Juraj Slafkovsky - Year Two

[NORiculous]

It makes you wonder why they passed on Michkov for another Russian nonetheless.

If I remember the rumours were that ARI was a no go, meaning Michkov would not come over if he was drafted by the Yotes.

Can’t remember if it was reliable or not. But I remember it wasn’t a surprise they didn’t pick him.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

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.

Well, you might be right. Maybe we picked the wrong guy. I honestly don’t know any more than you.

But we’re probably not going to know for a couple of years at least. Look at KK, 23 and he’s only breaking out now. It’s going to take some time.

But you’re perfectly entitled to your opinion. Some guys just don’t excite us as prospects. To me he’s a mystery box but…

 

[cphabs]

Add KK to the list…then learn to chill tf out lol.

View attachment 763561

Coconut is having quite the season so far In Carolina! Looks like he recovered from our development process. Oh, he’s a 23 year old large, and apparently mobile, skilled center… now. Happy for the kid!

 

[Jaynki]

If I remember the rumours were that ARI was a no go, meaning Michkov would not come over if he was drafted by the Yotes.

Can’t remember if it was reliable or not. But I remember it wasn’t a surprise they didn’t pick him.

I think its possible. He had a meeting with Philadelphia pre-draft to signify his intention to play there. Thats pretty much the only tangible confirmation we have i believe.

 

[Heffyhoof]

Juraj's speed is not a matter for debate, we have the numbers.

View attachment 765069

There were a number of bad faith posters saying he was a slow skater during the down time when he was injured. It's embarrassing the level of dishonesty some people will sink to in order to seem right on the internet.

 

[KevSkillz4]

I truly believe that the development of Slaf right now, it's because of Vincent Lecavalier, another big forward who have slow start in NHL.. after being draft 1st overall. Slaf have 12 points in 51 games. Lecavalier got 28 points in 82 games. So he is the best for speaking about that. I'm conviced that we have a star player in Slaf, just need to be patient.

 

[Nedved]

I truly believe that the development of Slaf right now, it's because of Vincent Lecavalier, another big forward who have slow start in NHL.. after being draft 1st overall. Slaf have 12 points in 51 games. Lecavalier got 28 points in 82 games. So he is the best for speaking about that. I'm conviced that we have a star player in Slaf, just need to be patient.

He was a centerman. slaf's a winger, with less responsibility, and he still can't find his game. I don't see it. Slaf reminds me of brett lindros.

 

[HuGort]

I truly believe that the development of Slaf right now, it's because of Vincent Lecavalier, another big forward who have slow start in NHL.. after being draft 1st overall. Slaf have 12 points in 51 games. Lecavalier got 28 points in 82 games. So he is the best for speaking about that. I'm conviced that we have a star player in Slaf, just need to be patient.

His second year though Lecavalier exploded

 

[nhlfan9191]

I truly believe that the development of Slaf right now, it's because of Vincent Lecavalier, another big forward who have slow start in NHL.. after being draft 1st overall. Slaf have 12 points in 51 games. Lecavalier got 28 points in 82 games. So he is the best for speaking about that. I'm conviced that we have a star player in Slaf, just need to be patient.

You have to remember Lecavalier entered the league in the middle of the dead puck era. I don’t know what the conversion would be but he would’ve probably been good enough to put up 40+ in todays NHL as a rookie. He also had 67 points as a sophomore which would probably good enough to make him close to a PPG player in the NHL today. I don’t see the similarities there.

 

[Toene]

Just to save my honor now before he busts :

I just had a quick look at this thread, it's funny to see how in may 2022, Slafkovsky was barely on the radar for most posters for the 1st oa. Which player should the Mtl Canadiens pick with their 1 st choice?

 

[Bushero]

Just to save my honor now before he busts :

View attachment 765409

I just had a quick look at this thread, it's funny to see how in may 2022, Slafkovsky was barely on the radar for most posters for the 1st oa. Which player should the Mtl Canadiens pick with their 1 st choice?

Attaboy. You can ask McDavid how important top end D-group is. Generational forward talent can grind points during season, but if you want actually win, then solid D is a must. Your team is just as good as your defense.

