Juraj Slafkovsky - Year Two

[The Gr8 Dane]

That's the beauty of hockey , all the fancy stats in the world don't account for crosschecks in the numbers come playoff time. Or taking a stinky glove to the face

Nerds can try their best to disect it but at the end of the day being a gamer is all that matters - Marc Bergevin

 

[eklund the clown]

I had my doubts about Slaf but no more.He is progressing/adapting rapidly now.It's as if Marty was holding him back and concentrating on his defensive game and now has cut the cord and he is now working on his offense side.Totally different looking player

 

[Hannibal]

Is he our best two way winger at 5 on 5? I feel like visually he is but idk if the stats would support that. He's super disruptive defensively in the neutral zone and the guy backchecks like a demon , I actually wish he wasn't the first guy back almost every play but you love to see it. He seems to go into second gear on the backcheck whenever the team turns it over , guy wants to win games

I think he is already.

 

[Jaynki]

So have we ruined him or not finally?

 

[Miller Time]

Is he our best two way winger at 5 on 5? I feel like visually he is but idk if the stats would support that. He's super disruptive defensively on the neutral zone and the guy backchecks like a demon , I actually wish he wasn't the first guy back almost every play but you love to see it

The very premise of this question would suggest that the team has done a pretty good job with his development...

Pretty rare for a 19 year old to be playing this well over 200ft. Slaf's "floor" has only elevated since his draft, the question remains how high of his ceiling does he reach with consistency.

I'd argue that the very attributes he's been displaying en route to his first 82 games (the ones so many stat watchers were defiantly oblivious to in proclaiming the "mistake" of his development approach & draft selection) are the ones that should provide confidence that the production will come...
And when it does, it may well blow away even those who were all in on his 1OA status pre-draft (which I was not).

I had my doubts about Slaf but no more.He is progressing/adapting rapidly now.It's as if Marty was holding him back and concentrating on his defensive game and now has cut the cord and he is now working on his offense side.Totally different looking player

Almost as if the team told him to ignore the stat box and keep his focus on refining the fundamentals that will make him an excellent player vs a one-trick Pony....

If only the team had been transparent about their approach

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

He just needs to be a bit more selfish.

He looks for a pass when it's bad, or really bad at times. I'm not so sure thats his hockey sense lacking, but rather feeling he needs to make a pass rather than just playing the game how he would in a lower league.

I feel like they should mandate to him that he gets four shots a game. If he doesn’t get four, he has to do practice laps.

His pass first mentality is fine but you’re right it happens way too much. Take the shot man.

 

[Jaynki]

The very premise of this question would suggest that the team has done a pretty good job with his development...

Pretty rare for a 19 year old to be playing this well over 200ft. Slaf's "floor" has only elevated since his draft, the question remains how high of his ceiling does he reach with consistency.

I'd argue that the very attributes he's been displaying en route to his first 82 games (the ones so many stat watchers were defiantly oblivious to in proclaiming the "mistake" of his development approach & draft selection) are the ones that should provide confidence that the production will come...
And when it does, it may well blow away even those who were all in on his 1OA status pre-draft (which I was not).

Thought that they kept him in the NHL because their ego was too big.

Who in his right mind thought they had a plan, especially since they so often stated it?

Its very surprising that his game is already looking mature and professional let me tell you.

What he needed was puck touches in a lesser league, not learn the rudiment of the NHL!

 

[Jaynki]

@cave troll @Mrb1p

You guys still higher on Roy than Slafkovsky ?

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

@cave troll @Mrb1p

You guys still higher on Roy than Slafkovsky ?

Totally different players. Excited that we have both coming up.

 

[V13]

Slafkovsky is a guy who now and in the future will do things that don't show up on the scoresheet. When he isn't putting up points, he can open up space for linemates and there's been some goals scored this year because of him screening the goalie in front of the net.

It is best not to judge his progress based on his stat lines, he has been progressing on the ice and in the future the points will also come.

My guess is that he's gonna end up as some kind of Dustin Penner type. A huge physical presence whose contribution doesn't always translate to pts but is just as important to a team , especially in the playoffs. Penner was a huge part of the Kings cup win in 2012 with his physical play , puck protection skills and ability to maintain an effective cycling game along the boards. Slaf has the physical attributes to do the same thing

 

[Don D]

Wow, amazed at how comments have changed on Slaf. He was a loser, bust, disgrace, worst pick ever, flop, flunkie, deadbeat,...... Try to practice patience with prospects as they all develop differently. The Habs are not presently contenders and it does no good to bash players, especially prospects. No rush to bring up Roy, Mailloux or others. Let them develop as professionals. Patience with Mesar. Hutson may take time, Fowler as well. If they are able to contribute in the NHL, great. Some prospects don't make it.
Best for everyone's blood pressure not to bash the players who dream of playing in the "big arena".
If fans need to complain about the team roster or drafted players, probably best to direct their "dismay" to the people who make the decisions (president, GM, scouting,....). My two cents!!!!

