Juraj Slafkovsky - Year Two

[Kennerback]

I think we can all agree that the major symptom of Slafkovsky’s issues is his incapacity to produce points or even shoot on net.
Now posters disagree on what causes this symptom (IQ, indifference, release, balance…), and people disagree where it can be fixed (NHL or not) and people disagree if it can even be fixed (born with it, should have been fixed earlier….)
But in the end, the fear is he’ll never produce much in the NHL for a 1OA.

 

[MON4NHLTOR4MLB]

The real problem isn’t Slaf, it’s that we hired Bobrov and also kept pretty much entire scouting staff other than Timmins instead of getting rid of them all and hiring a better head

 

[Whitesnake]

Ice is the same size in the AHL and NHL.

Yet Kemell is still in the AHL and producing at a lower pace than he was last year where he split his time playing in the AHL and in Europe.

Kemell followed the traditional development path everyone here loves.

He's not any closer to the NHL.

Correct.

Is time calculated at a different speed at a lower levels or something? If it takes longer, why does that mean that time must be spent at lower level?

Time is time.

What does this have to do with development?

He IS getting acclimated to NA hockey. Just not at the pace you wish he was.

But that's a “you” problem, he just needs to do it at HIS pace, if that takes 200 more NHL games, so be it.

- I'm obviouisly talking about the difference in ice between Europe and North America.
- Yep, Kemell is still learning the game. Something Slaf could have also be doing. And since you did tell me to each their own, well Kemell will have his own development path to follow. Do you think by watching Kemell play in the AHL that it says that the AHL is not a good development league?
- Because, who says that with confidence at a lower level kicking in, he wouldn't adapt faster in the NHL right after? Why do people underrate players having confidence???
- What does pressure to do great right now and expectations at the highest level of hockey has to do with development? Seriously?
- Here's the thing about pace.......you can be UFA at 27 years old now. All great to wait for a player to be awesome at 24, but it doesn't leave a whole lot of great hockey if the guy wants to see what else could be available to him. So the question is this...what if some AHL time would help make him a better player....faster? What's the downside to this?

 

[ReHabs]

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

People arguing over Slafkovsky when we just took Reinbacher over Michkov….

Don't worry about this one , ill make sure to remember everyone else. What a garbage pick that is. We'll see how defending this one goes.

Why the bar is so low , you can see it in this thread.
It was the same for Bergevin , Armia defenders on his signature etc. Literally the same posters defending Slaf play by play breakout.

It's hilarious how such daily basic plays are extremely good but while others like Suzuki make perfect feeds into Oblivion as he could have 5-10 points more already , no mention of it anywhere.

But Slaf tho. Remember that pass where Dvorak shot vancouver shoulder oh my.. hes about to explode

 

[417]

- I'm obviouisly talking about the difference in ice between Europe and North America.
- Yep, Kemell is still learning the game. Something Slaf could have also be doing. And since you did tell me to each their own, well Kemell will have his own development path to follow. Do you think by watching Kemell play in the AHL that it says that the AHL is not a good development league?
- Because, who says that with confidence at a lower level kicking in, he wouldn't adapt faster in the NHL right after? Why do people underrate players having confidence???
- What does pressure to do great right now and expectations at the highest level of hockey has to do with development? Seriously?
- Here's the thing about pace.......you can be UFA at 27 years old now. All great to wait for a player to be awesome at 24, but it doesn't leave a whole lot of great hockey if the guy wants to see what else could be available to him. So the question is this...what if some AHL time would help make him a better player....faster? What's the downside to this?

- Yes, I know that's what you meant. But if he has adjusted to the smaller ice. I think that's evident in his game right now compared to last year. That is development.

- Slaf IS learning, he's just learning (see point above) at the highest level and despite what many people say, he's not drowning, he's just not getting the results that we want right now and then we get "prospect envy" when we look at players and forget that it's a marathon, not a race. As for Kemell, I haven't watched him in the AHL and no, I do think the AHL is a good developmental league (although the competition is replacement-level)...I think wherever ANY player is playing, at ANY level, they are developing.

- I don't underrate confidence, in fact I cited that as one of the reasons a couple of days ago as to why I would have sent him down after the western swing the Habs had. But on the homestand, his confidence seems just fine, so maybe he's just not as fragile as we all think he is. Again though, I would like to reiterate, I am not against sending him down for a stint. At a certain point as a player you need to see the puck go in the back of the net and your name on the scoresheet. I'm not neglecting that factor....I just think, especially the last few games that he's doing a lot of the things that will eventually lead to that (process vs results).

- I'm not sure I understand your point about pressure here...if you're referring to the pressure of this market. That's only as powerful as players allow it to be. It's really up to the coaching staff/management to manage the messaging with the player.

- What if the AHL doesn't make him a better player faster? What if the time spent developing in the AHL = the time spent developing in the NHL, just with more points in the AHL, which we all know, doesn't necessarily = better player.

