Juraj Slafkovsky - Year Two

[bcv]

Hutson is not a blue chip prospect until he shows he can defend at a minimum of average level.

You don't think a defenseman prospect who's basically breaking offensive records left and right is not a blue chip prospect?

 

[417]

He has 2 points in his last 7 games playing with the teams best players most of the time.

Yeah not quite…

He’s played well but I don’t understand where select few posters are getting this “L” to hand to everyone.

To me it's even weirder that anyone has an issue with him actually playing well at this moment that people have to resort to the lowest of hanging fruits which is point production.

The fact you've got some people in this thread, not saying you specifically, who have legit anxiety when he has a good game, is wild to me.

Somewhere along the line we forgot to be fans, everyone wants to be a scout or a coach or a development expert.

You don't think a defenseman prospect who's basically breaking offensive records left and right is not a blue chip prospect?

Personally, until I see him against professional hockey players in the AHL and/or NHL, it's just a nice story.

 

[bcv]

Personally, until I see him against professional hockey players in the AHL and/or NHL, it's just a nice story.

Every prospect can bust, even blue chip ones. Doesn't mean Hutson isn't a blue chip prospect because has things to work on.

 

[OnTheRun]

Please explain to the class how you’ve come to the conclusion he can’t defend.

What are the metrics you’ve based your analysis on?

He didn't say he can't defend, he said he need to shows he can.
It's completely unknown how well Hutson will handle NHL competitions, and that much is pretty much true for any prospect who has yet to face NHL competitions, but Hutson isn't the biggest dude, so it's not surprising if some have doubts and "wait for proofs".

 

[admiralcadillac]

He didn't say he can't defend, he said he need to shows he can.
It's completely unknown how well Hutson will handle NHL competitions, and that much is pretty much true for any prospect who has yet to face NHL competitions, but Hutson isn't the biggest dude, so it's not surprising if some have doubts and "wait for proofs".

I’m sorry but saying “until he shows he can defend at a minimum average level” heavily implies that he can’t. I don’t need to be gaslit into believing a poster when they have no basis for making their claim.

By your reasoning no prospects are blue chip prospects because we can’t know how anyone does anything until the NHL. That’s absurd on its face given the definition of a blue chip prospect includes the term prospect.

 

[Guy Larose]

Yeah not quite…

To me it's even weirder that anyone has an issue with him actually playing well at this moment that people have to resort to the lowest of hanging fruits which is point production.

The fact you've got some people in this thread, not saying you specifically, who have legit anxiety when he has a good game, is wild to me.

Somewhere along the line we forgot to be fans, everyone wants to be a scout or a coach or a development expert.


Personally, until I see him against professional hockey players in the AHL and/or NHL, it's just a nice story.

There are a lot of people on this board that admittedly don't watch every game, but continuously bash players. If you don't watch, you can't really judge. They stat watch the following day.

 

[nhlfan9191]

Yeah not quite…

To me it's even weirder that anyone has an issue with him actually playing well at this moment that people have to resort to the lowest of hanging fruits which is point production.

The fact you've got some people in this thread, not saying you specifically, who have legit anxiety when he has a good game, is wild to me.

Somewhere along the line we forgot to be fans, everyone wants to be a scout or a coach or a development expert.


Personally, until I see him against professional hockey players in the AHL and/or NHL, it's just a nice story.

What do you mean not quite? He’s been playing with one of or both of Suzuki/Caufield for most of the last 10 or so games. What is incorrect about what I said there? If you’re deemed good enough to play in the top 6 in the NHL, 20-30 point production is not good regardless of how well you think he’s be playing when he touches the puck. He’s still not shooting the puck anywhere near an acceptable pace and that leads to forced passes.

And I wouldn’t consider production a low hanging fruit. This is the NHL man. Top 6 forwards, which is what role Slafkovsky is being played in, are for the most part evaluated by what they can bring offensively. Which is measured by production. How can you blame posters for mentioning it?

