Juraj Slafkovsky - Year Two

[ReHabs]

Tweet said it all.
Nucks drafted a much better player and developed him in the right way. Instead of bringing him to NHL from Swedish 2nd league, they let him develop in SHL after the draft.

Certain commentators would never accept the Habs organization had bad judgement.

The best place to develop NHL players is in the NHL, dontchaknow?

But the thing is, Petterson demolished the SHL. best scorer and player in regular season, best scorer and player in playoffs and led the team to win the championship and to second place in european CHL. Petterson joined the NHL with a pedigree of one of the best European hockey players.

In the 2022-2023 (D+1) season it's unlikely Slafkovsky would've been the best player on his own Liiga team. Or on a JR CHL team. Or on the AHL team. He seemed substantially far behind.

But it wouldn't have hurt to put him in a position to succeed not in a position to suck. The things he has to work on are not readily improved by exposure. He needs reps, touches, and lots of minutes. He's getting none of that now.

Slaf was some kind of project that needs to have his muscle memory erased. That's what Hughes said.
So we took him from Liiga at 18 where he was a player of no consequence and we put him in NHL cause he is 1OA, so we develop the Project X here and all that based on faith that the player who struggled big time with scoring in Liiga will somehow learn what is needed on NHL ice.

It's simply bizarre how they've handled him and amusing how certain Hughes Regime fanatics have twisted themselves into pretzels to justify the decision. The best argument put forth so far is that it is unlikely (ie. hard to prove) his career trajectory was harmed by being rushed to the NHL. No word on if it helped in any way. And we're told we can't know the correct answer until X seasons from now. Convenient way to defer to "the experts", isn't it?

How is it a player who struggled in Liiga was thrust to the NHL six months later and was terrible AND suffered a major injury in the process... and so many refuse to admit it was a bad idea?

 

[cave troll]

Yeah but Petterson wasn't 1OA. he was 5th and Nucks didn't have any pressure to put him to NHL straight from 2nd league.
We drafted 1OA and put the pressure on us to play the kid who wasn't and still isn't nowhere near ready to make any serious impact in top pro hockey.
I'm pretty sure that if we drafted him 5th, he'd play in Liiga until 21 and then we'll decide if he is a NHL caliber or not.

 

[ReHabs]

Yeah but Petterson wasn't 1OA. he was 5th and Nucks didn't have any pressure to put him to NHL straight from 2nd league.
We drafted 1OA and put the pressure on us to play the kid who wasn't and still isn't nowhere near ready to make any serious impact in top pro hockey.
I'm pretty sure that if we drafted him 5th, he'd play in Liiga until 21 and then we'll decide if he is a NHL caliber or not.

Slafkovsky isn't a typical 1OA some commentators claim... but then they don't criticize the Habs for explicitly treating Slaf as a 1OA (D+1 in the NHL) when he was, and remains, obviously not ready to play a top6 role.

So they want it both ways: the Habs were right to use the 1OA on Slafkovsky and to continue to treat him as a 1OA by thrusting him to the NHL even when he showed he was not remotely capable of playing in the NHL... but don't expect 1OA performances or production from him, because then you're a bad fan!

 

[cave troll]

The moment they drafted him HuGo started with that demagogy to eventaully get rid of the blame if he busts. It's like this: Look, we told you in advance he is not a a typical 1OA. What did you expect?

Not a typical 1OA means not a 1OA player at all. Plain simple.

 

[417]

You’re relying on a method that has a high failure rate and all I can do is respect you because I’m feeding you crow soup if it doesn’t work. Lol

It's a field of high failure rate regardless lol…its a limited member club.

But I'm good with Crow soup regardless.

 

[417]

Tweet said it all.
Nucks drafted a much better player and developed him in the right way. Instead of bringing him to NHL from Swedish 2nd league, they let him develop in SHL after the draft.
But the thing is, Petterson demolished the SHL. best scorer and player in regular season, best scorer and player in playoffs and led the team to win the championship and to second place in european CHL. Petterson joined the NHL with a pedigree of one of the best European hockey players.

Do you think this remains true regardless of whether or not he stayed an extra year?

Or do you really think, like the author of that tweet, that he became what he is because he played, *checks notes*, an extra 57 SHL games?

What if say he had gotten injured the first game of that additional year and missed the whole season as a result?

Do you think his story would be different?

What about all the HUNDREDS of European prospects drafted EVERY YEAR, who have the exact same path, but they never make it to the NHL?

Slaf was some kind of project that needs to have his muscle memory erased. That's what Hughes said.So we took him from Liiga at 18 where he was a player of no consequence and we put him in NHL cause he is 1OA, so we develop the Project X here and all that based on faith that the player who struggled big time with scoring in Liiga will somehow learn what is needed on NHL ice.

