Juraj Slafkovsky - Year Two

[Goldthorpe]

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

You know, I totally get why the NHL draft works the way it works (for the reasons you mention), but I often dream we could get rid of this altogether (by having a random draft for example). The "tanking" part of sport discussion has become too big a topic for its own good, and things would be... less toxic if it didn't need to exist.

 

[ReHabs]

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.

I don't understand your comment. The Habs commentary space will have Habs fans give their commentary. So what's your point? Did I ask you to pay or something to read my comments -- I don't need your money, rest assured.

Fans will get very loud, very fast if Slaf doesn't trend up. Non-fans and general fans will get loud too. If the Habs blew a 1OA it won't be forgotten easily.

Then we'll see how many of you bend yourselves into pretzels to defend the hero of the day Kent Hughes, as so many of you did with Bergevin.

 

[morhilane]

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

Scouting reports are similar to what you read here. Some scouts thought he had great IQ, others questioned it for various reasons.

I'm in the "I'm super puzzled" category. I've seen clips of Slaf in his draft year and my conclusion was that him skipping levels because of his size made him miss basic hockey teaching (keep your head up, scanning, positioning, etc), but he learned other things just fine like speed shifting to manipulate dmen (he was doing that in Liiga) or his Liiga team systems.

After one season, you can see the improvement with the basic stuff. So his capacity to learn and apply looks good, but his total knowledge and reps his still deficient. It's going to be a slow process but once he's scanning and mapping the ice at a proper speed, we will probably see a bigger jump in his game.

 

[Goldthorpe]

I don't understand your comment. The Habs commentary space will have Habs fans give their commentary. So what's your point? Did I ask you to pay or something to read my comments -- I don't need your money, rest assured.

My point is a commentary on your commentary?

Fans will get very loud, very fast if Slaf doesn't trend up. Non-fans and general fans will get loud too. If the Habs blew a 1OA it won't be forgotten easily.

I agree.

Then we'll see how many of you bend yourselves into pretzels to defend the hero of the day Kent Hughes, as so many of you did with Bergevin.

I'm not going to evaluate the performance of a management group based on a single decision, so I don't expect to "bend myself into pretzels" no. But yes, I understand that some people are really looking forward for this. Good for them?

 

[BaseballCoach]

Fans will get very loud, very fast if Slaf doesn't trend up.

I don't know how fast he can be a star, he is only 19, but of course he is expected to trend up as he gains experience.

Non-fans and general fans will get loud too. If the Habs blew a 1OA it won't be forgotten easily.

There are many 1OAs who do not turn out to be the best player in their draft year, but as long as he is a very good player and contributes to a good number of wins, I would not consider the pick "blown".

Then we'll see how many of you bend yourselves into pretzels to defend the hero of the day Kent Hughes, as so many of you did with Bergevin.

I try never to bend myself into a pretzel, and I was a big critic of Bergevin.

I find Hughes much stronger, but not perfect.

He will end up being judged on a heckuva lot more than one draft pick.

 

[HuGort]

Tage Thompson took many years to figure it out.

 

[ReHabs]

I don't know how fast he can be a star, he is only 19, but of course he is expected to trend up as he gains experience.

I didn't say star, I said trend up.

There are many 1OAs who do not turn out to be the best player in their draft year, but as long as he is a very good player and contributes to a good number of wins, I would not consider the pick "blown".

I didn't say best player of their draft year, I said if he busts.

So yes, of course and naturally, if he does trend up and if he does contribute then all of this hemming and hawing is resolved in peace. I think he will trend up even if I disagree with this trajectory and development approach.

I try never to bend myself into a pretzel, and I was a big critic of Bergevin.

I find Hughes much stronger, but not perfect.

He will end up being judged on a heckuva lot more than one draft pick.

On the rare and unenviable possibility that they do end up considered as having blown the 1OA, this reputation will obliterate his credibility and that of Gorton, Bobrov, and KPI Nicholas all.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

Scouting reports are similar to what you read here. Some scouts thought he had great IQ, others questioned it for various reasons.

I'm in the "I'm super puzzled" category. I've seen clips of Slaf in his draft year and my conclusion was that him skipping levels because of his size made him miss basic hockey teaching (keep your head up, scanning, positioning, etc), but he learned other things just fine like speed shifting to manipulate dmen (he was doing that in Liiga) or his Liiga team systems.

After one season, you can see the improvement with the basic stuff. So his capacity to learn and apply looks good, but his total knowledge and reps his still deficient. It's going to be a slow process but once he's scanning and mapping the ice at a proper speed, we will probably see a bigger jump in his game.

Really good post.

I think it comes down to whether there’s a low iq processing problem or he’s overthinking.

I don’t think he’s low IQ. I’ve seen him make smart plays.

They shouldn’t close the door on the AHL. By all means have him start with the Habs. But they sure as hell should explore that option at some point if need be

 

[Skip Bayless]

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

Slaf displayed really good anticipation skills for a 17-18 year old in his draft year, and against men to boot.

But that is not the only aspect of the game where a player needs to show discipline and sound processing of the game, and he obviously lacks in some areas. Which is probably why some people say his IQ is high and some people say he's as dumb as rocks.

The reality is most players are really smart in some areas of the game and lack in others. IQ is never proportional in every aspect of the game. But if there's ever a time to learn to balance it out, it's at age 18-23.

