Juraj Slafkovsky - Year Two

[Pomee]

Where is this anger and hate toward the 19 years old rookie coming from?
He wasnt the problem yesterday!

He had third assist on the Gally's goal,
he made two great passes to prime goal chances, which his teammates messed up,
he had 3 hits, only Xhekaj had more (4),
he was 100% on the face off.

Its getting ridiculous and unfair, especially when 3/4 of the team was worse than Slaf yesterday!

Here are some numbers that dont lie! So please, stop this nonsense!

 

[Miller Time]

KK never looked as bad as Slafkowsky does currently.

KK was a far better player than Slaf at the same age and it's not even close.

May as well go back to comparing Slaf to become a potential Thornton or Thompson, etc, etc.

the point wasn't to compare Slaf to JKO, it was to highlight that the shallow short-term takes about JKO are similar to the shallow short term takes about Slaf.

some assessments are bad, and for whatever reasons, some people don't seem to learn from previous poor assessments.

Slaf has unique potential that doesn't really match up well to any of those examples. THere really hasn't been a player with his unique physical and skill traits (the best comparison in that regard was perhaps, Jagr, but Jagr obviously possessed a far superior aptitude for leveraging his physical tools, and perhaps an all-time level of competitive instinct).

What is perhaps most similar with JKO/Slaf, is that it is clear with Slaf (as it was with JKO), that he will only start to scratch at his potential in his mid-20's, and it will require patience from the team (patience in terms of their expectations of him and his production, not patience as narrowly defined by wether to play in the NHL/AHL) to see that potential play itself out. Last management group lacked that foresight, and blew up the relationship with the player in the process of downgrading the asset in hand... to the mass benefit of the Canes.

hopefully, the current group ignores the impatient fan base and media talking heads, and this time around we get to see what the player can do with his immense set of tools once he starts putting it all together.

 

[Miller Time]

Can we wait four more years for Slaf to show something like KK is now in his d+6? Cole and Nick's primes will be ending.

Can we afford not to?

also, i think it's a bit premature to suggest that Suzuki's prime will be ending at 28-29, and even moreso that CC's will at 26-27.

imo, both have the personality/work ethic/skill sets to be the types of players who enjoy a window of their prime that lasts easily into their early 30's. I'd bet that in 4 years from now, they will be smack dab in the middle of their prime, and it will be a thrilling time for habs fans because CC/Suzuki/Dach/Slaf will give us one of the best top-6 cores in the league (not too mention if Newhook rises to that level, let alone any of Roy, Mesar, Kidney, Beck, Heineman et. and/or any other top forward talent we add bia UFA/trade)

Future is bright... just gotta be patient in ways that are hard given how poorly the past decade went and how burned we got from the patience shown to BargainBin &co.

while it's not the flash of McDavid/Drai, what i really like about the core talent being assembled at fwd is that they are all players who show high compete/low ego commitment... no prima donna's, no selfish players with elite skill but major defensive deficiencies to work around... there a very lunchpail/rise to the occasion character to this group (CC/Suzuki having displayed it in spades in our cup run, Slaf in his international play... Dach perhaps the least evidence of the group)... that goes a long way to building the kind of sustained excellence that a group like the Bruins have enjoyed around Marchand/Bergeron/Krecj a group that remains far more successful than other higher touted forward groups in recent memory.

the flash is fun, but far less sustainable than gritty commitment to excellence.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

H

Where is this anger and hate toward the 19 years old rookie coming from?
He wasnt the problem yesterday!

He had third assist on the Gally's goal,
made two great passes to prime goal chances, which his teammates messed up,
he had 3 hits, only Xhekaj had more (4),
he was 100% on face off and
his Corsi was over 20%.

Its getting ridiculous and unfair, especially when 3/4 of the team was worse than Slaf yesterday!

Here are some numbers that dont lie! So please, stop this nonsense!

View attachment 762477

His corsi was over 20%?? We've got a superstar on our hands

 

[River Meadow]

the point wasn't to compare Slaf to JKO, it was to highlight that the shallow short-term takes about JKO are similar to the shallow short term takes about Slaf.

some assessments are bad, and for whatever reasons, some people don't seem to learn from previous poor assessments.

Slaf has unique potential that doesn't really match up well to any of those examples. THere really hasn't been a player with his unique physical and skill traits (the best comparison in that regard was perhaps, Jagr, but Jagr obviously possessed a far superior aptitude for leveraging his physical tools, and perhaps an all-time level of competitive instinct).

