Juraj Slafkovsky - Year Two

[The Gr8 Dane]

They aren't sending him down :/

 

[HeussLenfoire]

He is just bad, it’s not about confidence or development. He doesn’t have the talent to be an offensive player in the NHL. Even Andreas Dackell was better than him in offense.

 

[BergevinBurner]

Hey guys, so after watching the last couple games I just have a few questions:

What the f***? No but really, what the f*** is going on here?

We're witnessing the birth of the greatest bust of this century.

 

[Mrb1p]

Hey guys, so after watching the last couple games I just have a few questions:

What the f***? No but really, what the f*** is going on here?

Trust the process or something

 

[The Great Weal]

Hey guys, so after watching the last couple games I just have a few questions:

What the f***? No but really, what the f*** is going on here?

Something something Tage Thompson

 

[Draft]

Montreal not developing a powerforward in the last 20yrs really shows in this thread... I don't see a big issue with getting him some time in the AHL, but the focus really needs to be on a couple years from now. That frame is going to take time, it almost always does.

They're willing to let him not be great as he figures his game out. He's getting good minutes and opportunities (though I'd definitely look to change up his linemates) in the meantime.

Just chill. We're in a rebuild. This is what development looks like for some players.

 

[Habbietat]

Like I was suprised of this pick and saw some upside, but this dude is just awful, bad decision making, no instinct for scoring, no work ethic, no board work, and an ego on top of that, dude could atleast work his ass off to show he belongs but somehow thinks he does for no reason at all except the habs blowing smoke up his ass everyday

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Montreal not developing a powerforward in the last 20yrs really shows in this thread... I don't see a big issue with getting him some time in the AHL, but the focus really needs to be on a couple years from now. That frame is going to take time, it almost always does.

They're willing to let him not be great as he figures his game out. He's getting good minutes and opportunities (though I'd definitely look to change up his linemates) in the meantime.

Just chill. We're in a rebuild. This is what development looks like for some players.

Okay, so then why wouldn't you play him on the first line? Everyone else has gotten a shot? And that line can use some size. If you're going to let him be bad at least let him develop with better players.

 

[Zorro]

i still believe in Slaf but the coaches need to put him in a position to succeed especially when his confidence is at an all-time low.

 

[MON4NHLTOR4MLB]

Imagine we have a 1OA pick that we don't even want to play on 3 on 3, or put in the first 3 shooters for shootouts, because he is just average in every facet of the game.

Not for nothing but I did say he has literally nothing Elite or dynamic other than size and his shot was way overrated with bounces and picks on edge plus mediocre goaltending. We all knew we were screwed once Bobrov was hired

 

[River Meadow]

Montreal not developing a powerforward in the last 20yrs really shows in this thread... I don't see a big issue with getting him some time in the AHL, but the focus really needs to be on a couple years from now. That frame is going to take time, it almost always does.

They're willing to let him not be great as he figures his game out. He's getting good minutes and opportunities (though I'd definitely look to change up his linemates) in the meantime.

Just chill. We're in a rebuild. This is what development looks like for some players.

 

[Draft]

Okay, so then why wouldn't you play him on the first line? Everyone else has gotten a shot? And that line can use some size. If you're going to let him be bad at least let him develop with better players.

Sure, I don't see anything wrong with giving him a shot there. I'd just want to be confident he doesn't revert to being a gopher for those two.

Ideally, I'd staple him to Monahan for the time being. Great vet, actual offensive talent... maybe even play some big boy hockey depending on who they put with them.

 

[Wats]

Montreal not developing a powerforward in the last 20yrs really shows in this thread... I don't see a big issue with getting him some time in the AHL, but the focus really needs to be on a couple years from now. That frame is going to take time, it almost always does.

They're willing to let him not be great as he figures his game out. He's getting good minutes and opportunities (though I'd definitely look to change up his linemates) in the meantime.

Just chill. We're in a rebuild. This is what development looks like for some players.

What in Slafkovsky's game suggests he's a power forward? At most he's a finesse player who can maybe one day learn to use his height/weight to not get knocked down so easily.

 

[NotProkofievian]

Sure, I don't see anything wrong with giving him a shot there. I'd just want to be confident he doesn't revert to being a gopher for those two.

Ideally, I'd staple him to Monahan for the time being. Great vet, actual offensive talent... maybe even play some big boy hockey depending on who they put with them.

That's all he's shown he's capable of doing so far this year: digging for pucks. No initiative with the puck on his stick whatsoever. What people are expecting him to learn by not ever having the puck on his stick is beyond me. Must be some big brain deep hockey knowledge.

 

[SnapVirus]

Its NOT a development problem. Its a.n EVALUATION problem. Player is bad. Most of us saw it before the draft and were loud about it. Bobrov+Lapointe = dumb and dumber.

 

[Draft]

What in Slafkovsky's game suggests he's a power forward? At most he's a finesse player who can maybe one day learn to use his height/weight to not get knocked down so easily.