Can you find me this quote? Cause I don't recall this…also calling a player whose player whose playing in Liiga at 18 “a player of no consequence”, is nasty, nasty work!

You missed to see one thing - Petterson was drafted from Swedish 2nd league.
He didn't prove himslef in SHL before draft. He did that in D+1. proved himself to be the best player in SHL and one of the best in European hockey ---- at 19.

That still doesn't provide the evidence in question.

You're reaching a conclusion absent of evidence.

Which is fine, you're assuming…but that doesn't make it undisputable.

 

[angusyoung]

He looked pretty good in the Boston game playing with that black hole Dvorak and CC. Will be interesting to see if that trio can keep looking good,maybe Dvorak isn't as miserable as it has appeared.

All line combos against Boston looked good actually.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Its ridiculous to poo on Petterson SHL stint.

I can't believe people are shilling for THIS organisation, of all organisations in the world this is really the one you're gonna trust when it comes to player development.

Asking for proof that Peterssons D+1 helped him........I can't believe it.

 

[Jaynki]

Can you find me this quote? Cause I don't recall this…also calling a player whose player whose playing in Liiga at 18 “a player of no consequence”, is nasty, nasty work!

Hughes truly said that. They just interpret it like Slaf did not know how to play hockey when in reality, they just focused with him at learning how to be an efficient Pro NA player.

And it already shows since Slaf already has a good two way game and he is creating lot of takeaway with his good positioning.

Like Marty just said, with the way he plays, points will be a consequence of this.

Its just biased interpretations.

Its ridiculous to poo on Petterson SHL stint.

I can't believe people are shilling for THIS organisation, of all organisations in the world this is really the one you're gonna trust when it comes to player development.

Asking for proof that Peterssons D+1 helped him........I can't believe it.

Show evidence that he would have busted if he had a 57 sheltered NHL games instead of 57 SHL games in his D+1 instead.

 

[Jaynki]

Certain commentators would never accept the Habs organization had bad judgement.

The best place to develop NHL players is in the NHL, dontchaknow?

In the 2022-2023 (D+1) season it's unlikely Slafkovsky would've been the best player on his own Liiga team. Or on a JR CHL team. Or on the AHL team. He seemed substantially far behind.

But it wouldn't have hurt to put him in a position to succeed not in a position to suck. The things he has to work on are not readily improved by exposure. He needs reps, touches, and lots of minutes. He's getting none of that now.

It's simply bizarre how they've handled him and amusing how certain Hughes Regime fanatics have twisted themselves into pretzels to justify the decision. The best argument put forth so far is that it is unlikely (ie. hard to prove) his career trajectory was harmed by being rushed to the NHL. No word on if it helped in any way. And we're told we can't know the correct answer until X seasons from now. Convenient way to defer to "the experts", isn't it?

How is it a player who struggled in Liiga was thrust to the NHL six months later and was terrible AND suffered a major injury in the process... and so many refuse to admit it was a bad idea?

There is plenty of upside of being developed on the NHL like they did with Slaf last year. Following some posts here, its like playing in the NHL is similar to the gulags. I think its the opposite, its great, unreplicable experience.

How is it inconceivable that a young player could not benefit from NHL time, experience and practice with pros?

Also, its far fetched to think that Slaf would not have been the best player in JR or his Liiga team. He has been the best player with professional teams who iced NHLer (Tatar) in his D+0.
_________________

Looking at Petterson

Fron 41 points in 43 games in the allvenskan

To 56 points in 44 SHL games

To 66 points in 71 NHL games

Massive, exponential, parabolic growth !

 

[nhlfan9191]

There is plenty of upside of being developed on the NHL like they did with Slaf last year. Following some posts here, its like playing in the NHL is similar to the gulags.

How is it inconceivable that a young player could not benefit from NHL time, experience and practice with pros?

Also, its far fetched to think that Slaf would not have been the best player in JR or his Liiga team. He has been the best player with professional teams who iced NHLer (Tatar) in his D+0.

There was no upside to him being on the team last year. That was a wasted development year. We’re lucky he got threw that without a career ending injury.

 

[ReHabs]

There is plenty of upside of being developed on the NHL like they did with Slaf last year. Following some posts here, its like playing in the NHL is similar to the gulags.

No other team rushed their 2022 Draft player to the NHL bar the Habs. If it's a good development approach, other teams would apply it.

How is it inconceivable that a young player could not benefit from NHL time, experience and practice with pros?

When he's underprepared for the league. Physically, mentally, or game-knowledge immature.

Also, its far fetched to think that Slaf would not have been the best player in JR or his Liiga team. He has been the best player with professional teams who iced NHLer (Tatar) in his D+0.

