Juraj Slafkovsky - Year Two

[Kennerback]

Slaf skates at a physically decent speed but he’s “hockey slow”. If it’s a 1 on 1 race towards the net, the D’s objective is the net, Slaf’s objective is looking for a linemate that may or may not be catching up. So he never puts on the jets with the puck.

Sometimes he does get an edge on the D and he‘s forced to shoot. He then needs to rev up the slowest shot release on the team. D catches up with his stick and deflects the shot.

Hockey slow.

 

[River Meadow]

The fact he has decent skating and size and has not been trying to use his body at all to create time and space when he has the puck is maddening. He plays like if he has Newhook’s body. In fact, not only does he not create time and space with his body/speed, he often doesn’t even use the time and space gifted to him in the OZ?

He plays like he has Caufield's body.

 

[Mrb1p]

He plays like he has Caufield's body.

Plays nothing like Caufield tho. If he had an ounce of the swagger and talent Caufield has hed be a 1st liner already

 

[Kennerback]

Plays nothing like Caufield tho. If he had an ounce of the swagger and talent Caufield has hed be a 1st liner already

Like Caufield if Caufield never shot on net.

 

[Habz4]

I think they need to ask Lecavalier (since we are paying him for something) to try and work with the kid, just try to guide him and maybe help him gain confidence.
He was in kind of a similar situation since he's a big body drafted 1st. I think it is worth a shot.

 

[River Meadow]

I think they need to ask Lecavalier (since we are paying him for something) to try and work with the kid, just try to guide him and maybe help him gain confidence.
He was in kind of a similar situation since he's a big body drafted 1st. I think it is worth a shot.

It's November,

You think Lecavalier is coming to Montreal in November?

He's chillin' in Florida til at least April.

 

[Gustave]

It's November,

You think Lecavalier is coming to Montreal in November?

He's chillin' in Florida til at least April.

It’s funny because it’s true

 

[Habz4]

It's November,

You think Lecavalier is coming to Montreal in November?

He's chillin' in Florida til at least April.

Telework lol

 

[LesCanadiens]

Sure he’s still young, just getting my feet wet, what fun is there calling him a bust when he’s 25 back in Liiga. I’m a fan of prospects and I like making predictions.

Don’t get so emotional about it buddy. There’s plenty of people who are overly optimistic and saying he’s gonna be the next rantanen to cheer you up

And the MSL thing, he could telling his wife the kid is a complete bust, he won’t say it publicly for obvious reasons, anything he says should be taken with a HUGE grain of salt.

I appreciate this response. Puts your views into better perspective. And I'm Greek in background, so for me not being passionate (emotional isn't as accurate, lol) isn't an option. I see lots of good things with this kid. I remember when Leclair was being torched early on by both fans and media. I also remember the same thing for Sergachev. All I'm saying in general is let's give him at least the equivalence of two full seasons (160 games) before worrying that he may be a bust. Cheers!

 

[nhlfan9191]

I appreciate this response. Puts your views into better perspective. And I'm Greek in background, so for me not being passionate (emotional isn't as accurate, lol) isn't an option. I see lots of good things with this kid. I remember when Leclair was being torched early on by both fans and media. I also remember the same thing for Sergachev. All I'm saying in general is let's give him at least the equivalence of two full seasons (160 games) before worrying that he may be a bust. Cheers!

Who was ripping Sergachev? A lot of people were really upset when he was the main piece going back for Drouin. He was one of the only true blue chip prospects we’ve had in the last 10 years outside of Caufield.

 

[Mrb1p]

Who was ripping Sergachev? A lot of people were really upset when he was the main piece going back for Drouin. He was one of the only true blue chip prospects we’ve had in the last 10 years outside of Caufield.

Lol Sergachev got ripped by the usual suspects who love management no matter what for years. He still gets ripped by a few in GDTs whenever we play the Bolts.

No one thats riping Slaf was riping Serg tho.

 

[LesCanadiens]

Who was ripping Sergachev? A lot of people were really upset when he was the main piece going back for Drouin. He was one of the only true blue chip prospects we’ve had in the last 10 years outside of Caufield.

You're probably right regarding Sergachev. I guess what I remember is how happy the media and many fans were when we traded him for Drouin. Most people on this board loved that trade. So, same mindset. Give the kids time!

