Juraj Slafkovsky - Year Two

[windycity]

I look at players like Byfield and Lafreniere...top picks who struggled in their first couple of years and were prematurely labelled as busts, but are now coming along nicely.

Not all top picks explode out of the gates.Some take a few years to get going. I see Slaffer in this mould. A guy who is still adapting to how much time and space he has to work with and getting used to using his big body to make plays on the smaller ice.

Every now and then amongst the mistakes, you catch brief glimpses of how dominant he can potentially be in a few years.I am not worried about this guy at all. Kid is 19 and has played 59 NHL games, lol

A lot of people thought Joe Thornton was a bust bc he struggled his first couple of seasons. Way too premature too write off Slaf yet imo

 

[Kennedys]

A lot of people thought Joe Thornton was a bust bc he struggled his first couple of seasons. Way too premature too write off Slaf yet imo

I don't think many of us think Slaf is a bust. But many think he should be in the AHL or other lower leagues for some times.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

Good first period. Didn’t notice him much after. 2nd period the Ducks took over.

He played a consistent physical game which was noticed by the Ducks’ announcers. Its always enlightening to listen to the opposing teams’ broadcasts, which are largely free of the many preconceptions and biases of those too close to the team and its players.

 

[SlafySZN]

He’s starting to look real good on the power-play when you let him control the puck

 

[Gally11]

He’s starting to look real good on the power-play when you let him control the puck

I’d like to see him get more ice time with open space like 4 on 4 and 3 on 3

Like give him something to build some confidence if you aren’t going to send him down lol

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Good game last night by the big guy

 

[le_sean]

It’s starting to really click for him. There’s a very obvious increased confidence and physicality.

 

[Kennerback]

A lot of people thought Joe Thornton was a bust bc he struggled his first couple of seasons. Way too premature too write off Slaf yet imo

Slaf can play an energy role in the NHL. Thornton not. Thornton was all offense or irrelevant.

 

[le_sean]

A lot of people thought Joe Thornton was a bust bc he struggled his first couple of seasons. Way too premature too write off Slaf yet imo

Joe didn’t have to move continents and play on an unfamiliar rink size either.

 

[Shawnathon]

Slaf can play an energy role in the NHL. Thornton not. Thornton was all offense or irrelevant.

Joe Thornton was on a Selke ballot 13 times in his career. He had 5 seasons where he was top 21. Your insulting Joe Thornton here

 

[habdynasty]

He’s one of the few players on the team that can pass the puck

 

[Kennerback]

Joe Thornton was on a Selke ballot 13 times in his career. He had 5 seasons where he was top 21. Your insulting Joe Thornton here

Early in their career. Hence the bust talk for Thornton. He never had the crash and bang style. The focus on his defensive side came much later. He made Harry Sinden pull out all his hair before he got there.

 

[NotSNFan]

He’s one of the few players on the team that can pass the puck

Slaf? Really???

I cringe when I see him on the PP. He is so scared out there when he gets the puck on the halfwall or even worse-yesterday-near the point.

Everything about him now is slow. Skating. Processing time/getting ready to shoot. Doesn't mean they won't improve, but he definitely is not helping the team at this point.

Who knows if he is developing more/better in the NHL? That's what the coaches and mgt are paid to determine/decide. All we can do is stand high, mighty, and loud and comment from the peanut gallery

 

[SlafySZN]

Slaf? Really???

I cringe when I see him on the PP. He is so scared out there when he gets the puck on the halfwall or even worse-yesterday-near the point.

Everything about him now is slow. Skating. Processing time/getting ready to shoot. Doesn't mean they won't improve, but he definitely is not helping the team at this point.

Who knows if he is developing more/better in the NHL? That's what the coaches and mgt are paid to determine/decide. All we can do is stand high, mighty, and loud and comment from the peanut gallery

He did everything on the newhook PP goal, he was the one controlling the play on it.

and served gallagher a perfect pass in front of the net in another PP…

 

[cave troll]

He did everything on the newhook PP goal and served gallagher a perfect pass in front of the net in another PP…

What exactly did he do on Newhook goal?

 

[Mrb1p]

He did everything on the newhook PP goal and served gallagher a perfect pass in front of the net in another PP…

He hit the player, relax. Good play but this is the kind of hyperbole that make people on the other side of the debate answer with a hyperbole. Being hyper positive is as bad as being hyper negative.

