Juraj Slafkovsky - Year Two

[ReHabs]

Well I know you and I did not have him there but the McKenzie poll is the closest thing we have to a scout consensus and it said Slaf was the 1OA for a majority of scouts. And if we look for other rankings he was a top 3 pick everywhere.

A narrow edge is not a consensus! Consensus has a meaning, it doesn’t mean narrow majority!

 

[Jaynki]

this dude is awkward as f***, even on his goal, looks so awkward, like someone who started hockey late in their life awkward stickhandling and to the guy saying its ok to get "enlightened on slaf" lol what a joke, the dude got a goal on the power play gtfo

The most awkward things in all of this is your post.

 

[Nedved]

I feel like Slaf needs to play with better players in order to play his game, he looked great with Dach and he’s looked great with Suzuki-Caufield.

This is another “development” year for this team, I think we’d be wise to leave him with the Suzuki-Caufield duo for a bit and just see how he does.

He took advantage of the extra eyes on caufield and suzuki, that's for sure, because you couldn't say that about Anderson and Pinard. He actually looked like he wanted to play a possession game instead of a N-S dump and chase type of game.

time will tell if it'll work, but fingers crossed, because we don't have a lot of options at this point.

 

[Jaynki]

I'm not saying Roy will be a star in the NHL, but at least he's showing some dominant skillset compare to Slaf (hockey IQ, passing ability, event his shot is better). so that give us some hope for him, but for Slaf, everything is 'meh'

Well, we are entitled to our opinion.

Personally, i believe its the total opposite.

Wanting to look like the most intelligent man and betting against a former 1st overall pick, in favour of a dubious 20 years old prospect AHLer.

Sometimes things are obvious and we dont need to overthink them.

Slafkovsky is a unicorn.

Roy is "meh" as f***.

Did time in the AHL hurt Rantanen?

It’s too late to compare Slafkovsky with Rantanen, but it’s worth asking why a single goal in a 6-3 loss allows you room to flip-flop a basic premise: players not sufficiently prepared for the toughest league of the sport shouldn’t be playing in it.

Fair debate.

The goal yesterday has nothing to do. His overall performance(yesterday) and the "highs" he showed since the beginning of training camp do the speaking.

 

[Ajhccwrs]

The one big take away from last night is it shows just how wrong all the posters were who said he doesn't have hockey IQ. Meanwhile he looked not only like he belonged last night but his decision making contributed many chances and 2 Montreal goals. Him scoring 1 of them and Suzuki scoring the other. Along with myself and others on here didn't feel like he was nearly as bad as some posters here like to continuously slam home on the forums.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

The thing is he is a 19 years old with a massive skillset

Could you elaborate?

Caufield was a massive skillset. Slaf is just massive.

I would have avoided Michkov no matter the other prospects. Not even the first russian drafted; I bet he never even sniffs the nhl.

You're in denial. I bet he'll easily outproduce Slaf in the NHL.

 

[DAChampion]

MSL trying Slafkovsky on the first line is something that I appreciate about him, because it feels like the last twenty years of Habs' coaches didn't know when to change lines.

MSL tried something else (Newhook and Anderson and Slafkovsky) it didn't work so he moved on and tried something else.

Could you elaborate?

Caufield was a massive skillset. Slaf is just massive.



You're in denial. I bet he'll easily outproduce Slaf in the NHL.

Maybe, but there's a track record of big players like John LeClaire, Tage Thompson, Henrik Sedin, and Jesperi Kotkaniemi not breaking out until D+5/D+6.

 

[ReHabs]

The one big take away from last night is it shows just how wrong all the posters were who said he doesn't have hockey IQ. Meanwhile he looked not only like he belonged last night but his decision making contributed many chances and 2 Montreal goals. Him scoring 1 of them and Suzuki scoring the other. Along with myself and others on here didn't feel like he was nearly as bad as some posters here like to continuously slam home on the forums.

Curious why didn’t you post this bleating after games 2-10.

 

[Nedved]

Well, we are entitled to our opinion.

Personally, i believe its the total opposite.

Wanting to look like the most intelligent man and betting against a former 1st overall pick, in favour of a dubious 20 years old prospect AHLer.

Sometimes things are obvious and we dont need to overthink them.

Slafkovsky is a unicorn.

Roy is "meh" as f***.



Fair debate.

The goal yesterday has nothing to do. His overall performance(yesterday) and the "highs" he showed since the beginning of training camp do the speaking.

ROy isn't really "meh". He's going to make it and be effective in the nhl. I hope both become PPG and tear it up. That's what we need.

 

[DarcyWakaluk]

MSL trying Slafkovsky on the first line is something that I appreciate about him, because it feels like the last twenty years of Habs' coaches didn't know when to change lines.

MSL tried something else (Newhook and Anderson and Slafkovsky) it didn't work so he moved on and tried something else.



Maybe, but there's a track record of big players like John LeClaire, Tage Thompson, Henrik Sedin, and Jesperi Kotkaniemi not breaking out until D+5/D+6.

For every John Leclair / Tage Thompson, there's 50 Michael McCarron / Chad Kilger

its not because he has the same physic of those guys that he will automatically became a stud at 23 yo just like them.

 

[Ajhccwrs]

Curious why didn’t you post this bleating after games 2-10.

