Juraj Slafkovsky - Year Two

[Tyson]

Thank you for your kind words. Yes, I’m just a barrel of laughs. At work I sometimes don’t know if my staff is laughing with me or at me. But then again I am at least 4 decades older than most of them. I find it difficult at times to relate to staff members who never used a VCR; don’t quite understand the impact/ importance of the 1972 summit series; can’t remember when the Habs were known and revered as the Yankees of hockey and don’t know that Pearson Airport was named after a former Prime Minister and not a recently acquired left winger.

Such is life.

You sir are a legend on this board. Much respect!

 

[rik schau]

Definitely looking better of late,good to see!

 

[417]

I'm sorry but of course you do. You check your stocks earnings report every Q earnings report to see if your narrative (for buying the stock) has changed. Sure, usually, like 90-99% off the time, you don't see anything major but those rates,few times you do see the writing on the wall that you need to GTFO or even possibly back up the truck and go all in.

Smdh

I worked really hard on that analogy man.

You had to come in here all high and mighty with your sound financial advice.

 

[417]

This.

We're all happy he's playing better. It's what we all wanted to see.

It's odd to make the insinuation that some are, to say he's been playing well all along, and we just didn't see it. No, he's had some baaaaaaad games...

 

[417]

an 18 year old european kid gets drafted no.1 overall by the biggest franchise in hockey (SOrry Toronto but its true) having never played in a North American rink. I say he is doing quite fine.

He wasn't sent to the AHL because they wanted Marty and Nichols to be with him and not Houle and whomever. Read Slaf's quote last night about how much Marty sits with him 1-1 to watch tape. The board work we say its improving its exactly what they have been focusing on while watching tape, he mentioned it last night. He is a project but I wouldn't want to be the rest of the NHL when he is 22-23. He is huge, has speed, hands, brains and the right attitude. He will be a beast and we will all look like fools for doubting it. Thank god he was drafted into a rebuilding team.

“But that’s not what Slafkovský was proudest of after the game. It was his board play, his ability to maintain possession along the walls, take contact, win some time because of his big frame and make a play. He did it over and over again, and that’s because this is the exact area of focus for the Canadiens coaching staff right now.

I just feel like those wall plays and those little plays that at the beginning of the season I wasn’t making, they just come more natural right now,” he said. “I was looking at so much video with Adam working on it, with Marty working on it, and now I’m starting to feel confident in those situations. So it just feels better overall.”

Adam is Canadiens director of hockey development Adam Nicholas, and Marty is obviously coach Martin St. Louis. Both of them spend a lot of time watching video with Slafkovský to, as he described it, slowly build his game, adapt it to North America and give him the situational knowledge to make the best use of his gifts.

Considering how much video Slafkovský is already mandated to watch, what makes the latest focus on wall play more revealing is it was something Slafkovský initiated himself.

He wanted more video.

“At the beginning of the season, we were doing more of where should I be on the ice, and then slowly adding things like wall play, how to position yourself better when you’re receiving a puck, and so I continue building my game,” he said. “If they throw everything at me at once, I’ll be lost. So, it’s happening slowly. That’s why maybe at the beginning I was kind of lost on the walls and stuff, but we were building it and I knew it was going to come.

“I could see it myself that I wasn’t good enough on the walls, so I asked for them to show me something, show me how the other guys are doing it. I watch my game a lot.”


Now I'm no expert, but it sure sounds and looks like what's happening here, is that thing that people keep repeating doesn't and can't happen in the NHL.

 

[DAChampion]

It will reflect very well on Bobrov if Slafkovsky ends up being the best of the top of the 2022 draft.

 

[417]

I’d have preferred we not brought him up last year. As for the first ten gams of this season, I’m not sure what he got out of struggling with Anderson and Newhook. I think that line was wrongheaded from the beginning. But whatever, it’s not important now.

Have you ever tried something and struggled with it, but kept at it and after awhile, you got better at doing that very thing?

He's 19 years old, even struggling with Anderson and Newhook, serves as experience that can make him better.

 

[Jaynki]

It will reflect very well on Bobrov if Slafkovsky ends up being the best of the top of the 2022 draft.

Mike on twitter argued he could do a better job than Bobrov, especially with all his contact and influence, and that if he were our head scout we would have had cooley, michkov and kulich. Some poster here also fantasmed on this thought.

Really, those 3 with suzuki and caufield, i don't see any problem at all. I mean, we would be softer than the Leafs and smaller than the former pee wee teams of MSL but yeah, that would be nice i guess.

 

[Apfel Struble]

What I like perhaps the most about his game is how good his defensive acumen is for a 19 years old, especially the little things in the neutral zone. It's better than Lehkonen's, Gallagher and Danault's at their age and those are or were (in their prime) stellar defensive forwards. It doesn't necessary mean he'll continue to improve at the same rate and be as good as their peak in the end, but I'd bet he'll get even better

Except for Slaf and Dach, the Habs are absolutely devoid of defensively able forwards and it will IMO prove fatal about serious playoffs aspirations. I'd argue it's even more important of a need on this team than that fabled and elusive game-breaking forward

I can see a prime Slafkovsky being able to snuff the other team's top linein a Bo7 while contributing offensively

 

[Tyson]

Night and day from last season and he seems to play well with Caufield.

There will be peaks and valleys this season, he was brutal against Vegas but bounced back well against Boston.
Playing 3 in 4 against a very heavy team like LA could be a challenge for him today and that's ok.

 

[OldCraig71]

One other thing I can see happening before year end - the team collapses and his play goes with it. We saw that with the team last year and I think we’ll see it again soon.