 

[Max2]

No, he can make some very good passes and difficult ones at times. Just needs more consistency which will come with games

 

[SlafySZN]

He hit the player, relax. Good play but this is the kind of hyperbole that make people on the other side of the debate answer with a hyperbole. Being hyper positive is as bad as being hyper negative.

The play was still going through him during that PP.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

He did everything on the newhook PP goal and served gallagher a perfect pass in front of the net in another PP…

His passing has been impressive. But three shots in four games is not going to fly. He seems to want to pass too much. Needs to start firing way more pucks on net. If he does that he’s going to be way more successful. He’s got a great shot too.

Suzuki could take this advice as well. He averages about two shots a game. If he could bump it to three I think he’d be a much more effective player.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

He hit the player, relax. Good play but this is the kind of hyperbole that make people on the other side of the debate answer with a hyperbole. Being hyper positive is as bad as being hyper negative.

one day this board will realize that this isn't true.

 

[SlafySZN]

His passing has been impressive. But three shots in four games is not going to fly. He seems to want to pass too much. Needs to start firing way more pucks on net. If he does that he’s going to be way more successful. He’s got a great shot too.

Suzuki could take this advice as well. He averages about two shots a game. If he could bump it to three I think he’d be a much more effective player.

Sometimes it’s not in certain guys instinct to shoot often like Dach or like you said Suzuki.

Slaf is kind of like that too but i think he’ll start shooting even more as his confidence grows.

 

[Mrb1p]

I still find he telegraphs his play wayyyyy too much. Its good that hes in a position to do so now though.

Next step is to learn to not just look for the cross seam pass. Yesterday he drove the net, right before the Mohook goal, and instead of dekeing/shooting, he passed it to Gallagher that was in no position to shoot, and his eyes were glued on Gally for the whole sequence. Its also a weakness I identified early in 2022, which may keep him from being an actual elite player.

Saint Louis is one of the best ever at that, Im sure he could teach him a few things.

one day this board will realize that this isn't true.

Being optimistic is not the same thing as being hyper positive. One is entrenched in truth and facts, with a skewed view and the other creates a fake narrative.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

He hit the player, relax. Good play but this is the kind of hyperbole that make people on the other side of the debate answer with a hyperbole. Being hyper positive is as bad as being hyper negative.

If he were 25… sure. But we’re talking about a developing player and analyzing his play. The physical part of his game is just starting to emerge. He’s more involved and it’s helping his overall game. His passing game is also coming along nicely. My concerns on his IQ have subsided somewhat. He looks much better now than when he started.

The biggest thing I think he can do to improve is shoot a LOT more.

Sometimes it’s not in certain guys instinct to shoot often like Dach or like you said Suzuki.

Slaf is kind of like that too but i think he’ll start shooting even more as his confidence grows.

MSL has to get him to start doing this. He’s got too good a shot to just waste it. Suzuki I think is a good comparison because his shot is fantastic and it doesn’t get used enough. The coach needs to start pushing him on this.

Glad they’re doing shooting drills now. That never would’ve happened under a guy like Therrien who wanted everyone to play like Brandon Prust.

Being optimistic is not the same thing as being hyper positive. One is entrenched in truth and facts, with a skewed view and the other creates a fake narrative.

I haven’t seen anything remotely close to “hyper positivity” on this player. I have seen tons over over the top concern trolling however.

 

[Mrb1p]

If he were 25… sure. But we’re talking about a developing player and analyzing his play. The physical part of his game is just starting to emerge. He’s more involved and it’s helping his overall game. His passing game is also coming along nicely. My concerns on his IQ have subsided somewhat. He looks much better now than when he started.

The biggest thing I think he can do to improve is shoot a LOT more.


MSL has to get him to start doing this. He’s got too good a shot to just waste it. Suzuki I think is a good comparison because his shot is fantastic and it doesn’t get used enough. The coach needs to start pushing him on this.

Glad they’re doing shooting drills now. That never would’ve happened under a guy like Therrien who wanted everyone to play like Brandon Prust.


I haven’t seen anything remotely close to “hyper positivity” on this player. I have seen tons over over the top concern trolling however.

Its was a great play, it was the right play. He didnt do "everything" tho.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Its was a great play, it was the right play. He didnt do "everything" tho.

It’s common to hear a player get praises for “doing the hard work” to get the goal. That’s all he was saying here. You’re interpreting what he said far too literally.

And if it had been any other player, you’d have had no problem with it.