Slaf wasn't the best of his Liiga team, it's far fetched to think six months and barely any hockey (due to it being the off-season) later he would be the best of his team. The teams you refer to were tournament teams and ultimately irrelevant to the discussion and evaluation of a player who is meant to play in a structured league.

 

[Jaynki]

There was no upside to him being on the team last year. That was a wasted development year. We’re lucky he got threw that without a career ending injury.

I think he arrived this year with NHL experience. He knew what to expect. He already had a grasp of the pace, physicality, importance to protect himself, importance of positioning.

It would have been nice if he would have producdd offensively with flashy highlights in a lower league but the first paragraph would have needed to be done again.

 

[417]

Its ridiculous to poo on Petterson SHL stint.

I can't believe people are shilling for THIS organisation, of all organisations in the world this is really the one you're gonna trust when it comes to player development.

Asking for proof that Peterssons D+1 helped him........I can't believe it.

Where did you see me “poo” on his SHL stint?

If you had taken the time to read, I questioned whether or not Petersson would have become who he is today regardless of his amazing D+1 season in the SHL.

Maybe he's just who he is, because he is and has always been insanely talented and not exclusively because he had an amazing D+1 season.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Hughes truly said that. They just interpret it like Slaf did not know how to play hockey when in reality, they just focused with him at learning how to be an efficient Pro NA player.

And it already shows since Slaf already has a good two way game and he is creating lot of takeaway with his good positioning.

Like Marty just said, with the way he plays, points will be a consequence of this.

Its just biased interpretations.



Show evidence that he would have busted if he had a 57 sheltered NHL games instead of 57 SHL games in his D+1 instead.

Petterson was a wet noodle a year of pro game obviously helped him.

I just find it funny that of all organisations to reinvent the wheel when it comes to development you guys are gonna trust the absolute worst one possibly in the entire world of sports just to defend the way we develop slaf.

I'm not even worried about slaf as much as other posters are but I just can't get behind you guys telling me D+1 seasons in leagues lower than the NHL are not important.

Show me evidence that Slaf would have put up a bunch of points and dominated Liiga , you can't either , crazy how that works.

Im not even pooping on slaf but this blind faith you guys have in MSL and our team is crazy to me.

Where did you see me “poo” on his SHL stint?

If you had taken the time to read, I questioned whether or not Petersson would have become who he is today regardless of his amazing D+1 season in the SHL.

Maybe he's just who he is, because he is and has always been insanely talented and not exclusively because he had an amazing D+1 season.

I understand what you are trying to say but i still think its completely ridiculous

 

[ReHabs]

Im not even pooping on slaf but this blind faith you guys have in MSL and our team is crazy to me.

Unearned faith in Habs management and coaches should've been harshly discarded after the failed Bergevin decade. It really rankles me that people defer to a rookie GM and a rookie head coach and Nick Bobrov.

 

[Jaynki]

1. No other team rushed their 2022 Draft player to the NHL bar the Habs. If it's a good development approach, other teams would apply it.

2. When he's underprepared for the league. Physically, mentally, or game-knowledge immature.

3. Slaf wasn't the best of his Liiga team, it's far fetched to think six months and barely any hockey (due to it being the off-season) later he would be the best of his team. The teams you refer to were tournament teams and ultimately irrelevant to the discussion and evaluation of a player who is meant to play in a structured league.

1. Other team applied it a lot. Just not with 2022 draftee. It happened a lot in the past. Do i need to give the dozens of names again of "rushed" players who reached their ceiling and became stars?

2. That is what is assumed on HFHabs. But what if he was ready physically and mentally to learn from this experience and that was palpable from the inside?

3. He was the best player in the OG and the WC. Those teams iced professional players and even low tier NHLer like Tatar. He was the best player in those teams point bar. Neglecting it because it was unstructured play (Lol!) or a small sample size is simply a twist to fit your narrative.

 

[ReHabs]

1. Other team applied it a lot. Just not with 2022 draftee. It happened a lot in the past. Do i need to give the dozens of names again of "rushed" players who reached their ceiling and became stars?

The 2022 Draft was uniquely bad, wasn't it? That's what some of the commentators say. If you want to defer to historical trends but also ignore Slafkovsky's inauspicious point production trends that tells me you're not interested in avoiding narrative building.

2. That is what is assumed on HFHabs. But what if he was ready physically and mentally to learn from this experience and that was palpable from the inside?

We can agree to disagree. I think most would look at his 39 games, and the many misplays he suffered, as a sad display overall.

3. He was the best player in the OG and the WC. Those teams iced professional players and even low tier NHLer like Tatar. He was the best player in those teams point bar. Neglecting it because it was unstructured play (Lol!) or a small sample size is simply a twist to fit your narrative.