 

[cave troll]

Damn, I was pretty sure 98% of posters wanted Slafkofsky since they knew what kind of beast was hiding in Liiga.

 

[ReHabs]

Damn, I was pretty sure 98% of posters wanted Slafkofsky since they knew what kind of beast was hiding in Liiga.

Slafkovsky as a prospect was a lot like listening to jazz. It was the plays he didn’t make and the points he didn’t score which convinced Bobrov and Hughes in the 1OA pick.

 

[WinterLion]

Damn, I was pretty sure 98% of posters wanted Slafkofsky since they knew what kind of beast was hiding in Liiga.

Only the hockey historians knew that...

 

[Toene]

Slafkovsky as a prospect was a lot like listening to jazz. It was the plays he didn’t make and the points he didn’t score that made Bobrov and Hughes confident in the 1OA pick.

This is disingenuous. It was the points he scored and the plays he made, but in tournaments instead of in league play.

You can argue that they over valued his performance in tournaments, though.

 

[ReHabs]

This is disingenuous. It was the points he scored and the plays he made, but in tournaments instead of in league play.

You can argue that they over valued his performance in tournaments, though.

The current trend will show a lot more problems with Slafkovsky’s prospect profile than just his inability to perform in Liiga. I wish someone would have time and interest to forensically review Slaf’s tournament games — dollars on the table says that he showed the same flaws and same inability to make plays all along.

Players aren’t chameleons. They don’t change in different competitions. The Slaf of Liiga and the NHL is the Slaf of the tournaments where he allegedly played well. I don’t suspect he was prime Marian Hossa for Slovakia against Team Kazakhstan and is prime Marcel Hossa for the Habs against NHL teams.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

You have to remember Lecavalier entered the league in the middle of the dead puck era. I don’t know what the conversion would be but he would’ve probably been good enough to put up 40+ in todays NHL as a rookie. He also had 67 points as a sophomore which would probably good enough to make him close to a PPG player in the NHL today. I don’t see the similarities there.

I always found his career a little underwhelming dead puck era or not. Averaged 60 points over his career. Top ten in scoring twice. Certainly not bad but unlike Slaf, came in with a lot of hype.

 

[Tyson]

I always found his career a little underwhelming dead puck era or not. Averaged 60 points over his career. Top ten in scoring twice. Certainly not bad but unlike Slaf, came in with a lot of hype.

%

 

[Scriptor]

The current trend will show a lot more problems with Slafkovsky’s prospect profile than just his inability to perform in Liiga. I wish someone would have time and interest to forensically review Slaf’s tournament games — dollars on the table says that he showed the same flaws and same inability to make plays all along.

Players aren’t chameleons. They don’t change in different competitions. The Slaf of Liiga and the NHL is the Slaf of the tournaments where he allegedly played well. I don’t suspect he was prime Marian Hossa for Slovakia against Team Kazakhstan and is prime Marcel Hossa for the Habs against NHL teams.

Of course, players never evolve. It's a snapshot in time when they are 17/18 and nothing else. Read what you write and see if you actually make sense.

Think the point with Slafkovsky is that he got better as the season wore on, with the tournaments giving him confidence and that even reflecting on his later Liiga play, but hey, the player sucks and will always suck because of that snapshot in time.

Players aren't chameleons over a short span, but hockey is a fractions a second game where confidence plays a large role in execution when hesitation is removed from the equation. If you're skilled, confidence can drastically alter your gamed your production over a small period of time.

At 17/18, players also grow into their bodies and that has a direct effect on their production levels.

In the same vein, players who grow faster than others and can dominate their opponents physically at that level, at that age, can also hit a wall - sometimes temporarily, as they adjust, or permanently, if they can't, once they play against adult players their size with skill at the NHL level.

 

[SlafySZN]

But… Liiga!!!!!

 

[habdynasty]

Groundhog Day , rinse repeat.

 

[Toene]

The current trend will show a lot more problems with Slafkovsky’s prospect profile than just his inability to perform in Liiga. I wish someone would have time and interest to forensically review Slaf’s tournament games — dollars on the table says that he showed the same flaws and same inability to make plays all along.

