Juraj Slafkovsky - Year Two

[The Gr8 Dane]

I love slaf , and he's looked like our best forward in the past two games .

The issue is that's an indictment on all these garbage players on the roster getting outplayed by a guy who couldn't even get a shot off 2 weeks go.

The rest of the forwards should be embarrassed by their play

 

[WinterLion]

At the end of the game with he went at it with Kopitar in a strenght and shove battle along the boards and Kopitar almost falled down. Kid is serious beast ‘cause Kopitar is one strong mofo

Imagine when he strengthens his core and lower body more...

 

[Whitesnake]

Reinbacher's pick will hurt more than Slaf.....that's a gimme. Slaf will be useful to this team and surely amongst the best of his class.

 

[Andy]

Reinbacher's pick will hurt more than Slaf.....that's a gimme. Slaf will be useful to this team.

Or maybe we can just wait a few years before making these type of pronouncements. Just one month ago a few folks didn't think Slaf would be anything.

There is so much time left for development. I still remember McDonagh's play during the WJC one year where everyone was super concerned because he struggled.

 

[DAChampion]

I still remember McDonagh's play during the WJC one year where everyone was super concerned because he struggled.

I guess the equivalent would be trading Reinbacher for Huberdeau.

Throw in Newhook, a 4th, and Mysak.

 

[Whitesnake]

Or maybe we can just wait a few years before making these type of pronouncements. Just one month ago a few folks didn't think Slaf would be anything.

There is so much time left for development. I still remember McDonagh's play during the WJC one year where everyone was super concerned because he struggled.

I never thought he'd be nothing. Even if I wanted to have him in the AHL. Clear that this kid has what it takes to be a very good player. What we will have to wait is to see who else around him will to. But it doesn't take a big degree to notice Slaf's game and how it can evolves.

See...being concerned about a prospect is normal. I have no idea how ''being concerned'' means that we think he will amount to nothing. Those exaggerations do not help the discussion. We have a hard enough time as fanbase to understand each other, might as well not invent stuff based on what we think the poster meant....and just go with what was said.

The funny part about the let's wait crowd it's that when we want to talk about the past. we are told that's in the past....Anybody wants to revise the 2018 draft now?

 

[Deebs]

I never thought he'd be nothing. Even if I wanted to have him in the AHL. Clear that this kid has what it takes to be a very good player. What we will have to wait is to see who else around him will to. But it doesn't take a big degree to notice Slaf's game and how it can evolves.

See...being concerned about a prospect is normal. I have no idea how ''being concerned'' means that we think he will amount to nothing. Those exaggerations do not help the discussion. We have a hard enough time as fanbase to understand each other, might as well not invent stuff based on what we think the poster meant....and just go with what was said.

Being concerned is no big deal, but when you say Slaf will be useful while insinuating Reinbacher will not...well, not the best way to put it

 

[DAChampion]

Being concerned is no big deal, but when you say Slaf will be useful while insinuating Reinbacher will not...well, that's not a very intelligent comment.

I think the vast majority of his forum has absolutely no idea how good Reinbacher is going to be.

 

[Jaynki]

It is a kind of a miracle of what is happening with Slaf right now.

No its not a miracle.

Its expected for a 19 years old with his talent to grow and explode like that.

Happens every single year with many prospects.

 

[Deebs]

I think the vast majority of his forum has absolutely no idea how good Reinbacher is going to be.

It's kind of embarrassing really but it's been that way for a long time on here. At least give the kid a little bit of time before calling his useless lol

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

People are hard tonight on Caufield and Suzuki and others for not finishing Slaf passing plays. But to beat a goalie in the NHL you need an element of surprise. I knew, so did many fans and especially Cam Talbot knew exactly what was unfolding.

Of course, Slaf was setting up the guy in front as always. Zero element of surprise. Talbot already knew in the dressing room before the game. Talbot gets square to the shooter cutting his angle. Despite being a routine save, he looks like a hero. Expect Slaf to make many more goalies look great in the future and make his linemates look like bozos.

This is silly. Slaf set up his teammates and you’d have us believe that it didn’t work because it was too predictable? Get real man.

Yes, he needs to shoot more but in a night like tonight his linemates should be converting.

His finishing abilities are a whole other issue…

But in the meantime, to convert a pass into an assist, Slaf needs goalies to take him seriously as a shooting threat. The book is already out among NHL goalies that he’s not.

Again, this is gobbledygook. Everyone in the ice knew Oates would pass but it didn’t matter. There are tons of pass first players.

On a two on one? Sure. But the play is happening quickly and Slaf’s pass out to CC wast telegraphed, it was awesome.

Totally agree he has to shoot more but to say his play was ‘too predictable’ last night is nonsense.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Not even close. Jk, though it was implied that the was the best player on the ice for the Habs hahahaha

He was consistently called out as the Canadiens best player by the TSN crew last night.

 

[417]

Or maybe we can just wait a few years before making these type of pronouncements. Just one month ago a few folks didn't think Slaf would be anything.

There is so much time left for development. I still remember McDonagh's play during the WJC one year where everyone was super concerned because he struggled.