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

He hasn’t shown any skill and his speed has been mediocre as well. Tired of people trying to sell size. It doesn’t mean anything if the player doesn’t use it in any productive way.

Size and speed are attributes and can’t really be coached.

We need to be patient and show what he can do. It’s going to take a while. You could very well be right, maybe he’s a bust. But we have to see things through. So many wrote off KK and he seems to have turned into a pretty solid player. Give it time.

 

[nhlfan9191]

Size and speed are attributes and can’t really be coached.

We need to be patient and show what he can do. It’s going to take a while. You could very well be right, maybe he’s a bust. But we have to see things through. So many wrote off KK and he seems to have turned into a pretty solid player. Give it time.

I’m trying so hard not to turn on this kid because young players, especially teenagers can flip the script in a second. But I really don’t see the attributes Slaf has translating with what we’ve seen so far. I’m waiting for him to make me eat my words but he just continues to disappoint. I’m not looking for huge things at this point, but I do want to see him tease us with what he could be. It’s disappointing he isn’t at least teasing us at this point. I never once ripped Kohtkaniemi because I could at least see the projected path. I don’t see it with this prospect.

 

[Jaynki]

The absolute outlier was a player like this going first overall. It would not shock me to see more outliers follow because of this.

Well, the faster we accept he is not your typical 1st overall, the better it is. Wright and Cooley were not typical 1st overall caliber either.

That was the reality of the 2022 draft. It changes nothing to my point. It is true for every single prospect. Some have a lot less potential, others are starting from way farther in their career. They are in the end all in their window of maximum growth age 18-23.

Now on Slaf, not being a typical 1st overall caliber is one thing, it still dont negate his high potential.

 

[nhlfan9191]

Well, the faster we accept he is not your typical 1st overall, the better it is. Wright and Cooley were not typical 1st overall caliber either.

That was the reality of the 2022 draft. It changes nothing to my point. It is true for every single prospect. Some have a lot less potential, others are starting from way farther in their career. They are in the end all in their window of maximum growth age 18-23.

Now on Slaf, not being a typical 1st overall caliber is one thing, it still dont negate his high potential.

Nobody brought up Wright other then you. If you’re going to take a winger over a C or a RHD when it’s that close, you better be sure. Wright wasn’t even the first center taken in the draft.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

The hits of Slafkowsky getting smoked just keep coming.

didn't even know he got smoked lol cool

Lol Sergachev got ripped by the usual suspects who love management no matter what for years. He still gets ripped by a few in GDTs whenever we play the Bolts.

No one thats riping Slaf was riping Serg tho.

only idiots ripped serg.

The trade was absolute dog meat the day it was made , we didn't even need hindsight, of course the fefans gobbled it all up at first.

Meanwhile people with brains did not understand why we would trade a 19 year old 6'3 LD after we lost markov and had NO LD's for a winger who can't play C

 

[Mrb1p]

Well, the faster we accept he is not your typical 1st overall, the better it is. Wright and Cooley were not typical 1st overall caliber either.

That was the reality of the 2022 draft. It changes nothing to my point. It is true for every single prospect. Some have a lot less potential, others are starting from way farther in their career. They are in the end all in their window of maximum growth age 18-23.

Now on Slaf, not being a typical 1st overall caliber is one thing, it still dont negate his high potential.

We probably need to accept that this guy isnt even a typical top 5 pick.

 

[Kennerback]

I’m trying so hard not to turn on this kid because young players, especially teenagers can flip the script in a second. But I really don’t see the attributes Slaf has translating with what we’ve seen so far. I’m waiting for him to make me eat my words but he just continues to disappoint. I’m not looking for huge things at this point, but I do want to see him tease us with what he could be. It’s disappointing he isn’t at least teasing us at this point. I never once ripped Kohtkaniemi because I could at least see the projected path. I don’t see it with this prospect.

I never ripped Kotkaniemi because from the get go he showed he could play, he flashed here and there some nice hands or a nice shot. There was nothing off. He just was slow to progress.

