Juraj Slafkovsky - Year Two

[Skip Bayless]

Everyone hopes for PPG+ from a 1OA but that isn’t always going to be the case. If I’m not mistaken, from 2010 to 2020, there’s only been 3 PPG players. Granted, a couple picks were Dmen.

I want Slaf to be a PPG+, but to be honest, I expect 60-70pts but playing the physically dominant style he’s been showing lately.

Honestly, I'd be satisfied with a 60-70 pts possession monster with all the intangibles of his size.

But at this point, it feels like his ceiling is anybody's guess. Specially when Caufield starts scoring like he can and he adds some overall quickness to his execution.

 

[sandviper]

Honestly, I'd be satisfied with a 60-70 pts possession monster with all the intangibles of his size.

But at this point, it feels like his ceiling is anybody's guess. Specially when Caufield starts scoring like he can and he adds some overall quickness to his execution.

Agree 100%

I get this is a results driven league so there needs to be some offense but a 60-70pt possession monster who can win board battles and dominate players physically is worth a lot. He has to reach his ceiling, but players like Slaf helps you win games that matter.

 

[OnTheRun]

He definitely hasn't looked like a low IQ player.

It's almost like it was bad idea to evaluate "hockey IQ" at a stage where the player was clearly overwhelmed by his new environment.

 

[Jabba11]

It took Jack Hughes his 3rd season to show signs of greatness. Juraj is a bigger bodied type of player but it took him about 67 games to show us that he is able to show signs of able to become a special player. Points will have to come eventually and will solidify him as an elite player or a good player. But for now, he is playing really elite level of hockey, something that neither Laffy, Hughes, Byfield were able to show as early as Slaf. Consider this, he has only played 67 games thus far.

Ideally, Slafkovsky can be a PPG player with elite 2-way play and physical and nasty. That's a number 1 player in the league and in playoffs. Connor Bedard can be generational, but Slaf brings a different impact to the game. I think we will be happy in the end. He's special. A young Jagr-type of style/player is the potential we want him to aim for. Emphasis on "type", no Jagr.

 

[Goldenhands]

You guys all on Rehabs but there has been some way way worst takes than his.

Mrb1p, a week ago, argued that teams had more Slaf-like prospects than Roy-like prospects. He also argued two weeks ago that Slaf should go to the AHL because he has no pucks skills.

Cant blame him, he has no scouting skills.

Only kidding him a bit, he deserved it.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

Everyone hopes for PPG+ from a 1OA but that isn’t always going to be the case. If I’m not mistaken, from 2010 to 2020, there’s only been 3 PPG players. Granted, a couple picks were Dmen.

I want Slaf to be a PPG+, but to be honest, I expect 60-70pts but playing the physically dominant style he’s been showing lately.

Ah PPG ain’t what it used to be. Look at all the players who are at a ppg right now. Lot more than there was 10 years ago.

I think he can be a PPG. I honestly don’t know how high his upside is. It could be enormous.

 

[Habssince89]

He's going to score points but a real impact he will have is simply tilting the ice. His production won't be at a 100pt clip or anything but he will be a handful and will make others lives easier

 

[Heffyhoof]

The problem with lowering expectations and standards is at some point you’ll catch yourself celebrating failure.

Plenty of us didn’t want him rushed to the NHL. But that’s besides the point.

We can all celebrate his progress as a player without pretending he is something he is not or that he has arrived. Arrived players don’t pace for 22pts. Joe Thornton, oft compared, didn’t pace for 22pts in his sophomore season.

Slaf has a lot of progress ahead of him and we should be lucky to see him fulfill his promise. We disagreed about how he could best improve but that discussion is settled and finished now. He’s in the NHL to stay.

I agree with you 100%, but after probably 1000+ posts plus and the infamous "Liiga Points" that infested every single popular thread for almost a year, you can take some ribbing without playing the victim.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

He's going to score points but a real impact he will have is simply tilting the ice. His production won't be at a 100pt clip or anything but he will be a handful and will make others lives easier

I don’t think we can safely say he can’t close in on a 100 pts. I certainly don’t think it’s impossible.

Correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t his international play at 17 near historic?

Many of us hand waived those 2 tournaments from him but they certainly could be pointing the way to a special player.

 

[Jabba11]

I don’t think we can safely say he can’t close in on a 100 pts. I certainly don’t think it’s impossible.

Correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t his international play at 17 near historic?

Many of us hand waived those 2 tournaments from him but they certainly could be pointing the way to a special player.

Give me a 82 pts hard physical skilled 6ft3 monster of a winger and I'm more than ecstatic

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

Give me a 82 pts hard physical skilled 6ft3 monster of a winger and I'm more than ecstatic

Absolutely. Might be even more than that.

