Juraj Slafkovsky - Year Two

[waffledave]

His best beat best ever season will be 54 points.

 

[Mrb1p]

Send the guy down... its not a fireable offense to have drafted Slaf. Even I can appreciate his value even if I had him 6th. Its a fireable offense to keep him in the NHL though.

 

[ReHabs]

His best beat best ever season will be 54 points.

Freddy Modin or Danius Zubrus

Who’d you rather?

 

[River Meadow]

Send the guy down... its not a fireable offense to have drafted Slaf. Even I can appreciate his value even if I had him 6th. Its a fireable offense to keep him in the NHL though.

What ever do you mean?

You didn't like Slaffy following around Marner like a lost puppy?

His best beat best ever season will be 54 points.

I'm not trying to start anything whatsoever but out of sheer curiosity - weren't you quite pro-Slaf previously? (I could be thinking of someone else).

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.

Ooooof.....

And the reason I say oof, is because I see and feel that in my soul.


He needs time to cook.... in the words of Gordon Ramsay, he is bloody RAW.

 

[Favster]

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

I honestly don't see how anyone can be a star without sound basic fundementals. Maybe you're confusing lack of fundementals with inconsistency?

I thought he's looked good this preseason but a bit inconsistent in certain facets.

 

[Pazucha]

Pre-Season Advanced Stats

 

[nhlfan9191]

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.

Unfortunately, he’s going to make the team again whether we like it or not. This is is really HuGo’s funeral if this doesn’t work out because it doesn’t matter if Slafkovsky was ever NHL star material or not, the narrative will always be he was rushed and they ruined the only first overall we had in 40 years.

 

[Jaynki]

Unfortunately, he’s going to make the team again whether we like it or not. This is is really HuGo’s funeral if this doesn’t work out because it doesn’t matter if Slafkovsky was ever NHL star material or not, the narrative will always be he was rushed and they ruined the only first overall we had in 40 years.

I do agree that this draft will define their legacy, same with 2023.

They went all in with Slafkovsky and Dach this night.

I think its looking quite good right now tho. We will see.

 

[nhlfan9191]

I do agree that this draft will define their legacy, same with 2023.

They went all in with Slafkovsky and Dach this night.

I think its looking quite good right now tho. We will see.

I can see our fans being more lenient with the Dach trade because of what was given up. It doesn’t look like much right now and unless he can’t stay healthy, it looks like Dach should be the best player exchanged in that deal. Starting off a tenure with a failed first overall pick is something I think management will get eaten alive for 3-4 years from now. That said, I don’t want to put that energy in the air right now. I’m hoping Slaf figures it out one way or another even if I don’t agree with how he’s being handled.

 

[Lshap]

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Pre-Season Advanced Stats

Whatever these advanced stats measure, they don't match what actually happened on the ice. I'm hopeful Slafkovsky will progress, but this looks like an attempt to artificially inflate his impact.

 

[Jaynki]

Whatever these advanced stats measure, they don't match what actually happened on the ice. I'm hopeful Slafkovsky will progress, but this looks like an attempt to artificially inflate his impact.

He has been impactful tho. Inconsistent too. But we have seen him skates, create turnover and use his strenght like we haven't seen last year. He had a boatload of puck touches and was very involved in the play, although there was also quite a few whiff.

I don't know how one can look at Slaf this year and conclude he is an AHLer. There is no doubt he is part of the group of the best 9 forward in this team.

He has been hands down better than every single AHLer and better than hald of our NHL regulars. (Not that its a high threshold)

 

[Kiss Under the Guy]

Whatever these advanced stats measure, they don't match what actually happened on the ice. I'm hopeful Slafkovsky will progress, but this looks like an attempt to artificially inflate his impact.

I haven't watched every game, by yesterday's chart does fit with what I saw

 

[Jaynki]

Starting off a tenure with a failed first overall pick is something I think management will get eaten alive for 3-4 years from now.

As it should, those are franchise altering decision.

Its way too early to call that a failed pick tho. We will have a clearer picture after this season and during D+3 we should have strong answer if they nailed it or not.

 

[Lshap]

He has been impactful tho. Inconsistent too. But we have seen him skates, create turnover and use his strenght like we haven't seen last year. He had a boatload of puck touches and was very involved in the play, although there was also quite a few whiff.

I don't know how one can look at Slaf this year and conclude he is an AHLer. There is no doubt he is part of the group of the best 9 forward in this team.

He has been hands down better than every single AHLer and better than hald of our NHL regulars. (Not that its a high threshold)

I agree, Slaf has made an impact, but not at the level those charts suggest. I'm not knocking the kid, I just haven't yet seen the dominance, confidence, and control we're hoping for. It's great you and others see signs of it – I'm hoping it becomes more obvious to the rest of us.

 

[Pazucha]

I don't know how one can look at Slaf this year and conclude he is an AHLer. There is no doubt he is part of the group of the best 9 forward in this team.

I think he is currently one of the better forwards in the roster but that's just shows how weak this team is up front.

 

[Pazucha]

I agree, Slaf has made an impact, but not at the level those charts suggest. I'm not knocking the kid, I just haven't yet seen the dominance, confidence, and control we're hoping for.

He could have had 4 points in the game against Ottawa the first place on the chart is well deserved.. His line was also the most dominant in the match..

