Juraj Slafkovsky - Year Two

[JohnLennon]

I thought it was just Habs fans being absolutely insane about Slafkovsky, but nope, here's NHL analyst John Buccigross claiming it is a "fireable offense" that the Habs simply DRAFTED Slafkovsky....

 

[WeThreeKings]

I thought it was just Habs fans being absolutely insane about Slafkovsky, but nope, here's NHL analyst John Buccigross claiming it is a "fireable offense" that the Habs simply DRAFTED Slafkovsky....

 

[JohnLennon]

LMAOOO Holy... someone needs to post this on Twitter as a reply ASAP

 

[WeThreeKings]

LMAOOO Holy... someone needs to post this on Twitter as a reply ASAP

Already did it.

That's the shit that bothers me, man. Like just own your opinions, not just change with a light breeze especially when we are talking about a draft class going into D+2

 

[Habs]

I thought it was just Habs fans being absolutely insane about Slafkovsky, but nope, here's NHL analyst John Buccigross claiming it is a "fireable offense" that the Habs simply DRAFTED Slafkovsky....

total montreal, draft for need never BPA lol

 

[Kennerback]

By October Wright, Cooley and Slafkovsky, were showing little. Michkov is already the best player in the KHL, running circles around the patronage filled SKA. On his way to pulverize Ovechkin’s D+1. We’re talking about several levels of magnitude difference.

I’m not even criticizing the GM because Reinbacher might just become that good, but that’s what he’s up against.

 

[BaseballCoach]

I think most of us agree that he needs ice time and the puck on this stick more (regardless if that's NHL or AHL). I think MSL also agrees with that so for now, they will give him every chance to succeed on our NHL roster.

MSL said that Slaf will have the puck on his stick more once he understands better the flow on the ice. I think it is clear from the games so far that he has taken a big leap forward in terms of being involved in the play compared to last year (except when he was with Monahan for a few games and the last 3-4 before bis injury).

I'm not a fan of saying "send him to the AHL" before the season starts. Habs are monitoring this more than we think they are.

Slaf is fine this year; he is involved in the play a much higher percentage of the time than last year. This has likely come from playing at the NHL level and using his NOT POOR (please note @ReHabs) hockey IQ to learn what he needs to.

 

[Habs]

MSL said that Slaf will have the puck on his stick more once he understands better the flow on the ice. I think it is clear from the games so far that he has taken a big leap forward in terms of being involved in the play compared to last year (except when he was with Monahan for a few games and the last 3-4 before bis injury).


Slaf is fine this year; he is involved in the play a much higher percentage of the time than last year. This has likely come from playing at the NHL level and using his NOT POOR (please note @ReHabs) hockey IQ to learn what he needs to.

honest question - do you think he has a high hockey IQ?

 

[Frank Drebin]

Cam Neely had 31 points in his D+1. Maybe it was not totally figured out yet too at this time.



Yes and Cooley is still faster and more agile then those two.

You see how meaningless a statement like this is ?

You're comparing Cooley to players who have proven to be effective in defense of slaf.

Cooley also skates better than Mike mccarron

 

[BaseballCoach]

total montreal, draft for need never BPA lol

According to the Bob Mackenzie poll, more scouts had Slaf as top pick (50%) than any other player. Yes, they could be wrong since kids are drafted so young, but a GM that drafted that way is hardly committing a fireable offence. Going off the board and the player then busting, that might be.

So far, Slaf has not busted and the pick was not off the board anyway.

I'm more interested to see if Arizona passing on Wright and going with Cooley pays off, and also how Anaheim taking Carlsson over Fantilli works out.

 

[Kennerback]

honest question - do you think he has a high hockey IQ?

He hasn’t shown much processing skills. He has some tools. He’s a big boy.

Now, can processing skills be learned or, at least, improved? Are his processing skills somewhere in there but he needs to adjust to the game? IDK.

 

[salbutera]

honest question - do you think he has a high hockey IQ?

No idea, I can make a dumbass fan guess… but your statement implies your an expert at predicting hockey IQ

 

[BaseballCoach]

honest question - do you think he has a high hockey IQ?

At least average. Not a hindrance for him to have a chance to be a productive winger.

 

[Habs Halifax]

total montreal, draft for need never BPA lol

The problem is they might be thinking they are drafting the BPA which is also their need. I think we had a bit of bad luck with where we pick... it seems like when we pick in the top 10, we end up picking from a waive a talent and no real sure shot BPA.

