Juraj Slafkovsky - Year Two

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

MSL doing a fantastic job
doesnt play him , he sure will learn
are they waiting for the messiah until they send him in the AHL?

 

[RationalExpectations]

The narrative is shifting from super goofy braindead no IQ to IQ so high can only play with super intelligent player.

Seems like parents thinking their kid is too good at school because he is too smart, whereas they can t read or count.

 

[cave troll]

So, he is simply too intelligent for this team?

 

[Hoochi Papa]

MSL doing a fantastic job
doesnt play him , he sure will learn
are they waiting for the messiah until they send him in the AHL?

I thought prospect whisperer Dvorak was the messiah, who would unleash Slafkovsky's potential.

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

I thought prospect whisperer Dvorak was the messiah, who would unleash Slafkovsky's potential.

Chris Wideman is " a good locker room leader" i heard. This is probably it

 

[Naslundforever]

MSL doing a fantastic job
doesnt play him , he sure will learn
are they waiting for the messiah until they send him in the AHL?

Not just a case of Dvorak (his center) being on pk and then having to rest the 1-2 shifts following that? Evans in his spot to protect a 2-2 game in the last 5 is a bit overkill though I find for this team.

 

[morhilane]

Chris Wideman is " a good locker room leader" i heard. This is probably it

Wideman is yelling out from Saint-Louis these days, since he's not hanging out with the team.

 

[BehindTheTimes]

Ez

Extremely laughable.

What skill does Slaf possess better than either of them. It’s not vision, shooting, skating, awareness, puck control. What is it? He’s taller, we all know that. Shane Wright is going to make a bunch of ppl eat crow and it’s going to be hilarious when everyone does their about turn and claim they knew it all along.

Should make for some interesting twist in the hf spin room.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

All im gonna say is if slaf made the puck protection plays armia makes on the boards everybody would be so excited and gushing over him , kid dosent even need to produce the bar is set so low

 

[DAChampion]

What skill does Slaf possess better than either of them. It’s not vision, shooting, skating, awareness, puck control. What is it? He’s taller, we all know that. Shane Wright is going to make a bunch of ppl eat crow and it’s going to be hilarious when everyone does their about turn and claim they knew it all along.

Should make for some interesting twist in the hf spin room.

But Wright isn't being rushed.

He couldn't hack it in the NHL last year so he was sent back to junior. He even got to go to the WJCs.

This year he's in the AHL.

 

[morhilane]

But Wright isn't being rushed.

He couldn't hack it in the NHL last year so he was sent back to junior. He even got to go to the WJCs.

This year he's in the AHL.

Wright was called back up 2 days ago and played his 9th NHL game. Under 9 minutes of sheltered TOI on the 4th line...

 

[BehindTheTimes]

But Wright isn't being rushed.

He couldn't hack it in the NHL last year so he was sent back to junior. He even got to go to the WJCs.

This year he's in the AHL.

I know, that’s my entire point. Although seattle’s handling of Wright has been poor too. I think Wright had more tools to work with from the beginning and will end up the superior player z. Everyone took their shots at him, like they did Michkov at the first chance in an attempt to prop up management and their choices. It’s going to be funny watching the spin.

 

[Jaynki]

What skill does Slaf possess better than either of them. It’s not vision, shooting, skating, awareness, puck control. What is it? He’s taller, we all know that. Shane Wright is going to make a bunch of ppl eat crow and it’s going to be hilarious when everyone does their about turn and claim they knew it all along.

Should make for some interesting twist in the hf spin room.

I don't think its worth anything to go through single skill like that but for the sake of the exercice, Slaf is the most powerful skater of the three, tho not the most agile nor the quickest. He has the heaviest shot too but indeed will need a faster release and more accuracy. Better puck protection, board play, forechecking. Surely better stickhandling than Wright. Physicality, athleticism. Fwiw.

I appreciate Wright and Cooley but i don't think we are looking at true 1C or megastar. I think we are more looking at top 6 C/LW. Rationally, i think player of Suzuki caliber, which is excellent. I also think that is where Slaf has the biggest odds to ends up. I do think tho Slaf has an outside chance of becoming something special due to his athleticism and unlimited physical capabilities.

