Juraj Slafkovsky - Year Two

[417]

Well it's not about that for me. It's offensive positioning. It's still working on holding his head high. It's learning to shoot faster while not losing the aim. This guy plays like he's in juniors. Where he has time to shoot when he doesn't. He's not at NHL pace level. Not ONLY in his skating. But in his thinking.

What I don't want for him is to not lose his confidence. He'd go to a lesser level, learn to to have greater speed, fill the net, get his confidence back...and never look back starting next year or maybe even mid-year.

How in the world does a guy like Pacioretty can ASK to get his confidence going by going back to the AHL, but we shouldn't think it's a good idea to do the same with Slaf. I'm just stunned after the Galchy but mostly KK debacle that we, again, go down this road.

Do you think playing in lower leagues where this bad habit can actually be reinforced (because the lower the level, the more time you have), can actually be detrimental?

 

[Whitesnake]

Nobody says ''what's more important is what this player will be in 5 years and not now'' and still start him in the NHL at 18 in a market like Montreal. Sorry, makes no sense.

Do you think playing in lower leagues where this bad habit can actually be reinforced (because the lower the level, the more time you have), can actually be detrimental?

No because he will be taught to NOT play as the league is but to actually be much faster. Don't adapt to the league. Let the league adapt to you. That's what makes players dominate in the AHL just like in the NHL. Actually in every league. You are a top player of your league when you are faster than your counterparts.

So you become faster, play against weaker opposition, get that confidence going...and never look back.

 

[417]

Suzuki never struggled with his IQ. Suzuki never had the expectations Slaf has. Yes, everybody struggles. But in itself, it's not what is the problem. It's where the struggles are.

Suzuki has had his struggles…and will continue to do so.

If our standard for Slafkovsky to play in the NHL is that he not struggle, then he's never going to play anywhere.

I agree with you that most of his issues has to do with being too slow to process the game, he needs to speed up his thought process on the ice.

I don't personally think this is an issue that corrects itself in the AHL, if anything, I think it makes it worse.

 

[Kennerback]

Suzuki never struggled with his IQ. Suzuki never had the expectations Slaf has. Yes, everybody struggles. But in itself, it's not what is the problem. It's where the struggles are.

An NHL coach’s way of thinking is, the guy looks like Dainius Zubrus right now. Tools are there, toolbox isn’t. He will get decked, but he still helps the team in a secondary role when he’s not.

 

[417]

Nobody says ''what's more important is what this player will be in 5 years and not now'' and still start him in the NHL at 18 in a market like Montreal. Sorry, makes no sense.

That's fair…this isn't the market to “slow play” a prospect.

No because he will be taught to NOT play as the league is but to actually be much faster. Don't adapt to the league. Let the league adapt to you. That's what makes players dominate in the AHL just like in the NHL. Actually in every league. You are a top player of your league when you are faster than your counterparts.

Hmm, not sure I agree but I do admit this is an interesting take and one i’ll consider moving forward.

I'm still of the opinion that the things he needs the most work on, are things I think can actually hurt him more in the AHL.

But ultimately, I just think he needs to play and play a lot.

Whether that's in Montreal or Laval.

 

[Mudz]

An other good game yesterday. My only complaint is his shot on the PP that led to the shorthanded goal. You have to hit the net as a bare minimum from that position. But meh, it's preseason.

 

[Kennerback]

Zubrus facts:
- started the NHL at 18 years old
- never played a game in the AHL
- in his 3rd full NHL season had 8 points for the Flyers
- had a 20 year career in the NHL
- little know fact: played most of his career with number 9, but had to settle for 15 when he played with the Habs, yet he’s best known for his vaunted number 8 with his beloved Devils.

 

[417]

One thing is for sure…if he scores on his breakaway last night but plays the exact same game he ended up having.

The tone of this thread is a lot different.

We’re talking a different in inches of that puck going in, rather than staying on the goal line underneath the goalie’s skate.

 

[Jaynki]

Which prospect regardless of positon has come up via AHL “development” in the last decade?

Answer: Gallagher

Lol.

No.

He played there because of the lock out. He was an instant NHLer.

 

[417]

Which prospect regardless of positon has come up via AHL “development” in the last decade?

Answer: Gallagher

I'm not even sure that's a valid answer given Gallgher played 36 AHL games in Hamilton and it was during the lockout.

 

[Redux91]

I don't like how long it takes him to get a shot off. That doesn't fly in the NHL. That was Kotkaniemi's calling card.

This is definitely the #1 thing that bothers me the most
He has got to start thinking faster

 

[morhilane]

An other good game yesterday. My only complaint is his shot on the PP that led to the shorthanded goal. You have to hit the net as a bare minimum from that position. But meh, it's preseason.

That puck passed two Habs players would should have keep it into the ozone and Trudeau was nonchalant to get it back once out so he lost the foot race to Robertson.

It was a normal event during a powerplay and two Habs players were asleep on the job and neither was named Slaf.