Right now our goalies have the highest saved above expected by far. That is not going to last, esp if lose Montie. I fully expect another December collapse. When that happens, I’m sure this thread will get a lot busier.

Jesus, at first I thought the post was from Habs or Timo and then I realized it was you. Did she send you to the spare bed last night?JK.

 

[Goldthorpe]

It will reflect very well on Bobrov if Slafkovsky ends up being the best of the top of the 2022 draft.

It will reflect well on Adam and MSL too, because they are proving they can develop a raw talent into a pro player. Slaf is basically the big test case of the habs management theory in modern professional player development.

I don't know if Slaf should have played elsewhere last year or not, but one thing I understood is the scepticism behind letting him develop in the NHL. That didn't came out of nowhere! This franchise has suffered enough of mismanagement of top prospect development for their fans to not screech when it is attempted again with a player as raw as Slaf was. That the coaching staff managed to turn this around isn't necessarily the outcome I expected last summer, although I tried to kept the faith. But they've done it. It seems to be working.

And lets not forget Slaf attitude, which look exemplar. The guy is putting the effort to become better, this is clear as day.

That being said, he still as a long way to go before becoming what he wants to become, so lets just hope he continue his progression.

 

[Naslundforever]

With a 4pm game I’ll wait till at least 5:30 ish for my weekly « omg busting send him to the nhl » or « Master plan is clearly in full works with our future Hall of Famer » hot takes.

I was looking yesterday to see if Evans would take his place in the 3rd and cracked a nice big smile when I saw Slaf out there when the game was on the line.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Jesus, at first I thought the post was from Habs or Timo and then I realized it was you. Did she send you to the spare bed last night?JK.

Team is still rebuilding bud. All part of the plan. I think we’ll have a top five pick by year’s end.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

Cooley could put up more points. It’s kind of 50/50.

Who feels like they want to put a cap on Slaf’s upside at this point? He’s flashed passing, shot and hands all at varying times. If he puts it all together with his size and continued improving skating and strength there’s really no telling how good he can be.

Even still I think at worst, he can be a better all around forward than Cooley and effect the game in more varied positive ways.

 

[OldCraig71]

Team is still rebuilding bud. All part of the plan. I think we’ll have a top five pick by year’s end.

So the laugh indicates that she might have and yes, it is a rebuilding team but there are plenty of positives from some of these kids and for the most part, they are holding their own in the toughest league in the world. We are lacking in plenty of areas but in my humble opinion, we need a player on defense that has the potential to contribute 50-60 points, a new general if you will. Markov was my favorite from this modern era of Canadiens, Desjardins was one from the previous crop. Those types of players add so many things to a team and here's to hoping that Hutson is the next one. Baby steps.

 

[Don D]

It will reflect well on Adam and MSL too, because they are proving they can develop a raw talent into a pro player. Slaf is basically the big test case of the habs management theory in modern professional player development.

I don't know if Slaf should have played elsewhere last year or not, but one thing I understood is the scepticism behind letting him develop in the NHL. That didn't came out of nowhere! This franchise has suffered enough of mismanagement of top prospect development for their fans to not screech when it is attempted again with a player as raw as Slaf was. That the coaching staff managed to turn this around isn't necessarily the outcome I expected last summer, although I tried to kept the faith. But they've done it. It seems to be working.

And lets not forget Slaf attitude, which look exemplar. The guy is putting the effort to become better, this is clear as day.

That being said, he still as a long way to go before becoming what he wants to become, so lets just hope he continue his progression.

One's work should only be judged after several years of scouting and drafting. One or two selections does not make a career. Bobrov may make the final decision, but that is only the start. Adam, MSL and countless others offer advice and help mature the rookies and young players. Ramage, Bouillion, Pellerin, Lapointe, Lecavalier all probably play a part of the overall picture. "It takes a village", "part of the collective"! Ultimately, MSL has the coach's hat and invests heavy minutes with the youngsters. Seems likes Habs are headed in the right direction.

 

[jaffy27]

Have you ever tried something and struggled with it, but kept at it and after awhile, you got better at doing that very thing?

He's 19 years old, even struggling with Anderson and Newhook, serves as experience that can make him better.

 

[Redux91]

Lmao
I can't stop laughing at the Super Haters trying to re-blend in back to the coherent and logical population.

It's like inglorious basterds where Brad Pitt refuses to let Waltz continue on un-marked lol

 

[xX SEYF Xx]

 

[Kennerback]

I’m not saying a bunch of people here should get ready to eat crow, but I am saying that the oven has been turned on to 350 to preheat.

Some of the most negative posts from the most critical posters have been justified at a point in time. For example, he’s been ridiculously un-opportunistic. Bad using any standard.

Ps: yes I know Anderson has been worse.

 

[Habssince89]

Thank you for your kind words. Yes, I’m just a barrel of laughs. At work I sometimes don’t know if my staff is laughing with me or at me. But then again I am at least 4 decades older than most of them. I find it difficult at times to relate to staff members who never used a VCR; don’t quite understand the impact/ importance of the 1972 summit series; can’t remember when the Habs were known and revered as the Yankees of hockey and don’t know that Pearson Airport was named after a former Prime Minister and not a recently acquired left winger.

Such is life.

How young is this staff?? I'm not even 35 and none of this is strange haha

 

[ChesterNimitz]

How young is this staff?? I'm not even 35 and none of this is strange haha

20ish.

 

[Habssince89]

20ish.

I'm too young to feel this old lol

 

[Gustave]

I'm too young to feel this old lol

Nah, you're "there", you just don't know it yet