Joshua Roy is one of the AHL's leading scorers...I don't see anyone who thinks he's going to be an elite player in the NHL. But he's there right now because it's just better for him to be playing there, than watching here.

 

[NotProkofievian]

I feel like we wasted last year. Shouldn’t have been in the league. This year they wasted a bunch of games with the wrong linemates. The past few games we’ve seen pretty good improvement, he looks much better now than before. And I disagree with you on the Boston game. He made several good plays and set up CC for a beauty one timer. But… he also rushed plays. Had CC wide open and instead of taking a bit more time he basically threw the puck away. So yes, a bit of a mixed bag but he had some great plays and I didn't see it as a bad game.

The most important thing is to see real improvement. I think he’s been a lot better the past few games and could easily have some points under him. I don’t see the point in sending him back now that he’s playing better. Keep him up, give him ten games and evaluate from there.

I totally agree that last year was wasted. The thing is, he could realistically be past the AHL by now. He could already have ''been there, done that.'' But we had to skip steps. Now it's like ''aw jeez i sure hope he starts scoring soon otherwise...what then?''

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I totally agree that last year was wasted. The thing is, he could realistically be past the AHL by now. He could already have ''been there, done that.'' But we had to skip steps. Now it's like ''aw jeez i sure hope he starts scoring soon otherwise...what then?''

Yes, it was a mistake. I'm not sure if him not being eligible for the AHL had something to do with it or if they wanted him in North America but I felt like he shouldn't be up. He actually started okay but when the team tanked, he went with it. And he was very raw and green. I felt like he needed seasoning.

Anyways, we are where we are now. As much as I advocated for the AHL to start this year at this point he's finally improving with better players. I don't see the harm in giving it ten games. He really should have more points than he does. It's actually kind of hilarious that he gets CC just as he hits his first goal scoring slump with us.

 

[417]

I totally agree that last year was wasted. The thing is, he could realistically be past the AHL by now. He could already have ''been there, done that.'' But we had to skip steps. Now it's like ''aw jeez i sure hope he starts scoring soon otherwise...what then?''

This is wild to me...last year wasted?

You're trying to tell me that last year.

- Soaking up the wisdom gleamed from guys like MSL, Vinny, Robidas, Burrow (actual former and successful NHL players).
- Playing against and being on the ice against with the world's best players
- Practicing with NHL players
- Travelling, being around the NHL environment

Was wasted because he could have been riding the bus and playing against Cameron Hughes of the Coachella Valley Firebirds or watching Sheldon Rempal of the Henderson Silver Knights rack up goals against Louis Domingue.

You can argue that he shouldn't have been in the NHL, Ok...but to suggest last year was wasted flies in the face of logic of how people learn in the environment they're in.

Hell you could even argue that after his 39 game cup of coffee in the NHL, starting him in the AHL this year would have made a ton of sense given he could applied what he learned in the NHL the year prior.

But we got people actually trying to argue that being in the NHL is a waste of time...My Lord.

 

[bcv]

This is wild to me...last year wasted?

You're trying to tell me that last year.

- Soaking up the wisdom gleamed from guys like MSL, Vinny, Robidas, Burrow (actual former and successful NHL players).
- Playing against and being on the ice against with the world's best players
- Practicing with NHL players
- Travelling, being around the NHL environment

Was wasted because he could have been riding the bus and playing against Cameron Hughes of the Coachella Valley Firebirds or watching Sheldon Rempal of the Henderson Silver Knights rack up goals against Louis Domingue.

You can argue that he shouldn't have been in the NHL, Ok...but to suggest last year was wasted flies in the face of logic of how people learn in the environment they're in.

Hell you could even argue that after his 39 game cup of coffee in the NHL, starting him in the AHL this year would have made a ton of sense given he could applied what he learned in the NHL the year prior.

But we got people actually trying to argue that being in the NHL is a waste of time...My Lord.

If not wasted then not optimal, which is what you should always strive for.

 

[417]

If not wasted then not optimal, which is what you should always strive for.

Oh agreed there..but that's not the word that was used.

Man’s actually said a player spending time and absorbing the NHL experience is “wasted”.

Tell you what...i give up lol I'm bout’ to sign up for an AHLTV package immediately, I been watching the wrong league this whole time.

They can take all my money

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

This is wild to me...last year wasted?

You're trying to tell me that last year.

- Soaking up the wisdom gleamed from guys like MSL, Vinny, Robidas, Burrow (actual former and successful NHL players).
- Playing against and being on the ice against with the world's best players
- Practicing with NHL players
- Travelling, being around the NHL environment

Was wasted because he could have been riding the bus and playing against Cameron Hughes of the Coachella Valley Firebirds or watching Sheldon Rempal of the Henderson Silver Knights rack up goals against Louis Domingue.

You can argue that he shouldn't have been in the NHL, Ok...but to suggest last year was wasted flies in the face of logic of how people learn in the environment they're in.

Hell you could even argue that after his 39 game cup of coffee in the NHL, starting him in the AHL this year would have made a ton of sense given he could applied what he learned in the NHL the year prior.

