaf was the one playing C on line outside of the faceoff (coming back low in the dzone, winning the dzone board battles and executing the zone exit/transition).

Newhook is not the center for Slaf. Or they need a winger who can share the load in the dzone.

Winning dzone board battles ? He hasn’t won a single one

 

[morhilane]

Winning dzone board battles ? He hasn’t won a single one

I meant "trying to win" the dzone board battles.

 

[CHfan1]

I've been reading an interesting comment on Habs reddit (I couldn't watch yesterday game outside some of the 3rd) and the poster was saying that Slaf was the one playing C on line outside of the faceoff (coming back low in the dzone, winning the dzone board battles and executing the zone exit/transition).

Newhook is not the center for Slaf. Or they need a winger who can share the load in the dzone.

Newhook was playing the centre position in the defensive zone last night and helping out down low, not Slafkovsky. Slafkovsky was playing the winger position staying up high to cover the defenceman and getting the puck along the boards. He only was low in the defensive zone a few times. Of note, a couple of plays where he was low in the defensive zone he turned the puck over leading to a goal and another time to block a shot (after he turned the puck over in the neutral zone).

 

[Tyson]

Slaf has nice upside but I still question how he is being handled.

 

[hardcorehabs]

He reminds me of Mccarron out there, minus the physicality.

 

[Ozmodiar]

I’d put him on the top line for a few games - maybe until Dvo is back. I suspect it will help him in some ways and expose him in others.

Back to 2nd line with Monahan after that.