What is perhaps most similar with JKO/Slaf, is that it is clear with Slaf (as it was with JKO), that he will only start to scratch at his potential in his mid-20's, and it will require patience from the team (patience in terms of their expectations of him and his production, not patience as narrowly defined by wether to play in the NHL/AHL) to see that potential play itself out. Last management group lacked that foresight, and blew up the relationship with the player in the process of downgrading the asset in hand... to the mass benefit of the Canes.

hopefully, the current group ignores the impatient fan base and media talking heads, and this time around we get to see what the player can do with his immense set of tools once he starts putting it all together.

Physical traits, yes he is tall at 6ft3.

What skill traits of his are so unique though?

 

[JackZap]

Let's see what the demagogue Hughes says about that.
Why did Canadiens' Slafkovsky stay in NHL? Kent Hughes gave some insight.
Hughes said they’re working with Slafkovsky “to help him understand how he can be most successful in North America,” and explained that it was a step-by-step process to alter his muscle memory. He said that, over this first step, there’s been zero emphasis placed on the player’s production as a measure of his success.

I dont care what he says, they must be concerned by now.

 

[Bombshell11]

Slafkovsky's play and processing of the game is concerning but I don't mind him spending time up with MSL. I trust them to do the right thing with him.

We all want him to succeed right away but we have to lower our expectations. He's definitely not ready and might take a lot of time to be.

I'll won't throw the towel before he reaches 27 yo.

This is why montreal should only draft goalies with their top first picks, its alot easier to lie and pretend with a goalie than it is with an offensive player.

 

[ReHabs]

the flash is fun, but far less sustainable than gritty commitment to excellence.

When I see Slafkovsky, I see gritty commitment to excellence. When I think Slafkovsky, I think grit and excellence. Great commentary as always thank you.

 

[River Meadow]

When I see Slafkovsky, I see gritty commitment to excellence. When I think Slafkovsky, I think Gritty Jagr Rantanen. Great commentary as always thank you.

He says Slaf has such UNIQUE SKILLS, but can't name a single one aside from him being tall.

Grit is certainly not one of them either.

 

[Miller Time]

Physical traits, yes he is tall at 6ft3.

What skill traits of his are so unique though?

his height is probably the least "unique" aspect of it lol

his strength and force outputs, on the other hand, are well documented.
his hands and puck skills, for a player of his size (height/weight/build) are very unique... do you know many 220lb+ players that move as well as he does with the puck?

his skating is one of those "work in progress" areas that the team is deconstructing and rebuilding with him... as he gets through that dip and improves his acceleration, edge work and angles, he should be able to translate that power in impressive ways.

there was a clip circulating from that opener vs the laffs where he closed on Domi by the boards at remarkable speed, caught him totally unprepared... a guy that big moving that fast can do devastating things defensively and even more so offensively given the puck skills he already possesses.

 

[JurequeparJuraj]

At least he did not get destroyed on a open ice hit ..yet .. about the only improvement I see.

 

[le_sean]

None of what you said is contradictory.

You can still believe a player is a long term project and think the best place of development is the nhl.

As an unrelated note: for me it's all about progression. Slaf was progressing very nicely in pre-season and the first 6 games as compared to last year. The last 3-4 games he's not only stagnated, but he's regressing a little. This is where a decision needs to be made in my opinion. Is it a string of bad games, or is it a trend and a signal of major flaws in his game?

Development curve is the most important thing with prospects. I think Slaf has made huge strides in his game, but now seems to have hit a wall. You don't want young players in that position for too long.

And I’m going to say he hit a wall because of his linemates. Obviously he needs to play better, but at the age of 19 and being a project, they need to put him in more ideal situations. The only thing he’s learning right now is “don’t pass it to Anderson, he won’t do anything” and “get out of Newhook’s way since even Newhook doesn’t know where he’s going”.

I’ve seen a lot of bad lines as a Habs fan, and the lack of chemistry between those three is glaring. You can’t put three guys who have no idea how to play their positions together.

 

[themilosh]

I think we're ok with Suzuki - Dach - Monahan - Evans down the middle with Dvo and Newhook as injury replacements. The problem is we have Dach out and the backup C, Dvo, is also out. So Newhook is a double injury replacement. If we get another injury before Dvo comes back, I would bring Belzile back!

