Juraj Slafkovsky - Year Two

[RationalExpectations]

Pretending? LOL...so according to your "logic", there can only be 2 viewpoints, eh? Either Slaf is a star in the making, or he's an absolute bust.

First day on hfboards ?

You have a long way to go to learn navigate these tedious waters my friend…

 

[cave troll]

how about 4 years ago? it's specified in the post you quoted why he chose those 2 players specifically.

In his second year Hughes was already at 0.55 PPG. Where is Slaf in his second year?
And let's be serious, Slaf and Hughes can't be put in the same sentence in terms of talent, speed and intelligence.

 

[The Great Weal]

I just don't understand the plan to keep him in the NHL if they aren't placing him in a position to succeed. Admittedly, Newhook and Anderson aren't necessarily bad linemates, but they have been awful since being together. They have yet to try Slaf with Suzuki and CC and it's been an issue trying to find someone to play with those two, why not try your 1st OA pick? He's getting placed on probably the worst PP unit in the league to accommodate the likes of Gallagher/Anderson/Pearson. Moreover, his swagger and competition level were the main reasons why we drafted him but he's got zero confidence right now.

While I do acknowledge that learning through adversity is a necessity, that shouldn't come at the cost of your 1st OA playing like a grinder to try and survive the NHL. His last goal was against the Flames in January where the goalie wasn't in the net. Before that it was against Vegas nearly a year ago. What is the harm in sending him to Laval to play with two of the best AHLers in Roy and Andersson right now?

 

[themilosh]

Slaf might be 6'4" 230lbs, but he obviously still doesn't have his "man" strength yet. I still think there's a high possibility he becomes physically dominant in a few years though. But like many others have said, he should be in the AHL rn to gain confidence, work on his O-game and speed of his decision making.

This is KK all over again, crazy how a completely different management team can do the same mistake in that short span of time.

I think once Dach went down, that was Slafs last chance at truly developing, and his stat line shows that.. While yes, I do believe he is "good" enough to be in the NHL, I'd like to believe being just "good" is a complete fail for him. Armia was on a tear in the AHL, can you imagine what that type of run would be for Slaf? it would do wonders for his development.

 

[Miller Time]

You missed this from yesterday (in French): https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2...omprend-juraj-slafkovsky-on-sassure-de-laider

Short version: MSL is satisfied with how Slaf is currently developing.

Yup. He still looks fine to me as well. Would have more points if Anderson wasn't snake bitten (for those who only care about the stat line), but his overall play has been positive & shown improvement that you want to see.

If he starts to actually struggle, that could change, but for now there's no reason to demote him... He won't gain anything from playing in the AHL & it could actually hurt the progress he's made by allowing him to get away with bad habits while chasing points as he tries to prove he should be back in the NHL.

Refreshing to see that the current coaching staff has the requisite patience to really invest in the long term potential Slaf has!

(Those desperate for points... I wonder what you'd advise the Devil's do with Mercer, who has fewer points than Slaf so far this year? )

I just don't understand the plan to keep him in the NHL if they aren't placing him in a position to succeed. Admittedly, Newhook and Anderson aren't necessarily bad linemates, but they have been awful since being together. They have yet to try Slaf with Suzuki and CC and it's been an issue trying to find someone to play with those two, why not try your 1st OA pick? He's getting placed on probably the worst PP unit in the league to accommodate the likes of Gallagher/Anderson/Pearson. Moreover, his swagger and competition level were the main reasons why we drafted him but he's got zero confidence right now.

While I do acknowledge that learning through adversity is a necessity, that shouldn't come at the cost of your 1st OA playing like a grinder to try and survive the NHL. His last goal was against the Flames in January where the goalie wasn't in the net. Before that it was against Vegas nearly a year ago. What is the harm in sending him to Laval to play with two of the best AHLers in Roy and Andersson right now?

Their definition of "succes" for him right now is being met... And he appears to be on the same page... And the team is winning well above their expected level.

Pretty clear I'd say.

 

[BaseballCoach]

(Those desperate for points... I wonder what you'd advise the Devil's do with Mercer, who has fewer points than Slaf so far this year? )

Special exemption to allow him to go back to Junior.

Once he reaches 4 ppg, he goes to the ECHL and targets 3 ppg, then the AHL and 2 ppg.

Then, once Mercer has sparked the required confidence, he may return to the NHL.

However, if he goes 7 games without a point, then he'll need to restart in Junior to get his confidence yet again.

 

[NotProkofievian]

You guys, I've got it. Slaf is going to score tonight, because I figured it out.

You remember how during the U18s I said that Dvorsky had no dangles, and he immediately started posterizing fools like he heard me? Something that he hasn't done before or since? Well I'm going to watch tonight's game and say ''this Slaf guy can't score.''

Slaf hatty incoming.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

First day on hfboards ?

You have a long way to go to learn navigate these tedious waters my friend…

He probably thought the site was knew because the username 'LesCanadiens' was still available.

 

[waffledave]

you need to check the "expected goals saved" to see they were the best goalie duo in the league. .901 SV% is excellent considering the habs gave 20 high scoring chances a game. But tell me you know nothing about hockey without telling me you know nothing about hockey

I know plenty about hockey, neither of these goalies are any good, have no trade value and neither would be starters on any NHL team. Otherwise we would have traded them.