Wright and Cooley would be victim of the same discourse of being not 1st OV caliber, lower ceiling, dubious NHL start for top picks, etc.

But Wright isn't being rushed.

He couldn't hack it in the NHL last year so he was sent back to junior. He even got to go to the WJCs.

This year he's in the AHL.

He was recalled and played 8 minutes last game. (I thought he was good tho)

Wright has 21 points in 39 AHL games total.

I could not imagine what the discourse would be if we would have chosen him.

 

[nhlfan9191]

I don't think its worth anything to go through single skill like that but for the sake of the exercice, Slaf is the most powerful skater of the three, tho not the most agile nor the quickest. He has the heaviest shot too but indeed will need a faster release and more accuracy. Better puck protection, board play, forechecking. Surely better stickhandling than Wright. Physicality, athleticism. Fwiw.

I appreciate Wright and Cooley but i don't think we are looking at true 1C or megastar. I think we are more looking at top 6 C/LW. Rationally, i think player of Suzuki caliber, which is excellent. I also think that is where Slaf has the biggest odds to ends up. I do think tho Slaf has an outside chance of becoming something speciak due to his athleticism and unlimited physical capabilities.

Wright and Cooley would be victim of the same discourse of being not 1st OV caliber, lower ceiling, dubious NHL start for top picks, etc.



He was recalled and played 8 minutes last game. (I thought he was good tho)

Wright has 21 points in 39 AHL games total.

I could not imagine what the discourse would be if we would have chosen him.

Shane Wright would’ve let the city of Montreal eat him alive. But he was only one of 5 realistic options and he dropped to 4th and wasn’t the first center taken in the draft for a reason.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

Everyone and their mom knows Slaf isn't playing well and isn't ready for the NHL. Why are we keeping him up?

 

[Jaynki]

Shane Wright would’ve let the city of Montreal eat him alive. But he was only one of 5 realistic options and he dropped to 4th and wasn’t the first center taken in the draft for a reason.

He is excellent and i think we would have cherished him because he was the most popular pick.

Tho, like Slaf, he is not a "1st overall talent".

I think its perfectly reasonable to have prefered a player like Slafkovsky with unique tools and personality. Wright and Cooley are also smallish.

Also, we are very harsh and impatient with our young star. We are very hard on them but on the other hand, when(if) Slaf starts to perform, we will turn on a dime and rise him to stardom immediately. Would be the same with Wright.

It takes a lot of nerve to sustain the presure of our market and the current challenge, being eaten alive, might be a great resilience builder for our start of tomorrow.

Everyone and their mom knows Slaf isn't playing well and isn't ready for the NHL. Why are we keeping him up?

We are all eager to see him produce and although its not enough, he has many offensive chances. He skates and play like an NHLer.

Maybe they have a plan for him?

Why are we assuming they are blindly keeping him up? That its for optics and for the show?

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

He is excellent and i think we would have cherished him because he was the most popular pick.

Tho, like Slaf, he is not a "1st overall talent".

I think its perfectly reasonable to have prefered a player like Slafkovsky with unique tools and personality. Wright and Cooley are also smallish.



We are all eager to see him produce and although its not enough, he has many offensive chances. He skates and play like an NHLer.

Maybe they have a plan for him?

Why are we assuming they are blindly keeping him up? That its for optics and for the show?

Wright at the combine was 6'0.5" and 199 lbs, I'd hardly call that smallish.

Not saying that in defense of wanting Wright, Nemec was my guy followed by Cooley.

As for why we're keeping him up, no idea. I get development isn't linear but typically over the course of a year you'd want a guy to be better than he was at the start.

 

[Jaynki]

Wright at the combine was 6'0.5" and 199 lbs, I'd hardly call that smallish.

Not saying that in defense of wanting Wright, Nemec was my guy followed by Cooley.

Its regular size but i thought he looked small/light in his last game. Its also normal for a 19 years old.

 

[Jaynki]

As for why we're keeping him up, no idea. I get development isn't linear but typically over the course of a year you'd want a guy to be better than he was at the start.

I think its very private things but it would be nice if we could have some explanations of their thoughts process.