I don’t have the quote for a post you just made, but you said Slafkovsky has “more maturity and perspective then a lot of people in our fanbase.” That’s just a way for you to take a shot at people who don’t agree with your opinion. And it makes you a bit hypocritical because somebody could just as easily turn something like that around on you and the way you go about your opinions.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

The people who are actually working so hard at pointing fingers towards posters are the ones in competition with L's and W's. On one side, you had people thinking that we should be patient and he should slowly walk befor he could run. On the other side, you had people bashing posters saying pros know best. I'm fine with my side.

I'm still wondering how wanting the team to have taken more its time with a player as a bashing to the said player. I will never get it. This board has gone downhill...insane.

If some would be as hard with the organization that they are with posters, that organization would feel way more accountable than they were in the past.

I was pretty agnostic but I did lean towards sending him down.

But there’s no way you can characterize the ‘send him down’ crowd that generously lol. Come on. You can’t think that’s a good faith argument

 

[OnTheRun]

I’m sorry but saying “until he shows he can defend at a minimum average level” heavily implies that he can’t. I don’t need to be gaslit into believing a poster when they have no basis for making their claim.

By your reasoning no prospects are blue chip prospects because we can’t know how anyone does anything until the NHL. That’s absurd on its face given the definition of a blue chip prospect includes the term prospect.

There is a huge difference between "he won't be able to defend at a minimum average level in the NHL" and "he need to shows he can defend at a minimum average level in the NHL"

For the rest it really doesn't matter one bit. People can call him a B prospect if they want to, it won't matter if he come in and break the NHL in half, and the inverse is also true, it's not like calling him a blue chip is going to increase his chance of succeed.

 

[Kennerback]

I wasn't really on board with the Slaf pick at first since I wanted Wright or Jiricek but I'm convinced they made the right pick.

It wouldn’t have been all fun and games with Wright. He basically has the same production in the AHL as Joshua Roy right now. And Roy is starting to get murdered here.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

He has 2 points in his last 7 games playing with the teams best players most of the time. He’s played well but I don’t understand where select few posters are getting this “L” to hand to everyone.

Last game he played with our best the game before he played with scrubs…

He’s playing really well. Points are secondary right now. I hope they staple him to that top line and stop moving thing around. Also, he should be on the first wave PP

 

[Kennerback]

I was pretty agnostic but I did lean towards sending him down.

But there’s no way you can characterize the ‘send him down’ crowd that generously lol. Come on. You can’t think that’s a good faith argument

I was also agnostic regarding sending Slaf down early. He was struggling. He was playing with plugs. I wouldn’t have complained.

Now I feel the debate is moot in that he’s improved, looks like an NHL player and I don’t know that the offensive holes in his game could be improved any more in the AHL than in the NHL.

I also believe that if a player is good enough, you can’t f*** up his development.

 

[SlafySZN]

Last game he played with our best the game before he played with scrubs…

He’s playing really well. Points are secondary right now. I hope they staple him to that top line and stop moving thing around. Also, he should be on the first wave PP

This poster was not here to talk about points when he had 5 points in 7-8 games playing with Dvorak and Caufield.

I guess also his great game against the Kraken with Suzuki and Caufield doesn’t count since it’s better to stat watch

 

[417]

What do you mean not quite? He’s been playing with one of or both of Suzuki/Caufield for most of the last 10 or so games. What is incorrect about what I said there?

I mean, he's played with Caufield and Dvorak (that's Christian Dvorak), and then had a short stint with Dvorak and Anderson if i'm not mistaken.

The lines have been a blender over this time frame, i'm not sure why you're trying to frame it like he's been with Suzuki/Caufield for the last 10 or so games.

It's not true.

If you’re deemed good enough to play in the top 6 in the NHL, 20-30 point production is not good regardless of how well you think he’s be playing when he touches the puck. He’s still not shooting the puck anywhere near an acceptable pace and that leads to forced passes.

You could isolate a cold streak of 10 games for a lot of players that you would call top 6 and reach the same conclusion you just did.

Again, if you're into that sort of low hanging fruit...so be it.

