Juraj Slafkovsky - Year Two

[Jaynki]

People who have been following the team for a long time yeah agreed, I too wish this team wasn't a joke or a fluke for once in my life

that usually starts with having a star player, usually drafted 1OA

Agree on this.

I think we are on the right direction tho. Management is savvy even if the former 1st is a total failure on all part. Many other bright part in other aspect of the team.

We have star that we drafted 15OV and i would argue Guhle is rapidly emerging as a star, the skill and level of play is here now we need to see it through a whole season. Drafted 16OV. We have acquired enough of draft capital and legit D prospect too to be very agressive on the trade market for the next Tkachuk/Dubois.

And there is still a chance this 1st ov pick is not a total failure!

 

[Mrb1p]

Yeah I signed up for a college course starting next month on Emoji meanings 101.


Didn't Jumbo hit 41 points the following season?

Yes but weve delayed Slafs 2nd season, hes still in his first because of injuries apparently.

 

[Takeru]

Any chance we know how Wright's name appeared in that thread? How is he in any way related to Slafkovsky's progression? lol

Someone mentioned how the complaints would be worse had we drafted Wright.
It then sparked a comparison of their respective track record so far and dev path.
Draw from it what you will...

 

[Jaynki]

Someone mentioned how the complaints would be worse had we drafted Wright.
It then sparked a comparison of their respective track record so far and dev path.
Draw from it what you will...

There would be complain whoever we drafted and whatever the development path we would have taken. That is the nature of our market. Every single move is criticised.

Thats our market. But thats also what makes our market special.

You can be booed and labelled a bust and 10 games later you are an incredible superstar.

We are harsh with Slaf but dont worry, if he gets 10 points in 10 games this year at some point or even next year, everyone will shift in a flash and acclaim him.

 

[Whitesnake]

Someone mentioned how the complaints would be worse had we drafted Wright.
It then sparked a comparison of their respective track record so far and dev path.
Draw from it what you will...

It wouldn't. The more vocals are the people in the black or white area. So you'd have the same type of people commenting. Just with a different username.

Again though, as far as Slaf is concerned, it's just simply irrelevant. You put players in a position to succeed. Period. And succeed does NOT solely mean goals and points. Especially not at this age.

The ONLY debate here is this....is it better for him to learn the game out here as a development league. Or in lower leagues.

To me, while you can still develop in the NHL. The league in itself is NOT a development league. I think people should differentiate both concepts. Slaf still has a lot of development to do. Nothing wrong with taking more time than an usual 1st overall pick would as he is not a typical No1, from a really average draft.

 

[Takeru]

honestly I hope Slaf gets a point next game just so they can feast and say stuff like "see I told you so just be patient!" and "I knew it, the floodgates are open now"

they've been working so hard at it, they deserve a little something positive in their misery

I wish both sides would refrain from such tribalism.
It's ok to disagree, we all should be happy if he scores as we want our players to improve as best they can, shouldn't be used to rub it into other ppl's faces, nor should it be as a preventive snipe like you're doing here.
For the record, I'm in the more disappointed "camp" so far

 

[EtLeBut2]

Don't care about Wright anymore. I would not have drafted Slafkovsky but I can see why you wouldn't draft Wright.

It was a weak draft, but generally you don't want a top 15 pick to be this raw regardless of context. Power forwards take time to develop because they need to grow into their bodies and learn just how physical they need to be for their particular skill set. But all the comparisons so far aren't working for Slafkovsky because he's not even showing he belongs at this level yet.

 

[Tyson]

As an aging Habs fan I just want to witness one more Cup win for this fabled franchise and youngsters like Slaf are incredibly important for them to be brought along properly. Like I keep saying, I hope management knows what they are doing.

 

[Wats]

C'mon man - if we picked Wright at 1.. this place would be JUST as mad that he was terrible in the WJCs, terrible in the OHL, terrible in the AHL play-offs and then had to be in the AHL in his D+2.

100% agree there will be complaints but at least there would have been some positives. Almost 2ppg in OHL, decent AHL regular season production. He's obviously not the right choice for#1 overall either. With Slaf it just feels like we have the WC and Olympics to go off of with some flashes of skill here and there that any basic NHLer has shown.

 

[Vachon23]

So do we bring Dorion as the director of scouting or Senior Advisor for the scouting department

 

[Naslundforever]

As they say in French, "N'importe quoi!"