Actually, I've been very pro Slaf if you look at my previous post history. Along with backing him against all the trolls.

 

[Jaynki]

Could you elaborate?

No.

I refuse to believe he fooled the hockey world. Because implying he has no skill kinda imply that.

Slaf performance will speak for themselves, for the better or wrong.

 

[DarcyWakaluk]

No.

I refuse to believe he fooled the hockey world. Because implying he has no skill kinda imply that.

Slaf performance will speak for themselves, for the better or wrong.

Yakupov, Sefan, Daigle, Wickheneiser, etc... fooled the hockey world, theres a lot of examples like that

 

[WinterLion]

I'm not sure if Slaf actually played better.... but Newhook and Anderson sure did!

 

[Deebs]

I'm not sure if Slaf actually played better.... but Newhook and Anderson sure did!

Slaf had another weak game but better than the previous 7-8. He should be in Laval with players of similar skill at the moment. He needs a solid month or two of positivity in his game to build his confidence and swagger back up...then they can reevaluate.

 

[Nedved]

The one big take away from last night is it shows just how wrong all the posters were who said he doesn't have hockey IQ. Meanwhile he looked not only like he belonged last night but his decision making contributed many chances and 2 Montreal goals. Him scoring 1 of them and Suzuki scoring the other. Along with myself and others on here didn't feel like he was nearly as bad as some posters here like to continuously slam home on the forums.

I mean, the first goal, Gallagher did Gallagher things, but Slaf showed some great hands in that spot. Suzuki's goal is in garbage time, doesn't mean much, imo. It's good for fantasy sports but doesn't say much about how we're down 6-2.

If Slaf scores a goal a game but finishes in the red each game, it's not going to help the team. Anyway, he flashed some really good things last night, looks like a complimentary player, and he won't drive a line anytime soon. I think that's the knock on his IQ. I think his IQ isn't great, but if he plays like he did last night for a long stretch it's higher than Anderson's, that for sure.

We had a shot at brady tkachuk, who is everything we hope Slaf will be, maybe he will over time. I think that's what is driving me nuts is I want him to be special but I just don't see it. He was 1st overall.

 

[ReHabs]

Actually, I've been very pro Slaf if you look at my previous post history. Along with backing him against all the trolls.

You’ve done a good job backing Slaf against the trolls who want more than a 15pt pace from the 1OA. I appreciate your hard work putting them in their place. Slafkovsky’s NHL performance must not be criticized because it opens the door to criticize Kent Hughes. You are Molson’s Strongest Soldier.

 

[26Mats]

You’ve done a good job backing Slaf against the trolls who want more than a 15pt pace from the 1OA. I appreciate your hard work putting them in their place. Slafkovsky’s NHL performance must not be criticized because it opens the door to criticize Kent Hughes. You are Molson’s Strongest Soldier.

I don't know the history of this discussion. But Indon't think there's much point in looking at Slafkovsky's point total.

He will become what he will become. Looking at his point total now will not tell you what he will be when he's 25 and in his prime. So, let's sit back and see. Arguing about what is best for his development makes sense to me, but not who we should of picked or what Slaf will be when he's 25. It's just way too early, as much as we'd like to know now.

 

[bcv]

this dude is awkward as f***, even on his goal, looks so awkward, like someone who started hockey late in their life awkward stickhandling and to the guy saying its ok to get "enlightened on slaf" lol what a joke, the dude got a goal on the power play gtfo

Your life must be depressing. Always mad at everything.

 

[DAChampion]

Yakupov, Sefan, Daigle, Wickheneiser, etc... fooled the hockey world, theres a lot of examples like that

No.

Alexandre Daigle, for example, was a legitimately outstanding hockey talent. He just lacked heart, particularly in his younger years.

 

[417]

For every John Leclair / Tage Thompson, there's 50 Michael McCarron / Chad Kilger

its not because he has the same physic of those guys that he will automatically became a stud at 23 yo just like them.

Certainly not, but I’m fairly confident in thinking he’ll be a much different player at 23 than he’s shown at 18-19.

That’s whether he continues to play in the NHL or gets a stint in Laval.

Unfortunately, that’s just way too far down the line for most fans.

 

[JoelWarlord]

Scores a goal and looks pretty good on the top line and this thread is nastier than it's been all season. Bizzare.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

No.

I refuse to believe he fooled the hockey world. Because implying he has no skill kinda imply that.

Slaf performance will speak for themselves, for the better or wrong.

I didn't say he has no skills. There's just nothing massive about his skillset.

 

[ReHabs]

I didn't say he has no skills. There's just nothing massive about his skillset.

His size is extremely overvalued, which is a shame given he isn’t even a physical player.

Imagine he was 6’0, 190lbs… 10pts in his Liiga season where he never figured it out and was inconsistent, great showing against plumbers in the Olympics, great showing against Team Kazakhstan in the WC… would he be drafted top10?

 

[DAChampion]

His size is extremely overvalued, which is a shame given he isn’t even a physical player.

Imagine he was 6’0, 190lbs… 10pts in his Liiga season where he never figured it out and was inconsistent, great showing against plumbers in the Olympics, great showing against Team Kazakhstan in the WC… would he be drafted top10?

Except Slafkovsky isn't 6'0; he was considered a top prospect before his D-1, and Kazakhstan would probably crush most OHL teams.