Prisoner’s of the moment

 

[417]

I never thought he'd be nothing. Even if I wanted to have him in the AHL. Clear that this kid has what it takes to be a very good player. What we will have to wait is to see who else around him will to. But it doesn't take a big degree to notice Slaf's game and how it can evolves.

Yet you got folks trying really really hard not to notice his game and how it has evolved.

See...being concerned about a prospect is normal. I have no idea how ''being concerned'' means that we think he will amount to nothing. Those exaggerations do not help the discussion. We have a hard enough time as fanbase to understand each other, might as well not invent stuff based on what we think the poster meant....and just go with what was said.

Except most of the concerns have everything to do with allowing current concerns (which granted, are mostly fair) with a player, determine what they're going to be for the long term.

That's why people wanted/want to see Slafkovsky in the AHL, they don’t want to see him “learn on the job”, they want to see a finished product.

The funny part about the let's wait crowd it's that when we want to talk about the past. we are told that's in the past....Anybody wants to revise the 2018 draft now?

It's weird to have a “lets wait crowd” for a fanbase that's been clamouring for a rebuild.

I mean..:what y’all think this was gonna be about? Lol

 

[Tyson]

When a 19 year old starts to become your best forward it is time to start giving him props.
Have to noticed he is always looking to set up Caufield but Cole barely acknowledges Slaf during the PP?

 

[Kennerback]

This is silly. Slaf set up his teammates and you’d have us believe that it didn’t work because it was too predictable? Get real man.

Yes, he needs to shoot more but in a night like tonight his linemates should be converting.


Again, this is gobbledygook. Everyone in the ice knew Oates would pass but it didn’t matter. There are tons of pass first players.

On a two on one? Sure. But the play is happening quickly and Slaf’s pass out to CC wast telegraphed, it was awesome.

Totally agree he has to shoot more but to say his play was ‘too predictable’ last night is nonsense.

Did you not think he was passing on each of those plays? He’d have more assists if he wasn’t a “pass always” player. Give the goalies something to think about.

As for Oates, I will go and review his shooting stats but I assume he was a “pass first” player like Thornton, not a “pass always”. Slaf is rewriting the NHL history books as the first “pass always” player.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

When a 19 year old starts to become your best forward it is time to start giving him props.
Have to noticed he is always looking to set up Caufield but Cole barely acknowledges Slaf during the PP?

Honestly no. I’ve seen CC trying to set him up.

 

[OldCraig71]

When a 19 year old starts to become your best forward it is time to start giving him props.
Have to noticed he is always looking to set up Caufield but Cole barely acknowledges Slaf during the PP?

I notice this. What I am seeing is Cole passes to Nick and Nick passes to Cole and then sprinkle in Matheson who doesn't see anyone and shoots randomly often derailing a promising pp. He has the vision of Josh Anderson. I see Slaf tapping his stick on the ice but rarely getting the pass.

 

[Pazucha]

Lets not blame CC for not passing on the PP they are playing on the opposite site so its not an easy pass.

Also CC is not known for making amazing no look passes through traffic.

If anything it was Matheson who had the opportunity to pass it to Slaf few times.

 

[Kennerback]

I notice this. What I am seeing is Cole passes to Nick and Nick passes to Cole and then sprinkle in Matheson who doesn't see anyone and shoots randomly often derailing a promising pp. He has the vision of Josh Anderson. I see Slaf tapping his stick on the ice but rarely getting the pass.

If i was Cole I wouldn’t pass to Slaf. He’s just doing another pass. It’s pointless.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Did you not think he was passing on each of those plays? He’d have more assists if he wasn’t a “pass always” player. Give the goalies something to think about.

As for Oates, I will go and review his shooting stats but I assume he was a “pass first” player like Thornton, not a “pass always”. Slaf is rewriting the NHL history books as the first “pass always” player.

I think you’re way over the top on this. He’s got 60 games in the NHL. The idea that the league has him all figured out is dumb.

Yes, he should shoot more. But those plays last night were great. They weren’t telegraphed or predictable. The cross ice to CC was particularly awesome. Unfortunately I don’t even think CC expected it.

 

[Nico Cauzuki]

points might not show atm but hes been playing good lately definitely a huge step from last year

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Lets not blame CC for not passing on the PP they are playing on the opposite site so its not an easy pass.

Also CC is not known for making amazing no look passes through traffic.

If anything it was Matheson who had the opportunity to pass it to Slaf few times.

CC is facing crazy coverage now. He passes off way more than he used to because there’s no open ice for him.

 

[Kennerback]

I think you’re way over the top on this. He’s got 60 games in the NHL. The disease that the league has him all figured out is dumb.

Yes, he should shoot more. But those plays last night were great. They weren’t telegraphed or predictable. The cross ice to CC was particularly awesome. Unfortunately I don’t even think CC expected it.

On the PP, Slaf is basically a glorified arena board you bounce pucks on.

 

[417]

No its not a miracle.

Its expected for a 19 years old with his talent to grow and explode like that.

Happens every single year with many prospects.

Exactly.

It's just that growth, typically happens at lower levels, where fans aren't watching every single shift/game like they are now with Slafkovsky. So they don't see the ups and downs. They just see the points on the scoresheet and assume everything is going great with a player's development.