What I find weird is the high defensive impact he has according to the stats. Every time they have to defend Slaf looks useless.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Freddy Modin or Danius Zubrus

Who’d you rather?

Nick Antropov

 

[Lshap]

I haven't watched every game, by yesterday's chart does fit with what I saw

I missed last night's game so I'll trust those who saw it to judge how he looked.

But I saw his other games and was at the Ottawa game. He looked good and had some solid moments... but sorry, he was not the most impactful player (based on that chart).

 

[RationalExpectations]

I can see our fans being more lenient with the Dach trade because of what was given up. It doesn’t look like much right now and unless he can’t stay healthy, it looks like Dach should be the best player exchanged in that deal. Starting off a tenure with a failed first overall pick is something I think management will get eaten alive for 3-4 years from now. That said, I don’t want to put that energy in the air right now. I’m hoping Slaf figures it out one way or another even if I don’t agree with how he’s being handled.

I don t think like that. If in 2 to 3 years Slaf is a bust but MTL are a playoff team with solid foundation, I won t hold HuGo for it.

Even the best GM makes mistakes, does poor trades… what matters is that they choose a direction and have a coherent team building. If you failed a 1OA but got a former 3OA at a discount and he becomes a top line center, this is quite ok.

That is what I hated with Bergevin, the lack of direction. Maybe it will fail, but I like the approach regarding Dach, Newhook to accelerate a rebuild.

 

[Habs Halifax]

I think he is currently one of the better forwards in the roster but that's just shows how weak this team is up front.

Good question... where would you rank him? Regardless of age

Suzuki
Caufield
Dach
Newhook
RHP
Anderson
Monahan

 

[Lshap]

He could have had 4 points in the game against Ottawa the first place on the chart is well deserved.. His line was also the most dominant in the match..

What I find weird is the high defensive impact he has according to the stats. Every time they have to defend Slaf looks useless.

The reason he didn't get 4 point against Ottawa was that he missed multiple passes and fumbled the puck numerous times. I watched him all game – he looked terrific a few times, took control of the puck and made things happen. But just as often he was reactive, surprised, off-guard, sloppy.

Again, I understand all of this is part of the learning curve, but at the moment he's still far from a top forward. Those advanced stats make it look like he's already there, but he's not.

 

[Habs Halifax]

The one area I would like to see him improve at is being a bit selfish with the puck. He's pass happy at the moment. Making solid passes mostly from what I noticed but a player like this with his shot needs to bring it. Maybe that comes with more confidence.

Getting injured last season was not ideal... it took away time for him to gain experience. I still think he is playing not to make a mistake vs playing with a mission. Anyways, I do see some modest improvements and he is managing the puck a bit better than last season.

I think he should be with Dach. Not sure who the other right winger should be. Maybe Monahan. I like the idea of Monahan with both Dach/Slaf.

When Dvorak is healthy...
Caufield / Suzuki / Anderson
Slaf / Dach / Monahan
RHP / Newhook / Gallagher
Pearson / Dvorak / Ylonen
Evans, Armia

 

[417]

Whatever these advanced stats measure, they don't match what actually happened on the ice. I'm hopeful Slafkovsky will progress, but this looks like an attempt to artificially inflate his impact.

I think it's a far better representation of his camp than this thread that's for sure.

He's had a good camp, I think the eye test and these score cards support that.

The problem is fans expect him to have an amazing camp.

Because he was drafted 1st overall.

 

[Pazucha]

Good question... where would you rank him? Regardless of age

Suzuki
Caufield
Dach
Newhook
RHP
Anderson

Still nowhere close to Dach, Suzuki, Caufield and Monahan

The rest of the forwards are very inconsistent and Slaf could be the best of them in one match and the worst of them in the second match. (If that makes sense)

 

[waitin425]

I don't always listen to Grant McCagg, but......

https://x.com/grantmccagg/status/1709032296462860536?s=20

https://x.com/grantmccagg/status/1709047828423585952?s=20

So my honest assessment, attempting to put aside my confirmation bias.

I thought Slaf looked like an NHL player out there so far this pre-season, not a flashy highlight reel one, but a guy that is beginning to use his skill set to make life tough for opposing players.

The pros:

- Slaf's size and reach are huge advantages on the defensive side of the puck. He often pushes players to the outside, limiting scoring opportunities for opposing players.
- Slaf's straight line speed is evident. He has a long powerful stride, that often makes him look like he is moving in slow motion, but is actually quite fast.
- He is difficult to knock off the puck. I saw him lose an edge a couple of times but he is not a KK like bambi. When he makes contacts with opposing players, he is often the one coming out holding his position.

The cons:

- Still processing the game slower than optimal, but I have seen slight improvements since last year.
- I want to see him hold the puck a little longer to not just make a safe play, but perhaps a better play.
- Needs to get into shooting lanes more and take shots. Last night for example he never put himself in position to even take a decent shot. He needs to find open ice to give him space to think and make a play or take a shot.
- Edge work and shiftiness. He will never just skate through people in the NHL on his way to scoring a goal. Big strong defenders will figure that out pretty quick. He has to work on some edge work.

The verdict:
I believe he is NHL ready and belongs on this team. Doubt is starting to creep in for me, possibly after reading so many negative comments and people blasting him. He is still an NHL player based on his physical abilities alone. If his brain can catch up to his body he could be a superstar in this league. If it doesn't he will be a serviceable 3rd line power forward.