But we got people actually trying to argue that being in the NHL is a waste of time...My Lord.

Wasted was my word. Feel free to substitute the word sub-optimal if you wish.

 

[Miller Time]

If not wasted then not optimal, which is what you should always strive for.

indeed... though i'd say it's far more debatable than some suggest wether or not there was a more optimal approach the team could have used...

the injury and lost 1/2 season is what made last year "not optimal" imo. Sending him to Laval to start the year in no way was a given to be more "optimal", and I'd argue that for the exact reasons the team explained the decision to keep him in the NHL, doing so would've been less optimal than the path they took... even if the outcome was unfortunately less than ideal.

 

[morhilane]

If not wasted then not optimal, which is what you should always strive for.

I'm not sure if playing under Houle would have been optimal...but I'm biased, I never liked how he managed the Rocket bench.

 

[417]

Wasted was my word. Feel free to substitute the word sub-optimal if you wish.

Even sub-optimal is difficult to comprehend to be honest. I mean, it's the NHL...if anything just the pure exposure to it is something very few people in the world have been exposed to.

To suggest there is nothing to extract from that as a professional hockey player is wild!

I think we've lost the plot...the goal is and will always be the NHL. That's the ticket. There isn't a single professional hockey player who would say they'd rather be in the AHL than the NHL...they might say i'd rather be in the AHL temporarily, if i'm going to play more, but the end goal is always the NHL.

You guys act like he spent 39 games on all fours just watching guys skate by while crying for his mom to come save him.

Sheesh!

 

[bcv]

I'm not sure if playing under Houle would have been optimal...but I'm biased, I never liked how he managed the Rocket bench.

Let's not forget the AHL was not the only option they had.

 

[morhilane]

Let's not forget the AHL was not the only option they had.

They wanted him to play pro hockey in NA. It pretty much was.

 

[BLONG7]

The problem is everyone wants to be right about Slafkovsky right now. Everyone needs to take it down a notch.

He's always been touted as a project and it's clear they want him next to MSL and not in the AHL. He's been progressing just fine, which is exactly what you want to see with young players. He's far, far superior to the player he was last year and any one pretending he's not is being completely dishonest.

He has a ways to go, but he's getting better every game, and the skill set is there. He's shown that he has a capacity to learn and that his tools have not yet plateaued.

It's very unlikely that we get a clear sense where Slaf is going by the end of the season, but that's okay. I get it, 1OA blah blah, but it was made very clear since the beginning that it's a long-term project.

Just f***ing chill, everyone.

We sucked last night, but the kid was the best forward easy.....all over the puck, and chances.....yes he whiffed on a couple of shots, but he was on the puck, and in the play.

Patience folks.........I keep saying it.............patience in this case is going to take some time.......

The drama is becoming hilarious guys...............relax.

 

[bcv]

They wanted him to play pro hockey in NA. It pretty much was.

Well, obviously it's what they wanted, that's why he spent all year in the NHL. I was merely mentionning other options were theoretically possible.

 

[HabbyGuy]

Wtf is this thread?

 

[themilosh]

using myself as an example
yr 1 college I was 4C played maybe 7 min a game, got to serve bench minors too. Killed my confidence. .5pts/game
yr 2: 3C two way C, PK.. no PP time... 14min/game.. .7pts/game
yr 3: 1C/W full time, PP and PK. 2pts/game

If you had asked me after year 1 if I thought I could be a 2pts/game player there was now way... but development happens, opportunities arise, and a place is found - i think three years is a good time frame to teach your brain how to read the game fast(er). IMO opinion i think the Habs figured he is going to have to learn the smaller ice surface, and playing professional men no matter what.. Why teach him the AHL system only to come to the NHL (after 3 years) and still need a year to adjust.. my gut tells me their interview concluded that he was highly intelligent.

so far Hugo seems to be drafting a similar style to the Seattle Seahawks - the go for Gems or bust - nothing wrong with that.

 

[Le Tricolore]

Wtf is this thread?

 

[Habs]

Is time calculated at a different speed at a lower levels or something? If it takes longer, why does that mean that time must be spent at lower level?

Actually, time is different if you are orbiting space or on the earth. time is slower on earth because of gravity and it's effect on time. Sir, you haven NOT watched any Brian Cox or Carroll while smoking dooobies obviously. They have measured atomic clocks perfectly sync'd on the ground and in an airplane, they are different. So Slaf suffers from a gravity issue I guess

 

[cave troll]

- It matters 'cause he was never playing on a small ice surface.
- It matters 'cause even in his Liiga D-1, Kemell surpassed him offensively.

Kemell was a better scorer then Slaf in Liiga even in their draft year.

 

[417]

Kemell was a better scorer then Slaf in Liiga even in their draft year.

Lehkonen was a better scorer then both of them in Liiga his draft year.

Wait until I tell you about Jesse Pulijarvi and what he did his draft year and at the WJC.