Once he starts figuring out when to pinch, when to sit, when to crash the net, when to support in the perimeter... when he learns to use that thicc bottom of his, we'll start seeing his game come together.

 

[NORiculous]

I would think that they did not sent him to AHL/Liiga because they they thought he was one of our 12 best forward first and foremost.

Hughes said they thought about it but he didn’t send him down because then Slaf would expect to produce, because he is in the AHL (a lease league). Then he added… What happens if he doesn’t.

That is pretty clear to me.

 

[HabzSauce]

Really good post.

I think it comes down to whether there’s a low iq processing problem or he’s overthinking.

I don’t think he’s low IQ. I’ve seen him make smart plays.

They shouldn’t close the door on the AHL. By all means have him start with the Habs. But they sure as hell should explore that option at some point if need be

I don't think he's low IQ either. He just needs reps. Project player.

Reason why A would be good is because it's tough to develop offensive confidence without a lot of puck touches and minutes. Stakes also way higher in NHL so more risk.

In the A he can get 20+ minutes a night with 1st wave PP. He can take all the chances he likes, and learn how to play HIS game aka dominate.

 

[HuGort]

He shows signs of a future star but doesn't know basic of game.

 

[Hacketts]

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.

Your answer is still ridiculous.

 

[GlassesJacketShirt]

One more preseason game to go.

I can't deny I've been whelmed, slightly under by his overall play. At his best, his frame gives him an advantage when he uses it in conjunction with good athleticism and a long stick to keep the puck away from checkers along the boards, which is nice and all.

But in every other situation, he looks like a far cry from an NHL caliber player. Unless the play is too obvious and direct, his mind doesn't process things sharply enough and the opponent takes it off of him with little pressure. I dunno man, I wanted to see what his boosters are seeing but as of today, he still looks like a minor league player.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

Really hope the coaches spend time with him breaking down his tape. It’s like there are plays that are there that he doesn’t make.

He seems confident though, still happy and smiling.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

He's had a solid preseason. Tonight I didn't notice him much.

 

[OnTheRun]

One more preseason game to go.

I can't deny I've been whelmed, slightly under by his overall play. At his best, his frame gives him an advantage when he uses it in conjunction with good athleticism and a long stick to keep the puck away from checkers along the boards, which is nice and all.

But in every other situation, he looks like a far cry from an NHL caliber player. Unless the play is too obvious and direct, his mind doesn't process things sharply enough and the opponent takes it off of him with little pressure. I dunno man, I wanted to see what his boosters are seeing but as of today, he still looks like a minor league player.

That's not something that was going to greatly improve or be fixed during the long time he spent not playing hockey. He look better prepared than last year, so we'll see what kind of progression curve he is on in a few months.

 

[absolute garbage]

It's just like he has zero smoothness and flow in his game. No feel for the game, it's all just low IQ stop-and-go hockey, if that makes sense. Like there's all these random bursts of tools and talent, but nothing that keeps it together.

 

[Habitant#1]

Hughes said they thought about it but he didn’t send him down because then Slaf would expect to produce, because he is in the AHL (a lease league). Then he added… What happens if he doesn’t.

That is pretty clear to me.

I always thought this argument buy Hughes was incredibly dumb: because if Slaf struggles to produce at the AHL, then he sure as hell isn't ready for the NHL

 

[GlassesJacketShirt]

That's not something that was going to greatly improve or be fixed during the long time he spent not playing hockey. He look better prepared than last year, so we'll see what kind of progression curve he is on in a few months.

No, but it bothers me if the idea is he HAS to be penciled into the NHL squad. If he improves at an acceptable level (production means less to me here), then so be it; I thought he had no business being in the NHL last year anyway, and I still question it to this day based on what I'm seeing.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

It's just like he has zero smoothness and flow in his game. No feel for the game, it's all just low IQ stop-and-go hockey, if that makes sense. Like there's all these random bursts of tools and talent, but nothing that keeps it together.

His IQ is entirely non existent at this point, it is barely at a U16 level.

I was so pumped to see him this pre season in hopes that time away and watching the game from above had lit the bulb but he doesn't appear to taken even the slightest step in this regard. I like his added quickness and agility as well as some improved board play skills but the decision making is horrific.

 

[Andrei79]

His IQ is entirely non existent at this point, it is barely at a U16 level.

Absolutely ridiculous comment.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Needs more touches , send him to Laval , call him up if he dominates

He has some great shifts but too many passenger ones but he's 19 it's not really a big deal right now

 

[Miller Time]

Not sure what some of you are watching...

But he has played more than well enough so far in the preseason to get a top 9 spot opening day (on this roster)

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

Absolutely ridiculous comment.

It may very well be ridiculous if it turns out that the real issue is something other than hockey IQ such as paralyzing stage fright but as an observation it is not ridiculous because he routinely makes U16 decisions with the puck. Right now he is making Puljujarvi look like Larionov as his forced passes, passes to nobody, absolute lack of spatial awareness and inability to recognize and predict patterns is extremely unsettling. This kid would be a force with just average hockey IQ but he has never played the game the right way and he is being exposed. My main hope is that because he has never thought the game in the proper manner that it is just a matter of repetition with new concepts and not the inability to process them altogether.

I want him to be an impact player for us as much as anyone and I hope as much as you do that my concerns will be proven to be ill placed.