It just sounds like you're looking for a problem. I see zero problems with Slafkovsky's hockey IQ.

According to St-Louis, his understanding of the games top notch. Offensively, his IQ is on display as an example with the pass he made to send Anderson off on a breakaway. It wasn't some forward pass as he was dandily jaunting forward uptake ice. It showed a quick glimpse of the ice and an understanding of what was developing before getting the puck and making the play.

Other examples, but in a hurry now...

I see things like foresight / anticipation, deception, processing speed, as hockey iq markers. They are also markers of confidence. He looks like he’s reacting and rather slowly instead of “playing his game” as they say. Maybe he has great hockey sense but has no confidence right now, but eye test is not a good look recently. Not a knock on the kid.

 

[NORiculous]

So do we bring Dorion as the director of scouting or Senior Advisor for the scouting department

Explain please… why is this message in the Slafkovsky thread?

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

He was a passenger.

Completely disagree. They were strong together - unfortunately we only got to see preseason and that first game.

The very fact that you pointed out all the posters who were happy with that game only reinforces this point. After all, you brought it up.

Again though at this stage, it doesn’t matter. He should be in the AHL. If there was any doubt on this before I think most can agree that it’s where he should be now.

 

[GettingYourMoms]

Wait... an NHL coach is "benching" a top draft pick... how dare they, don't they know he should be shipped to the AHL asap lest his confidence be destroyed

His TOI varies alot, some games he plays for 7 minutes some games 14, he is not on special team so no pp, he´s been on pk for like 28 secs. Sometimes i wish he was in AHL, but he looks completely fine in NHL, his backward skating improved alot so he does not get caught as easily like last year and he is really really strong in D zone and getting much more confident with puck in o zone. He is going to be estabilished top4 D by the end of the year if they let him stay, points will come. With Slafkovsky, i think confidence is main thing to adress, few games dominating in AHL would help him alot, but it sucks he is in Montreal, because pressure on him to be good especialy as 1st ovr pick must be immense.

 

[Redux91]

that usually starts with having a star player, usually drafted 1OA

Yeah, could you name that Star player for us..?

 

[CristianoRonaldo]

Don't care about Wright anymore. I would not have drafted Slafkovsky but I can see why you wouldn't draft Wright.

It was a weak draft, but generally you don't want a top 15 pick to be this raw regardless of context. Power forwards take time to develop because they need to grow into their bodies and learn just how physical they need to be for their particular skill set. But all the comparisons so far aren't working for Slafkovsky because he's not even showing he belongs at this level yet.

He's not a powerforward, he's a finesse player in a big body, who has yet to show his finesse...

 

[Johnny Cakes]

I've seen enough. Slaf is no better, no more effective - at anything - than he was this time last year. I say now is the time to send the big lad down to the minors for seasoning. I think we do this now and we could see him next year, or even the year after, coming up and sliding in nicely - I see this guy's peak as roughly 25-30 goals 30-35 assists - He's no Malkin but he's definitely has the tools - But he needs to go down *NOW* - Look at Mikko Rantanen now - That gives you some idea of what can happen to a former bust risk if he's sent down to the minors before he's completely shattered

 

[the valiant effort]

I got me a craving for some Johnny Cakes

 

[Naslundforever]

In b4 “take it to the Slaf thread” lock.

Last girl that told me to go down “NOW” I ended up spending 22 years with so I agree.

 

[Garbageyuk]

Agreed. Hopefully they have the balls to do it.

 

[Pazucha]

I would be okay if he goes to AHL but under one condition and that is he needs to play at this year WJC.

WJC
Mesar - Dvorsky - Slaf
AHL
Roy + Slaf

That should be fun to watch

 

[the]

At least try him out with Monahan. Instead of wasting them both with Donkey and Gallagher respectively.

 

[Johnny Cakes]

I got me a craving for some Johnny Cakes

lol

 

[Naslundforever]

At least try him out with Monahan. Instead of wasting them both with Donkey and Gallagher respectively.

Also Newhook and Andy could use a winger with more hockey sen… I mean confidence.

 

[LaP]

In b4 “take it to the Slaf thread” lock.

Last girl that told me to go down “NOW” I ended up spending 22 years with so I agree.

Somehow the first time i read this i read "Last girl that told me to go down “NOW” I ended up spending 22 years in prison" and i was like WTF lol