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

https://www.tvasports.ca/2023/12/04/en-direct-kraken---canadiens

At 2m41s!

Ah way to track it down. Thanks! Nice rush there

treat this thread like covid.

No one knows what there talking about.

Perfect

 

[Mrb1p]

@cave troll @Mrb1p

You guys still higher on Roy than Slafkovsky ?

What a weird time to make this post. 6 games to 1 point for the big oaf.

In reality I think both are likely to be 4th forwards, I don't like one more than the other, I just think Roy has more to work with to be a first liner, though both are unlikely.


(Mod)

 

[Tyson]

Wow, amazed at how comments have changed on Slaf. He was a loser, bust, disgrace, worst pick ever, flop, flunkie, deadbeat,...... Try to practice patience with prospects as they all develop differently. The Habs are not presently contenders and it does no good to bash players, especially prospects. No rush to bring up Roy, Mailloux or others. Let them develop as professionals. Patience with Mesar. Hutson may take time, Fowler as well. If they are able to contribute in the NHL, great. Some prospects don't make it.
Best for everyone's blood pressure not to bash the players who dream of playing in the "big arena".
If fans need to complain about the team roster or drafted players, probably best to direct their "dismay" to the people who make the decisions (president, GM, scouting,....). My two cents!!!!

Well said!

Also, he is 19 and his next game may not be as solid. He will have good games and bad games. All part of the process

 

[Don D]

My guess is that he's gonna end up as some kind of Dustin Penner type. A huge physical presence whose contribution doesn't always translate to pts but is just as important to a team , especially in the playoffs. Penner was a huge part of the Kings cup win in 2012 with his physical play , puck protection skills and ability to maintain an effective cycling game along the boards. Slaf has the physical attributes to do the same thing

Dustin Penner was a "never give up" player. Cut by many teams in his youth, never drafted in junior nor the NHL. While the physical attributes are similar, Slaf is skilled in ways Penner never was. Good physical comparison!

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Lol do people really think Roy will be a first liner?

 

[Licou]

Dustin Penner was a "never give up" player. Cut by many teams in his youth, never drafted in junior nor the NHL. While the physical attributes are similar, Slaf is skilled in ways Penner never was. Good physical comparison!

Man was he a menace with Getzlaf and Perry... What a crazy scary forward line that was.

 

[Seb]

Wow, amazed at how comments have changed on Slaf. He was a loser, bust, disgrace, worst pick ever, flop, flunkie, deadbeat,......

The 2-3 posters who kept hammering it page after page have been quiet. Thank god.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

Lol do people really think Roy will be a first liner?

An interesting exercise to engage in is to theorize what Montreal could get in return if they attempted to trade Roy today? A first? A second? A prospect of equivalent value? Less? More? Which of our prospects would be a more marketable asset? Any?

The answer to this little exercise will provide a general idea as to this promising player’s comparative value.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

An interesting exercise to engage in is to theorize what Montreal could get in return if they attempted to trade Roy today? A first? A second? A prospect of equivalent value? Less? More? Which of our prospects would be a more marketable asset? Any?

The answer to this little exercise will provide a general idea as to this promising player’s comparative value.

I like roy he's a good prospect , not a sure thing yet imo

 

[Jaynki]

An interesting exercise to engage in is to theorize what Montreal could get in return if they attempted to trade Roy today? A first? A second? A prospect of equivalent value? Less? More? Which of our prospects would be a more marketable asset? Any?

The answer to this little exercise will provide a general idea as to this promising player’s comparative value.

What would be your answer?

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

I feel like they should mandate to him that he gets four shots a game. If he doesn’t get four, he has to do practice laps.

His pass first mentality is fine but you’re right it happens way too much. Take the shot man.

He's got a cannon, too so just take it now. Before he took it when he was covered. Now he's open and looks to pass

Something between he ears that can be fixed.

 

[Kennerback]

He's got a cannon, too so just take it now. Before he took it when he was covered. Now he's open and looks to pass

Something between he ears that can be fixed.

His shot strength is fine. Zero worries. It’s 100% his release,

 

[Rapala]

That's the beauty of hockey , all the fancy stats in the world don't account for crosschecks in the numbers come playoff time. Or taking a stinky glove to the face

Nerds can try their best to disect it but at the end of the day being a gamer is all that matters - Marc Bergevin

Absolutely I've been a longtime proponent of what I call crap stats. This going back to early Therrien days when analytics were coming to the fore. The issue I had and still have is oft times the number don't correlate with what we are seeing on the ice. Garbage in Garbage out in many instances.

 

[Kennerback]

Absolutely I've been a longtime proponent of what I call crap stats. This going back to early Therrien days when analytics were coming to the fore. The issue I had and still have is oft times the number don't correlate with what we are seeing on the ice. Garbage in Garbage out in many instances.

I value stats and Bader’s model might be fine for most players. But how do you gauge a player like Slaf who’s absent from the scoresheet but is looking this good otherwise. Roy would be a better candidate for his model as he’s a good player in a typical development path. Slaf is an outlier.