I like a bit more meat on my bone - pause.

And I wouldn’t consider production a low hanging fruit. This is the NHL man. Top 6 forwards, which is what role Slafkovsky is being played in, are for the most part evaluated by what they can bring offensively. Which is measured by production. How can you blame posters for mentioning it?

It's a low hanging fruit considering where he's at and the state of the team in general.

We just had 3 guys end much longer scoring droughts than Slafkovsky, and they're all veterans. But we wanna rag on the 19 yr old because he's not a PPG player on a team where no one other than Suzuki/Caufield/Matheson produces with any sort of regularity?

I mean OK...to each his own.

I don’t have the quote for a post you just made, but you said Slafkovsky has “more maturity and perspective then a lot of people in our fanbase.” That’s just a way for you to take a shot at people who don’t agree with your opinion.

If the shoe fits, wear it I guess.

I thought his comments were very mature and thoughtful and he shows he's got the right perspective that fans, as evidenced by your comments right now, just don't have.

If you or anyone takes that as a shot...so be it.

And it makes you a bit hypocritical because somebody could just as easily turn something like that around on you and the way you go about your opinions.

If you or someone else feels like doing that...again, by all means.

You've taken shots at me multiple times, hasn't bothered me one bit. If there's something about my opinion you feel is worthy of being called out, go ahead.

 

[NORiculous]

I understand people are upset that Slaf is developing well in the NHL and really made all the "he must be sent down to the AHL" cult look incorrect so much so that now we have resorting to arguing about last year. Jesus boys take your L move on and be happy for the player.

Actually, he is playing well. But the effects of being rushed doesn’t mean you don’t make the NHL.

It might not have effected him or it might have. I think it was a risk that wasn’t forced or needed.

Will see how it goes though. Hopefully he still becomes a dominating offensive force.

 

[Whitesnake]

I was pretty agnostic but I did lean towards sending him down.

But there’s no way you can characterize the ‘send him down’ crowd that generously lol. Come on. You can’t think that’s a good faith argument

Generously? What do you mean? Do you mean the people that call him a bust? I'm not talking about those. Besides, nobody who calls him a bust advocate for him to be send down....sending down wouldln't change how they think of him....lol

 

[Hannibal]

Nice to see him work on his shot with a specialist!

 

[Whitesnake]

He has 2 points in his last 7 games playing with the teams best players most of the time. He’s played well but I don’t understand where select few posters are getting this “L” to hand to everyone.

Best game by Slaf last game and he had no points. I'm not taking points into consideration. I was mostly taking how he handled himself. How he put himself in a position to be put in the 20th row in the stands 5 times a game despite weighing 40 pounds more than the guy who hit him. And to be lost in all 3 zones.

He improved that. And right now, the AHL point is moot. 'Cause they wouldn't want to repeat the JK fiasco where a guy feels entitled and want to move out frmo the organization. Now, it's here. From 1st line to maybe stands if it doesn't work out.

 

[Kennerback]

Actually, he is playing well. But the effects of being rushed doesn’t mean you don’t make the NHL.

It might not have effected him or it might have. I think it was a risk that wasn’t forced or needed.

Will see how it goes though. Hopefully he still becomes a dominating offensive force.

Slaf’s main problems now are on the offensive side of the ledger. I don’t think it makes much of a difference if Dr. Shot and Slaf work on his offense in Montreal or Laval. Maybe the fact his NHL offensive stats have looked so bad early is a benefit in disguise. It hopefully makes him open-minded and teachable.

 

[NORiculous]

I also believe that if a player is good enough, you can’t f*** up his development.

I don’t believe this to be true.

I do agree that some people are harder to mess up then others but that goes way beyond just hockey.

Any human can be influenced in the wrong way. Everyone doesn’t pull the same motivation from the same places, etc. Like I said, some are harder the others but it still remains that no one works in absolutes, it has not yet been written.

 

[Rapala]

I was also agnostic regarding sending Slaf down early. He was struggling. He was playing with plugs. I wouldn’t have complained.