Players aren’t chameleons. They don’t change in different competitions. The Slaf of Liiga and the NHL is the Slaf of the tournaments where he allegedly played well. I don’t suspect he was prime Marian Hossa for Slovakia against Team Kazakhstan and is prime Marcel Hossa for the Habs against NHL teams.

His qualities in liiga are the same that were praised in tournaments : strong, excellent balance, A1 protection of the puck, great hands/stick-handling which helped him create space for himself to generate shots and passes close to the net, good at forechecking, good top speed.

What needed work : his first steps, his agility.

He was an excellent prospect, just not a 1st overall worthy one in most years. He also was rushed and is in way over-his-head so he looks bad. I genuinely believe he would destroy the CHL.

 

[Kennerback]

His qualities in liiga are the same that were praised in tournaments : strong, excellent balance, A1 protection of the puck, great hands/stick-handling which helped him create space for himself to generate shots and passes close to the net, good at forechecking, good top speed.

What needed work : his first steps, his agility.

He was an excellent prospect, just not a 1st overall worthy one in most years. He also was rushed and is in way over-his-head so he looks bad. He genuinely believe he would destroy the CHL.

Slaf still has all those individual skills that we saw before the NHL. Except protection of the puck is completely non-existent. First step and agility are not a problem for me even if there’s room for improvement.

The one individual skill that is grossly inadequate is his shot. Extremely slow release, can’t mask his release and unable to shoot through shooting lanes. Furthermore, he never shoots so it makes it even worse.

But it’s really his geriatric indifference to shoot or score, more than his skills, that’s the major problem for me. Just like Reaves, offense seems like an after thought for Slaf. Reaves is there to fight, Slaf is seemingly there for the pure pleasure of skating.

 

[ReHabs]

Of course, players never evolve. It's a snapshot in time when they are 17/18 and nothing else. Read what you write and see if you actually make sense.

Think the point with Slafkovsky is that he got better as the season wore on, with the tournaments giving him confidence and that even reflecting on his later Liiga play, but hey, the player sucks and will always suck because of that snapshot in time.

Players aren't chameleons over a short span, but hockey is a fractions a second game where confidence plays a large role in execution when hesitation is removed from the equation. If you're skilled, confidence can drastically alter your gamed your production over a small period of time.

At 17/18, players also grow into their bodies and that has a direct effect on their production levels.

In the same vein, players who grow faster than others and can dominate their opponents physically at that level, at that age, can also hit a wall - sometimes temporarily, as they adjust, or permanently, if they can't, once they play against adult players their size with skill at the NHL level.

Read my comment once again.

I’m referring to his prospect profile. As in: should anyone undertake a historical analysis of his draft year, I posit they would see the same problems and issues with his intl. games as he had in Liiga (and continued to later show in the NHL.)

I really am referring to a snapshot of his D year.

Yes, he grew as the season went on but he didn’t grow enough. It was more like he was hot and then cooled down. I feel this is likely the case because he was pretty much terrible in his first TC and in his first NHL season. And he continues to be terrible (relative to topX draftees).

A guy with tools and no toolbox can’t bring his tools anywhere and doesn’t get the job done. That’s Slaf.

 

[Toene]

Slaf still has all those individual skills that we saw before the NHL. Except protection of the puck is completely non-existent. First step and agility are not a problem for me even if there’s room for improvement.

The one individual skill that is grossly inadequate is his shot. Extremely slow release, can’t mask his release and unable to shoot through shooting lanes. Furthermore, he never shoots so it makes it even worse.

But it’s really his geriatric indifference to shoot or score, more than his skills, that’s the major problem for me. Just like Reaves, offense seems like an after thought for Slaf. Reaves is there to fight, Slaf is seemingly there for the pure pleasure of skating.

I agree about his shot. It's like he's too tentative, it explains why he gets stripped of the puck so much because his decision-making is a tad too slow. Hence why he should learn in AHL, because the step between Liiga and its bigger ice and the NHL is enormous.