KK has a much better shot release, IMO Slaf is faster, bigger, he will be stronger, is a better passer and stickhandler than KK. HOWEVER he doesn’t do things that EVERYONE does when in the NHL!
- doesn’t take lanes of open ice in the slot
- seemingly no drive to shoot or score
- systematically squanders prime shooting opportunities for dubious passes

I’ve never seen the above from ANYONE, not Galchenyuk, Pacioretty, KK, name whoever you want. Maybe it’s all fine in his development arc, but I’ve never seen that and don’t understand it.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

I have to agree that KK looked better so did chucky , pretty sad stuff , considering both of those guys should have had at least their 18 year old season in another league

 

[Jaynki]

Nobody brought up Wright other then you. If you’re going to take a winger over a C or a RHD when it’s that close, you better be sure. Wright wasn’t even the first center taken in the draft.

The C and RD available in the 2022 draft were not 1st overall caliber. Thats the point.

We probably need to accept that this guy isnt even a typical top 5 pick.

That is pretty subjective. I think he is a top 5 pick in the last 10 draft ainec.

 

[EtLeBut2]

I never ripped Kotkaniemi because from the get go he showed he could play, he flashed here and there some nice hands or a nice shot. There was nothing off. He just was slow to progress.

KK has a much better shot release, IMO Slaf is faster, bigger, he will be stronger, is a better passer and stickhandler than KK.
HOWEVER he doesn’t do things that EVERYONE does when in the NHL!
- doesn’t take lanes of open ice in the slot
- seemingly no drive to shoot or score
- squanders prime shooting opportunities for dubious passes

I’ve never seen the above from ANYONE, not Galchenyuk, Pacioretty, KK, name whoever you want. Maybe it’s all fine in his development arc, but I’ve never seen that and don’t understand it.

KK had a lot of limitations but most of what especially held him back at the NHL level were exactly the things that usually make bigger guys slower to develop - he needed to grow into his body and improve his balance. He didn't look completely outmatched at the NHL level, he generally seemed to at least somewhat understand his role on the ice, he just was extremely easy to knock down and was awkward out there.

Slaf if anything yes, has a lot more raw talent than KK, but is missing a key fundamental - knowing how to play hockey in any sort of system. He seems completely lost out there except in short bursts. At this point, forget any comparisons or hypotheticals or where he's drafted - he needs to learn how to play the game, and that's not going to happen at the NHL level.

 

[Mrb1p]

The C and RD available in the 2022 draft were not 1st overall caliber. Thats the point.



That is pretty subjective. I think he is a top 5 pick in the last 10 draft ainec.

It is in fact close. He certainly doesnt go top 5 in 2023.

Maybe in 2021 in the past decade.

 

[Kennerback]

KK had a lot of limitations but most of what especially held him back at the NHL level were exactly the things that usually make bigger guys slower to develop - he needed to grow into his body and improve his balance. He didn't look completely outmatched at the NHL level, he generally seemed to at least somewhat understand his role on the ice, he just was extremely easy to knock down and was awkward out there.

Slaf if anything yes, has a lot more raw talent than KK, but is missing a key fundamental - knowing how to play hockey in any sort of system. He seems completely lost out there except in short bursts. At this point, forget any comparisons or hypotheticals or where he's drafted - he needs to learn how to play the game, and that's not going to happen at the NHL level.

One play that I saw Slafkovsky do in Liiga bugged me a bit but not too much, but he’s doing it in the NHL, I just can’t.

The play happens when 2 linemates are driving the net. Forward A has the puck and is stepping in the mid slot, Forward B is stepping in the low slot and there’s a D between the 2 players. Instead of shooting, Player A will pass the puck forward to Player B who is by now practically right in front of the goalie.

It’s Slaf’s absolute favorite play yet I’ve never seen Slaf succeed at it. Neither in Liiga nor in the NHL.

1- Slaf as Forward A will have time to make a great shot from the mid slot, the D is not on him, he has plenty of time and space. The angle to score is the best.…But instead of shooting, Slaf always tries to pass to Forward B who’s right on the goalie so he has a much worse angle. FAIL

2- Slaf with even create that situation himself all the f-ing time!! Slaf is alone in the mid-slot with time and space to shoot, with the D in front. Best place to shoot in the whole rink… What Slaf always does here, is he drops the puck to a trailing Forward and skates without the puck pass the D to go right in front of the net. Probably to receive a pass….

Something always goes wrong. Either the trailing forward bobbles the puck, is in a worse position to shoot or tries a pass and hits the D. FAIL

 

[Jaynki]

It is in fact close. He certainly doesnt go top 5 in 2023.

Maybe in 2021 in the past decade.

Debatable but there is no point going into it because its subjective and we won't be able to support our point with tangible evidence.