 

[waffledave]

Who talked about trade value buddy? god i love this forum. How are they not good at saving expected goals when stats prove it wrong last year? They gave the habs 8 more wins than expected because of the high chance scoring saves. Not even Vasi would've had good stats last year with the habs, everybody knows that goalies have to have a good defense in order to perform

Nobody would ever rely on these guys as their tandem unless they were trying to lose. I don't care that Monty played good for 10 games. He's not an NHL starter level goaltender now and he certainly wasn't last year.

 

[calder candidate]

Is there any possible cap implications if he is assigned to the AHL and call back to the NHL?

 

[Fenwick McCorsi]

Slaf might be 6'4" 230lbs, but he obviously still doesn't have his "man" strength yet. I still think there's a high possibility he becomes physically dominant in a few years though. But like many others have said, he should be in the AHL rn to gain confidence, work on his O-game and speed of his decision making.

This is KK all over again, crazy how a completely different management team can do the same mistake in that short span of time.

Ownership mandate, maybe? Molson sounds like the type to blindly insist a top-3 pick has to be on the big team to help sell tickets.

 

[waffledave]

lmao where did i say hes a top goalie? jesus you guys dont ever read posts carefully on this forum. i said, THE DUO STOLE 8 GAMES THROUGHOUT THE SEASON, WHICH MADE THE HABS NOT DRAFT TOP 4. HABS SHOULD HAVE PLAYED PRIMEAU TO TANK PROPERLY. clear enough?

I don't know why you are getting so emotional. If you play Sam Montembeault as your starter, you are tanking. He sucks. Jake Allen also sucks.

 

[GlassesJacketShirt]

I don't know why you are getting so emotional. If you play Sam Montembeault as your starter, you are tanking. He sucks. Jake Allen also sucks.

I think you should go remind these goalies, cause they sure ain't living up to their suckage when it matters.

 

[Trabdy2]

I'm more concerned about his play hurting the morale of his linemates than the development of Slaf's play itself. He's going to need time to develop, and the NHL might not be the right place to do it at the moment. Guys like Newhook are going to struggle playing with Slafkovsky if plays continue to die on Slaf's stick how they have lately.

 

[bcv]

In his second year Hughes was already at 0.55 PPG. Where is Slaf in his second year?
And let's be serious, Slaf and Hughes can't be put in the same sentence in terms of talent, speed and intelligence.

You asked for players who struggled as 1oa who turned out good and now you’re changing the subject to Slaf vs Hughes.

 

[LesCanadiens]

First day on hfboards ?

You have a long way to go to learn navigate these tedious waters my friend…

I hear ya. Been here since Feb 2002...but stay away for very long periods of time over the last 10 years. Some obviously good posters withstanding, these boards have devolved a LOT. Many, many respected original members I know/knew have left and will never come back. Considering the trend, especially on the main boards, with all the powertrippers there and double-standards...I'll likely disappear again very soon.

 

[Hoochi Papa]

Are the intangibles and little things that you don't see on the score card still off the board?

Is he skating with a meaning, flashing positive body control on the neutral zone or all in all looking like he's twice the non-productive hockey player compared to his rookie season?

Habs still don't know what they're doing and it's starting to look like they whiffed badly.

 

[Kennerback]

Are the intangibles and little things that you don't see on the score card still off the board?

Is he skating with a meaning, flashing positive body control on the neutral zone or all and all looking like he's twice the non-productive hockey player compared to his rookie season?

Habs still don't know what they're doing and it's starting to look like they whiffed badly.

I don’t know what to look forward to. That he gets lucky with his usual one shot per game going in tonight? That he improves his puck possession along the back boards. Perhaps passing it successfully to a teammate also along the boards? The building blocks that underly NHL offensive production are not there.

 

[NORiculous]

I don't know why you are getting so emotional. If you play Sam Montembeault as your starter, you are tanking. He sucks. Jake Allen also sucks.

I can’t answer for him but there is an obvious (4 pts) reason which can annoy any fan…

 

[Kennerback]

del

 

[nhlfan9191]

I hear ya. Been here since Feb 2022...but stay away for very long periods of time over the last 10 years. Some obviously good posters withstanding, these boards have devolved a LOT. Many, many respected original members I know/knew have left and will never come back. Considering the trend, especially on the main boards, with all the powertrippers there and double-standards...I'll likely disappear again very soon.

There’s still a ton of really good posters who have been here consistently the last ten years or more. HFboards has always been HFboards. It’s the internet. Not that much has changed other then some people may get frustrated reading new narratives they don’t want to hear. This website will still always beat the steaming turd that twitter and Reddit has littered with unfiltered trolls and casuals.

 

[Habs]

I hear ya. Been here since Feb 2022...but stay away for very long periods of time over the last 10 years. Some obviously good posters withstanding, these boards have devolved a LOT. Many, many respected original members I know/knew have left and will never come back. Considering the trend, especially on the main boards, with all the powertrippers there and double-standards...I'll likely disappear again very soon.

Are you announcing your departure or what?

 

[LesCanadiens]

Are you announcing your departure or what?

NO! LOL...it was conversational intent.

PS: We joined on the exact same date (correction, I joined one day before you)! I remember you from the original board and maybe Fanhome too, is that right?

 

[admiralcadillac]

I think once Dach went down, that was Slafs last chance at truly developing, and his stat line shows that.. While yes, I do believe he is "good" enough to be in the NHL, I'd like to believe being just "good" is a complete fail for him. Armia was on a tear in the AHL, can you imagine what that type of run would be for Slaf? it would do wonders for his development.

His last chance at truly developing? He’s done at 19 with 50 nhl games under his belt?

Let’s take old yeller Slaf to the back woodshed at this point.