But I would have liked to have paid a price similar to what LA paid for Dubois. We have a lot of quantity. It would be good to bundle it for a top six forward with size.

yup full agreed. There's no reason PLD shouldn't have been signed to the Habs as a unique C/W Top 6 with size.. that was far from an overpayment Kings sent.

and actually one of the few moves ( or no moves) that I was surprised Hugo didn't want.

 

[le_sean]

yup full agreed. There's no reason PLD shouldn't have been signed to the Habs as a unique C/W Top 6 with size.. that was far from an overpayment Kings sent.

and actually one of the few moves ( or no moves) that I was surprised Hugo didn't want.

Gabe Vilardi = Kirby Dach. That was the price the Jets wanted and the Habs were right to say no.

We wouldn’t be having such a discussion on Slafkovsky if Dach wasn’t out all year. The 2nd line would be money.

 

[NORiculous]

Gabe Vilardi = Kirby Dach. That was the price the Jets wanted and the Habs were right to say no.

We wouldn’t be having such a discussion on Slafkovsky if Dach wasn’t out all year. The 2nd line would be money.

Dach would be money.

 

[le_sean]

Dach would be money.

Yeah he was becoming elite. But his linemates were a good fit for him. They complimented each other well.

 

[NORiculous]

And I’m going to say he hit a wall because of his linemates.

And I’m going to say he hit a wall because of management being obsessed with keeping him in the NHL.

 

[Whitesnake]

I was concerned with Timmins. I think it was time to go. It was. But geez am I more concerned with Bobrov.....seems to be a bonafide Grant McCagg.....

 

[Jaynki]

I dont care what he says, they must be concerned by now.

You are only projecting your insecurities but maybe they are concerned too.

 

[cave troll]

Slaf has unique potential that doesn't really match up well to any of those examples. THere really hasn't been a player with his unique physical and skill traits (the best comparison in that regard was perhaps, Jagr, but Jagr obviously possessed a far superior aptitude for leveraging his physical tools, and perhaps an all-time level of competitive instinct).

The difference between Jagr and Slaf is this:
Jagr dominated the Czechoslovakian senior league at 18 and was a Top10 player in that league.
He came to NHL as a full package.
Slaf was almost a nobody in Liiga. 188th in PPG. Just a young talent showing some promise.
He came to NHL and is still under some "muscle memory reformatting" procedure, whatever Hughes meant with that.
Slaf is not worth putting in same sentence with Jagr.

 

[26Mats]

I was concerned with Timmins. I think it was time to go. It was. But geez am I more concerned with Bobrov.....seems to be a bonafide Grant McCagg.....

I'm concerned about Bobrov. But it's too early to judge Slaf and Reinbacher.

And Timmins' last 4 drafts are looking really good now:

2021 - Mailloux, Roy, Trudeau
2020 - Guhle, Farrell
2019 - Caufield, RHP, Struble
2018 - Kotkaniemi, Romanov, Ylonen, Harris

 

[cave troll]

I was concerned with Timmins. I think it was time to go. It was. But geez am I more concerned with Bobrov.....seems to be a bonafide Grant McCagg.....

Good. And what of these qualities Bobov mentioned are we actually seeing on the ice?
Also, seems to me he was scouted on OG and WC and probably nobody was watching him properly in the Liiga.

 

[Whitesnake]

The more you wait, the more you make Slaf entitled. The more he is entitled, the more, like KK, he'll think he won't deserve being sat down or sent down. And he'll want to get out.

I have no idea who those idiots can't know that this is going to happen. Especially in a market like Montreal. Any chance there are people in that management that knows the market?

 

[Jaynki]

Good. And what of these qualities Bobov mentioned are we actually seeing on the ice?
Also, seems to me he was scouted on OG and WC and probably nobody was watching him properly in the Liiga.

Did you watched him in Liiga?

 

[Whitesnake]

Good. And what of these qualities Bobov mentioned are we actually seeing on the ice?
Also, seems to me he was scouted on OG and WC and probably nobody was watching him properly in the Liiga.

2 tournaments and the playoffs. That's what made Slaf a 1st overall choice. Oh and while they don't say it, OBVIOUSLY size played a huge issue. Also reason why Reinbacher was our choice as well. We had to get bigger. Even if it meant leaving better talent aside.

Which baffles me as it's really as if they don't have confident in Hughes to move pieces around if we end up too small....