Now I feel the debate is moot in that he’s improved, looks like an NHL player and I don’t know that the offensive holes in his game could be improved any more in the AHL than in the NHL.

I also believe that if a player is good enough, you can’t f*** up his development.

The thing for me is just about everyone here knew that if we had one winger who could compliment Suzuki/Caufield it was always going to be Slaf. provided he could progress. He needs to be left exactly where he is for the balance of this season period. He's not worse defensively than any other player we've tried and he is by far the most effective forechecker and board player we've seen since Kirby Dach played that wing. I doubt he can put up the PPG numbers the line had with Kirby but I think he eventually will be able to.

 

[BaseballCoach]

Please explain to the class how you’ve come to the conclusion he can’t defend.

What are the metrics you’ve based your analysis on?

Watching him every chance I get.

 

[nhlfan9191]

This poster was not here to talk about points when he had 5 points in 7-8 games playing with Dvorak and Caufield.

I guess also his great game against the Kraken with Suzuki and Caufield doesn’t count since it’s better to stat watch

I literally made the point of playing with one of Suzuki/Caufield which you just conveniently ignored. A hot streak by your standards is around a .5 pace over a small stretch. Stop trying to create arguments I never made.

I mean, he's played with Caufield and Dvorak (that's Christian Dvorak), and then had a short stint with Dvorak and Anderson if i'm not mistaken.

The lines have been a blender over this time frame, i'm not sure why you're trying to frame it like he's been with Suzuki/Caufield for the last 10 or so games.

It's not true.

You could isolate a cold streak of 10 games for a lot of players that you would call top 6 and reach the same conclusion you just did.

Again, if you're into that sort of low hanging fruit...so be it.

I like a bit more meat on my bone - pause.

It's a low hanging fruit considering where he's at and the state of the team in general.

We just had 3 guys end much longer scoring droughts than Slafkovsky, and they're all veterans. But we wanna rag on the 19 yr old because he's not a PPG player on a team where no one other than Suzuki/Caufield/Matheson produces with any sort of regularity?

I mean OK...to each his own.

If the shoe fits, wear it I guess.

I thought his comments were very mature and thoughtful and he shows he's got the right perspective that fans, as evidenced by your comments right now, just don't have.

If you or anyone takes that as a shot...so be it.

If you or someone else feels like doing that...again, by all means.

You've taken shots at me multiple times, hasn't bothered me one bit. If there's something about my opinion you feel is worthy of being called out, go ahead.

You didn’t post what you did because you thought what he said was “mature and thoughtful.” You made it to discredit people who don’t agree with you. I don’t have time to respond to every single one of your bullet points. I’ve answered to everything you’ve said in some way or another if you scroll up. You want people to ignore point production going as far to calling it “low hanging fruit.” Not happening. It will always be something fans will claim too unless he truly becomes a unicorn where his intangibles become more valuable then his offensive output. He isn’t at that point yet.

 

[NORiculous]

Slaf’s main problems now are on the offensive side of the ledger. I don’t think it makes much of a difference if Dr. Shot and Slaf work on his offense in Montreal or Laval. Maybe the fact his NHL offensive stats have looked so bad early is a benefit in disguise. It hopefully makes him open-minded and teachable.

He looked pretty teachable from the get go.

Let’s hope Dr. Shot makes him Slafscoredsky.

 

[Miller Time]

You’re asking the questions a lot of us were asking with them doing the right thing with Reinbacher while doing something completely different with Slafkovsky. Considering only Jiricek got a tiny 4 game sample out of the 5 realistic players who could’ve got taken 1st overall in 2022, it’s fairly safe to say he wouldn’t have made any team other then ours last year. That takes away from the whole “he’s doing something special by making the team” arguement being made in this thread.

Your assumptions are off... If anything, RB sent back to Europe highlights that it's unlikely Jiricek would've made opening roster last year.

Slaf didn't stay in Montreal because of where he was picked, he stayed because they felt it was the best place for him to be for his development... Which includes the specific roster and team context at the time.