Tatar who couldn't get an NHL contract? That's fine. He was the world's best player in those tournaments. He was not a top player in Liiga (and one of the worst on his bad NHL team roster last year). So call it even and move on from this claim.

 

[Wats]

Can’t see him getting 20 points this season. He might best his 10.

Honestly, wouldn't surprise me if Xhekaj outproduces him again.

 

[Jaynki]

1. Petterson was a wet noodle a year of pro game obviously helped him.

I just find it funny that of all organisations to reinvent the wheel when it comes to development you guys are gonna trust the absolute worst one possibly in the entire world of sports just to defend the way we develop slaf.

I'm not even worried about slaf as much as other posters are but I just can't get behind you guys telling me D+1 seasons in leagues lower than the NHL are not important.

2. Show me evidence that Slaf would have put up a bunch of points and dominated Liiga , you can't either , crazy how that works.

3. Im not even pooping on slaf but this blind faith you guys have in MSL and our team is crazy to me.

1. Those D+1 and D+2 season can be done in both the NHL and lower league.

The narrative that a player will unlock more upside by dominating lower league is not demonstrable.

The narrative that a player will bust if he plays in the NHL is also not demonstrable.

There is plenty of evidence of players who have been rushed according to this board standard, who reached their ceiling. Just like there is a plenty of evidence of players stagnating in lower league.

Its a debate that is pretty much equivalent to how his tape job may influence his game. Slafkovsky will develop into the player he was meant to be.

2. Voila. So lets wait for the fact before doing revisionist history like we are not handling him correctly and are ruining him.

3. Blind faith is unhealthy. Just like the constant blind hate that is omnipresent here.

To me, its benefit of the doubt.

 

[NORiculous]

didn't have any pressure to put him to NHL

If Slafkovsky is in the NHL because management felt pressure, they all need to be looking for a new job.

I would hope and guess that’s not the reason.

 

[417]

Petterson was a wet noodle a year of pro game obviously helped him.

No one said otherwise.

I just find it funny that of all organisations to reinvent the wheel when it comes to development you guys are gonna trust the absolute worst one possibly in the entire world of sports just to defend the way we develop slaf.

No wheel is being reinvented, it's just a different approach to a specific player that hockey fans aren't used to because hockey fans are by nature traditionalists. It's really not that uncommon to be honest.

I mean what difference would it make if they had started Slafkovsky in Laval last year for a half season…you trying to tell me 30 odd games has that kind of butterfly effect on players?

Furthermore, it's not about me trusting this organization, my trust is irrelevant in this process.

I'm not even worried about slaf as much as other posters are but I just can't get behind you guys telling me D+1 seasons in leagues lower than the NHL are not important.

No one said that, that's just you reducing or interpreting it in your own way.

I never said D+1 seasons in leagues lower than the NHL are not important. You can't attribute words to me that I did not write even if you keep saying it lol.

Show me evidence that Slaf would have put up a bunch of points and dominated Liiga , you can't either , crazy how that works.

Im not even pooping on slaf but this blind faith you guys have in MSL and our team is crazy to me.

Exactly! Lol two unproven theories don't make the other right lol

I understand what you are trying to say but i still think its completely ridiculous

No you clearly don't understand, you're spinning things and then calling it completely ridiculous.

 

[Jaynki]

1. The 2022 Draft was uniquely bad, wasn't it? That's what some of the commentators say. If you want to defer to historical trends but also ignore Slafkovsky's inauspicious point production trends that tells me you're not interested in avoiding narrative building.

2. We can agree to disagree. I think most would look at his 39 games, and the many misplays he suffered, as a sad display overall.

3. Tatar who couldn't get an NHL contract? That's fine. He was the world's best player in those tournaments. He was not a top player in Liiga (and one of the worst on his bad NHL team roster last year). So call it even and move on from this claim.

1. Yes but the exercice of "rushing" and then the player attaining his ceiling did not only happened with 1st overall talent in the past.

Slafkovsky despite not being a Bedard, Matthews, McDavid is still a blue chip prospect like Stutzle, Dach have been.

2. A sad display on one hand, great valuable experience on the other.

3. Yes, or Tatar who just had 48 points and who was under contract in NJ for another year is the other way to see it.

If Slafkovsky is in the NHL because management felt pressure, they all need to be looking for a new job.

I would hope and guess that’s not the reason.

Seems obvious.

 

[417]

Honestly, wouldn't surprise me if Xhekaj outproduces him again.

If he does…its important to note the amount of AHL games that Xhekaj has played is the same amount you and I have played lol

 

[Andy]

Honestly, wouldn't surprise me if Xhekaj outproduces him again.

It’s funny you mention Arber who is three years older than Slafkovsky, and who also only really developed a little later than most prospects. At Slaf’s age Arber was overlooked by every nhl team.

It’s still early