 

[ToNedOuT]

Slaf has been fun to watch lately.

The thing that is impressing me the most is his play in the dzone. He went from deer in the headlights all last year, started kind of similar this year but lately he’s been able to break up plays and contribute on zone exits. Night and day difference.

 

[tazsub3]

I'm gladly eating crow right now I just hope he keeps it up. Someone needs to help him how to shoot the puck better, but nobody on this team knows how to lol.

Well they got the guy that got Pasternak to shoot as well as he is . So they did . Give it time

 

[CristianoRonaldo]

Everyone keeps saying "the points will come". Tonight was the last straw, another big fat zero against a weak team.

It's time to move on from the guy, and let a hard worker like Gallagher get the first line opportunities.

Not sure if serious... If not, well played.

 

[Jaaanosik]

There are so many takes floating around,some are hilarious and at the same time you wonder if lack of lucidity plays a roll. He's just a young kid getting going and it'll take time to see his mature game. Sure he should have started elsewhere last season and perhaps this one,but look at this management team and the things they do.lol

If he started elsewhere the last season, are you sure we would see Slaf playing like this?

 

[BenchBrawl]

Excellent and very promising as he gets even stronger into his 20s.

 

[Jaaanosik]

You also saw me praise him and his growth. And presumably you saw me criticise people who trashed him. Stop trying to make me out to be the boogeyman simply because I don't think a 22pt pace forward is top6 material. You can call a triumph for him if you want, erect a statue to his shootout goal. See what I care. I've been respectful and polite but this is not fair.

I was referring to myself and others who in the context of other recent first round busts and rushed prospects did not feel optimistic and had no reason to feel optimistic. I own this feeling and statement, because I felt it.

Couple of times you referenced your feelings.
Man, did anybody tell you feelings are overrated?

It's just terrible to be influenced by feelings in a position when pure logic is necessary.
You were pointed out how your takes on Slaf's evaluation where wrong the last year.

Are you going to admit you were off?

 

[Kennerback]

I don’t think we can safely say he can’t close in on a 100 pts. I certainly don’t think it’s impossible.

Correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t his international play at 17 near historic?

Many of us hand waived those 2 tournaments from him but they certainly could be pointing the way to a special player.

Special circumstances. He went from under 3 shot attempts in Liiga to over 3 shots /game (not attempts, real shots)in tournaments. His tournament coach basically forced him to shoot. Apparently it’s the only person ever to succeed at cooling down his lifetime love affair with passing. Other coaches, teammates, his mother (litterally) we’re not successful.

If there’s no one taking draconian measures to force him, his shots always shrivel down to almost nothing. He can’t stop himself even if it’s not in his best interest. So he needs to correct that.

 

[jrom]

Give me a 82 pts hard physical skilled 6ft3 monster of a winger and I'm more than ecstatic

We also need that kind of player to enable Caufield (and similar smallish players).

 

[Habssince89]

I don’t think we can safely say he can’t close in on a 100 pts. I certainly don’t think it’s impossible.

Correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t his international play at 17 near historic?

Many of us hand waived those 2 tournaments from him but they certainly could be pointing the way to a special player.

I'm not necessarily saying he won't but I'm saying he will have a big impact on the team just through his ability to sustain possession

 

[MasterD]

Well they got the guy that got Pasternak to shoot as well as he is . So they did . Give it time

Who'd that be?

 

[themilosh]

We also need that kind of player to enable Caufield (and similar smallish players).

CC is small. I would describe Gally as "smallish"

when all is said and done, CC-Suzuki will be incredible 2nd liners to solidify our top 6. I'm not going to count on Dach as I really don;t think he will be able to last a year a without getting injured - so it is imperative we find that 1C to play with Slaf

 

[Scriptor]

CC is small. I would describe Gally as "smallish"

when all is said and done, CC-Suzuki will be incredible 2nd liners to solidify our top 6. I'm not going to count on Dach as I really don;t think he will be able to last a year a without getting injured - so it is imperative we find that 1C to play with Slaf

So Dach with Caufield and Suzuki?

Pretty good 2nd line.

 

[Mrb1p]

CC is small. I would describe Gally as "smallish"

when all is said and done, CC-Suzuki will be incredible 2nd liners to solidify our top 6. I'm not going to count on Dach as I really don;t think he will be able to last a year a without getting injured - so it is imperative we find that 1C to play with Slaf

No, CC is incredibly small, Gally is 100% small.

 

[Scriptor]

So Dach with Caufield and Suzuki?

Pretty good 2nd line.