There is no way someone can say there was a clear BPA from Slaf, Nemec, Cooley, Wright, and Jiricek. Today you can try but even then it's premature.

Taking Caufield 15 who slipped was a example of BPA. It's not usually that defined... unless fans think they are actual scouts. Even the top scouts have weather man track records.

 

[JoelWarlord]

Looking forward to watching him play actual games so we have something newer than ~9 month old games to discuss.

 

[salbutera]

total montreal, draft for need never BPA lol

There’s no such thing as BPA, unless it’s a clear cut Lemieux, McDavid, Crosby, Ovy….

That wasn’t the case for 2022 draft

 

[BaseballCoach]

He hasn’t shown much processing skills. He has some tools. He’s a big boy.

Now, can processing skills be learned or, at least, improved? Are his processing skills somewhere in there but he needs to adjust to the game? IDK.

He has had several chances this year that he did not shoot fast enough. But getting the chances bodes well for processing.

 

[Hannibal]

honest question - do you think he has a high hockey IQ?

Not high but not low either. He will reach his full potential with other attributes.

 

[Habs]

No idea, I can make a dumbass fan guess… but your statement implies your an expert at predicting hockey IQ

Are you a simp? I asked a guy if he thought a player had a high hockey IQ, and you go off on some weird tangent on what I think?

Not high but not low either. He will reach his full potential with other attributes.

I agree, curious who has him as a high IQ and who doesn't. I'm not sure either way, he's hard to get a read on. For example Cole gets to the scoring areas , he has a sick IQ, so does Nick. I didn't go back and read his scouting reports to see what the general thoughts were on his IQ, I like to read what people here think though

 

[Goldthorpe]

It’s irrational and annoying when fan communities fall into the “Trust the Process” crap and preach the benefits of losing. Toxic optimists and toxic tankers.

Well, that's a consequence of tanking. A lot of people have been asking for years for the habs to rebuild, a lot more have told these same people that the fans and the media wouldn't allow it in Montreal. You're not the only one. But management has chosen their path so it's hard to be surprised of the results...

Slafkovsky is meant to be a gem and reward for a year of pain. That’s never going to change no matter how much some people insist on lower standards and expectations.

Slafkovsky doesn't "mean" anything, he's just a hockey player. And yes, you can be happy, mad, and have the expectations that you want, and never change them no matter what, but you got to understand a lot of people just won't give a shit.

 

[Skip Bayless]

I believe it is understated how much Slaf really is an unique prospect. His size and skill combo allowed him to play a very individual game growing up, but he's learning how to play collectively in the NHL.

Yes, it's scary that a 1st overall selection is a project of that magnitude, but they knew exactly what they were getting into when they drafted him. Slaf seems to have the mental make up (delayed gratification mentality) that is very very uncommon with kids his age nowadays.

They're hoping to develop his ability to generate off the puck, both in transition and in-zone play, which will complement his instinctual power game and make him a very impactful player offensively.

I honestly believe a player like Dach can help him a lot, because Slaf's main weakness is Dach's main strength.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

LOL clown

 

[Jaynki]

Cooley also skates better than Mike mccarron

Slaf too

Its a meaningless discussion that lead to nowhere. I answered a guy who said Cooley is better in every faucet of hockey : faster, higher iq, more agile, more endurance than i answered with yes he is also better in this than the Tkachuks... to highlights that in itself it means absolutely nothing.

 

[BaseballCoach]

It’s irrational and annoying when fan communities fall into the “Trust the Process” crap and preach the benefits of losing. Toxic optimists and toxic tankers.

Slafkovsky is meant to be a gem and reward for a year of pain. That’s never going to change no matter how much some people insist on lower standards and expectations.

In a cap and draft league like the NHL, high picks are designed to be a partial consolation prize, to avoid the league having the same perrenial haves and have-nots. But the league at the same time cannot responsibly structure itself to reward losing so much that people prefer it to winning.

Some fans can HOPE that the year their team has a disaster season is the year the draft turns out to be a lucky thing for them, but it is a minority of the time. More than half of the time, teams at the bottom stay near the bottom. The consolation prize is not often enough to catapult a team to relatively swift success. It takes many more above average moves.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Whoop there it is…

Already did it.

That's the shit that bothers me, man. Like just own your opinions, not just change with a light breeze especially when we are talking about a draft class going into D+2

Yep. It’s hella dumb.