 

[Tanknation]

What has Cooley done so far apart from one highlights?

Cause i can tell you a plethora of good things Slaf has done. And Reinbacher too.

Cooley is better in pretty much every faucet of hockey.
Speed
Passing
IQ
Stick handling
Poise
Agility
Endurance
Etc. Etc.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I don’t think you’re as outnumbered as you think. Then again, I’m looking at things from the other side as you so I’m quoting people who have opposing views to mine most of the time for debate. A lot of the arguments are on how Slafkovsky’s being developed, but it gets taken as hate towards the player. I can also tell you that it’s equally as frustrating that you have to worry about critiquing any of his play in fear of getting backlash. I’m sure it goes both ways which just shows how divided people are on this guy.

Zero problem with praise or criticism on him. But a lot of posters are really extreme. He’s either ‘catastrophically deficient’ or he’s an up and coming superstar. And then you get guys coming in talking about how last night he was the best player on the ice or the worst… it’s hilarious.

Anyone who says he was our best or worst player last night was not watching or has an agenda. Simple as that.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

The problem with shift to shift analysis is that people get bogged down on these micro mistakes like all players are perfect and Slaf isn’t.

You know how many bad passes Suzuki and Caufield make a game? Plenty. No player is perfect every shift.

When looking at the game as a whole since the start of pre-season, Slaf is always among the better players globally even if he has individual shifts where he does nothing or makes a mistake.

You have to look at trends and the trend since last years camp is that Slaf is getting better as time progresses. He’s not stagnating and he’s not regressing. So everyone needs to walk back from the ledge and let the sample size grow.

Caufield was terrific in the first two periods last night. But he missed the net a few times, messed up plays on others… if Slaf does it though, he’s “brutal.” It’s Carey Price all over again.

 

[ReHabs]

Not every prospect or every project has the same things to improve. It would go a long way if the “Everything the Habs do is optimal” crowd would at least acknowledge that Suzuki, Caufield, and Slafkovsky all had very different profiles during their development phase.

Identify the problem — root cause analysis — and the solution is likelier to reveal itself.

 

[Habitant#1]

Why is it so difficult to just let a player show they can dominate at a given level before progressing to the next level? I thought this was accepted best practice?
Let Slaf cook in the AHL until he has nothing left to learn there. Then, he can learn the NHL game in the NHL.

Why is this the only prospect where this logic doesn't apply??

 

[BLONG7]

One thing is for sure…if he scores on his breakaway last night but plays the exact same game he ended up having.

The tone of this thread is a lot different.

We’re talking a different in inches of that puck going in, rather than staying on the goal line underneath the goalie’s skate.

How true..............perspective can be amazing.
Kid is 19 guys LOL and he is playing well. so....................

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Suzuki never struggled with his IQ. Suzuki never had the expectations Slaf has. Yes, everybody struggles. But in itself, it's not what is the problem. It's where the struggles are.

Right… expectations.

People have this ideal that Slaf must live up to because he was first overall. That’s the real problem here.

Revise your expectations. Suddenly you’ll see a player who has looked pretty decent in the preseason.

 

[ReHabs]

Caufield was terrific in the first two periods last night. But he missed the net a few times, messed up plays on others… if Slaf does it though, he’s “brutal.” It’s Carey Price all over again.

This is not an appropriate comparison. Caufield is an established NHLer and there is no possibility of sending him anywhere much less to develop his NHL game.

The whole debate is about where Slaf should be for his and the Habs best outcome.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

One thing is for sure…if he scores on his breakaway last night but plays the exact same game he ended up having.

The tone of this thread is a lot different.

We’re talking a different in inches of that puck going in, rather than staying on the goal line underneath the goalie’s skate.

Same on the one timer. He could easily have had two goals last night.

 

[ReHabs]

Right… expectations.

People have this ideal that Slaf must live up to because he was first overall. That’s the real problem here.

Revise your expectations. Suddenly you’ll see a player who has looked pretty decent in the preseason.

Lower your expectations and suddenly you’ll see the Habs GM never makes a mistake

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Lower your expectations and suddenly you’ll see the Habs GM never makes a mistake

Yeah, I wonder why people think you’re not a good faith poster.

 

[morhilane]

Caufield was terrific in the first two periods last night. But he missed the net a few times, messed up plays on others… if Slaf does it though, he’s “brutal.” It’s Carey Price all over again.

Caufield had 7 misses and 0 shots on net by the end of the 2nd period. He couldn't hit a barn last night. Or didn't care if he missed. Hard to say sometimes with pre-season, players often try stuff that usually doesn't work.

Why is it so difficult to just let a player show they can dominate at a given level before progressing to the next level? I thought this was accepted best practice?

That's not a practice, it's what some armchair player development managers on this forums keep saying should be done.

 

[DAChampion]

That's not a practice, it's what some armchair player development managers on this forums keep saying should be done.

It's what's done in most areas of life.