I agree that Slaf start is disappointing for the level of prospects he is. Although slow, he still had some nice flashes and he has done things we haven't seen last year. There is still 69 games remaining and young player often experience dramatic surge in performance. Hope we will see it with Slaf.

 

[Kennerback]

What skill does Slaf possess better than either of them. It’s not vision, shooting, skating, awareness, puck control. What is it? He’s taller, we all know that. Shane Wright is going to make a bunch of ppl eat crow and it’s going to be hilarious when everyone does their about turn and claim they knew it all along.

Should make for some interesting twist in the hf spin room.

I would say Slaf is very good at skating and puck control for his size. He has no fear of using his body, but only uses it when he doesn’t have the puck.
Wright has a great shot and great finish. Slaf doesn’t.
Wright is mortally scared of physical contact. That’s why Slaf was in the NHL earlier.

 

[Kennerback]

Its regular size but i thought he looked small/light in his last game. Its also normal for a 19 years old.

They both have major hurdles to be successful in the NHL:

Seattle need to put their foot down about Wright using his body when going in the corner to get a puck and to not get rid of the puck as soon as anyone gets near him. Can’t lie. It’s a real problem he should have fixed in Bantam.

Habs needs to sit Slaf and tell him that the net is where you score and the slot is where you shoot to score. Then they need to work for hours on his shot release.

I would consider both player’s problems just as massive. Wright would have been just as eviscerated as Slaf if in Montreal, probably more.

 

[Jaynki]

They both have major hurdles to be successful in the NHL:

Seattle need to put their foot down about Wright using his body when going in the corner to get a puck and to not get rid of the puck as soon as anyone gets near him. Can’t lie. It’s a real problem he should have fixed in Bantam.

Habs needs to sit Slaf and tell him that the net is where you score and the slot is where you shoot to score. Then they need to work for hours on his shot release.

I would consider both player’s problems just as massive. Wright would have been just has eviscerated as Slaf if in Montreal , probably more.

Agree. I would also argue that even Cooley would be eviscerated. He is small, weak, dubious positioning and defense and apart from an highlights reel goal in pre season, he has not done much.

The three of them have qualities and upside and history have shown to not bet against player who are NHLer at 19YO. But its really a scenario where whichever player we would have picked at 1 would not have lived to the expectations of a 1st overall talent.

The faster we accept this fact, the better we can focus on these young men and appreciate their still high, real potential.

Its a damn if you do, damn if you dont scenario. But i would be surprised if any of Slaf, Cooley or Wright does not have a good career, despite the apparent flaws.

 

[Kennerback]

Agree. I would also argue that even Cooley would be eviscerated. He is small, weak, dubious positioning and defense and apart from an highlights reel goal in pre season, he has not done much.

The three of them have qualities and upside and history have shown to not bet against player who are NHLer at 19YO. But its really a scenario where whichever player we would have picked at 1 would not have lived to the expectations of a 1st overall talent.

The faster we accept this fact, the better we can focus on these young men and appreciate their still high, real potential.

Its a damn if you do, damn if you dont scenario. But i would be surprised if any of Slaf, Cooley or Wright does not have a good career, despite the apparent flaws.

Also still not sold on Cooley. He has no more goals than Slaf despite getting much more favorable ice time. Slaf also doesn’t have the benefit of getting second assists facilitated by taking many offensive face offs playing with good wingers.

 

[LesCanadiens]

I would say Slaf is very good at skating and puck control for his size. He has no fear of using his body, but only uses it when he doesn’t have the puck.
Wright has a great shot and great finish. Slaf doesn’t.
Wright is mortally scared of physical contact. That’s why Slaf was in the NHL earlier.

Wright had 2 measly goals in 24 AHL playoff games with Coachella last year. If anyone has uber-high bust potential, it's Shane "ManChild" Wright. Couldn't happen to a better guy...

 

[ReHabs]

Wright had 2 measly goals in 24 AHL playoff games with Coachella last year. If anyone has uber-high bust potential, it's Shane "ManChild" Wright. Couldn't happen to a better guy...

Trashing a teenager the Habs didn’t draft is the extent of the dignity people on “your” side of the argument merit