PWF in the modern context. Size, speed, hands, and reach are all there. Regardless of his size on paper, I'm not surprised that a 19yo still growing into his frame isn't physically dominating the NHL and/or struggling with the physical parts of the game. Project his tools with better timing and greater core/lower body strength as he grows and gains experience. He's shown it at other levels, we'll see if he continues to develop.

 

[SnapVirus]

PWF in the modern context. Size, speed, hands, and reach are all there. Regardless of his size on paper, I'm not surprised that a 19yo still growing into his frame isn't physically dominating the NHL and/or struggling with the physical parts of the game. Project his tools with better timing and greater core/lower body strength as he grows and gains experience. He's shown it at other levels, we'll see if he continues to develop.

I do not agree.

Show me a clip where he showed physicality in Europe. Theres none. He is a « finesse » player with no imagination. He was hot during a bad olympics against 2 bad teams.

Its not because you score 4 points against Kazakstan one day, that you are sudden beast. He showed nothing in his league.

And what is a PWF in modern context? What? No. That doesnt exist. Thats just a big player. Hes not physical. A powerforward? theres still a a couple: evander kane, timo meier, tom wilson, matthew and brady tkachuk, etc.

 

[HabsCowboysOwn]

Will they admit they were wrong starting him in the NHL and send him down before it's too late or is their ego more important than giving our 1st overall pick (hated the pick from the start btw but that's another story) a chance to develop and not turn into a complete bust?

Cause that's the kind of crass mismanagement of prime assets we've seen from Bergevin and he was crucified (rightfully so) for it, Hughes and Gorton have some tough questions to answer and it's more than time someone with a spine asks them.

 

[Wats]

PWF in the modern context. Size, speed, hands, and reach are all there. Regardless of his size on paper, I'm not surprised that a 19yo still growing into his frame isn't physically dominating the NHL and/or struggling with the physical parts of the game. Project his tools with better timing and greater core/lower body strength as he grows and gains experience. He's shown it at other levels, we'll see if he continues to develop.

Not sure what you mean by growing when he is already one of the heaviest players in the NHL. He doesn't show that willingness to engage by going to the net or knocking people down. That doesn't just suddenly come just because he's big. He's closer to maybe being a better Armia than a a real PWF by being a better Anderson.

He hasn't shown it at other levels. This was one of the biggest knocks on him, at league level there has been little to show for.

I still believe there are enough tools that a couple years outside of the NHL might turn him into something but right now he is no where near NHL ready. Even Ylonen is better NHLer right now. Maybe go down to AHL, put up maybe 15 goals/35 points in ~60 games this year. Point/game next season and get called up for good.

 

[Draft]

That's all he's shown he's capable of doing so far this year: digging for pucks. No initiative with the puck on his stick whatsoever. What people are expecting him to learn by not ever having the puck on his stick is beyond me. Must be some big brain deep hockey knowledge.

No doubt. However, comparing his last string of games to preseason/earlier in the season with Dach and it's pretty notable how little he's handling the puck now in comparison. Whether it's a change of linemates or time in the AHL, it's pretty obvious this isn't a high point for him and something needs to change.

The fact that you've got two good young players and a prime trade asset spinning their tires on that line is concerning.

 

[Fledgemyhedge]

1 point in 10 games. This is getting embarassing send the kid down and let him work to earn a spot

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

Perhaps we should trade him for Carolina's first , so they can put him in the AHL and be PPG when hes ready

 

[Jeune Poulet]

Its NOT a development problem. Its a.n EVALUATION problem. Player is bad. Most of us saw it before the draft and were loud about it.

Most? Man, what?

Slafkovsky was a concensus top 3 pick in his draft year.

I don't think I have seen any final rankings with him outside the top 5.

That's not the definition of a player that everyone saw as "bad" and was loudly crapping on...

 

[pepperMonkey]

There was a big group of people who moved off of Wright when all the things that made him fall to fourth came out. And Slafkovsky was at the bottom of a lot of peoples lists.

If I recall correctly, even with a lot of people moving off of Wright, the grand majority still wanted Wright. Slaf was very much slotted in second compared to the rest. Yes, there were Cooley fans but I think even Nemec was favoured over Cooley here.

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

Most? Man, what?

Slafkovsky was a concensus top 3 pick in his draft year.

I don't think I have seen any final rankings with him outside the top 5.

That's not the definition of a player that everyone saw as "bad" and was loudly crapping on...

let me tell you this , if the scouts said that he was a guaranteed top 3 then the scouts are dogshit at their job. Nothing in his gameplay in the junior made him worth being a top 3 over the other 6-7 players in the top 10. Scouts just went apeshit because of that stupid tournament. He was not even speedy or playing as a powerforward in his league.

Like there is nothing elite that was showed from him before the draft. Not superfast , not a great playmaker , not extremely physical , not great defensively , doesn't have a good shot , Plays LOW IQ hockey with the puck.

You could see some elite things in Wright Nemec Jiricek and Cooley gameplay but with Slaf , nothing. Just a dream that the player never had a key to unlock. If Slaf get the same career as Armia it would be a success for him.

'' he could turn in Joe Thornton , he's a young Jagr ''
Like how?