Juraj Slafkovsky - Year Two

[Miller Time]

I get it. The only time I was ever on "team AHL" was at the beginning of this year when things looked dire still. Since a month or so ago, however, he's taken leaps and bounds. I believe in those respects, like you, he has nothing to learn. He's looked great on the first line since being promoted too.

I am still concerned about his NHL scoring, however. You say "It's pretty much clear at this point" that it will come. How is it clear?

I'm asking genuinely, I don't mean any disrespect. I just don't see how it's clear. It MAY come. It COULD come. But I don't think that it's clear by any means. Caufield busting out of a slump and scoring more, that's likely to me. He shoots way too much and way too hard not to. Slaf? I don't know.

The way he's improved so quickly in other areas DOES encourage me. But I still think he's passing wayyyy too much. It could be a rookie-not-trying-to-overstep type thing, but I feel that in the AHL, he would take way more offensive liberties and be a bit more selfish. Xhekaj didn't like his demotion, but in my opinion, if the team feels like he needs to work on something, they did the right thing. I think it could be the same in this case.

I think it's clear based on the way he's playing, his unique skills/physical traits, his game sense, his age/maturity level, his established commitment to improving and the relative development curves athletes take.

The same thing you see as "clear" re. CC breaking out of his slump, I see as far as Slaf's most likely performance trajectory.

CC could end up never again surpassing 10% shooting... Slaf could stay at a 4.5% rate for his career. Both appear very unlikely to my assessment.

Nothing is certain. but some things are more clear to others based on what lens they are looking at...

Slaf has shown more than enough to create a degree of certainty that he will both score and create a lot of offense for his linemates. The patience to allow the right developments in his game and his approach to maximize just how productive he will be is not often showed by a lot of programs... the approach our group is/has taken is one of them (and, ironically, many fans without that lens viewed the decision to keep him in montreal last year and this year as a "lack of patience", when it was the exact opposite...

 

[Kennerback]

I get it. The only time I was ever on "team AHL" was at the beginning of this year when things looked dire still. Since a month or so ago, however, he's taken leaps and bounds. I believe in those respects, like you, he has nothing to learn. He's looked great on the first line since being promoted too.

I am still concerned about his NHL scoring, however. You say "It's pretty much clear at this point" that it will come. How is it clear?

I'm asking genuinely, I don't mean any disrespect. I just don't see how it's clear. It MAY come. It COULD come. But I don't think that it's clear by any means. Caufield busting out of a slump and scoring more, that's likely to me. He shoots way too much and way too hard not to. Slaf? I don't know.

The way he's improved so quickly in other areas DOES encourage me. But I still think he's passing wayyyy too much. It could be a rookie-not-trying-to-overstep type thing, but I feel that in the AHL, he would take way more offensive liberties and be a bit more selfish. Xhekaj didn't like his demotion, but in my opinion, if the team feels like he needs to work on something, they did the right thing. I think it could be the same in this case.

I am still concerned about his NHL scoring, however. You say "It's pretty much clear at this point" that it will come. How is it clear?

I'm asking genuinely, I don't mean any disrespect. I just don't see how it's clear. It MAY come. It COULD come. But I don't think that it's clear by any means. Caufield busting out of a slump and scoring more, that's likely to me. He shoots way too much and way too hard not to. Slaf? I don't know.

It’s not clear. I think because he’s playing with Caufield and Suzuki, people think he’ll suddenly get a bunch of points. History has proven that it’s not automatically the case for the 3rd wheel.

The way he's improved so quickly in other areas DOES encourage me. But I still think he's passing wayyyy too much.

It’s ridiculous how much he overpasses. He just always hands off the puck, sometimes to the other team, sometimes to no one, and often right through Matheson or Barron’s stick to the neutral zone.

 

[le_sean]

Honestly, the only reason I would agree to send him to the AHL at this point is to work on his offensive game. I feel like he would take charge down there and start shooting more pucks, taking more chances, etc rather than always passing off. Maybe that also comes with time in the NHL as well, but I find he's always looking (especially for Cole) rather than looking to shoot.

I mean he’s taking charge as we speak. He’s the most noticeable player on his line which has two $8m players on it.

 

[River Meadow]

funny thing is that this comment is just as ridiculous as the notion that going to the AHL would help his game at this point... similarly out of touch (no sarcasm necessary

Dang.

The Habs should hire you in player development.

You really sound like you know what you're talking about.

 

[Kennerback]

I'm looking forward to the stratospheric rise from a 20pt player to a 80pt one. Imagine it happens? He would be the most exciting player in modern Habs history. Since the AHL topic is closed we can just smile and hope for the best.

If he falls short? Who cares, we can always rebuild and tank again. Tanking is the name of the game. When you tank you can draft future 80pt players.

Slaf forechecks hard. Often bumps and outmuscles two players. Forces a turnover. That's the Slaf everyone knows and love. It's why he's a net positive.

But what happens after is why he's never on the scoreboard. He never immediately exploits the play to score, he always forces a dump pass. Sometimes the dump pass is a technical wonder as it's done with panache and not many players can do it. But it's still just a dump pass.

Often Slaf's play leads to a goal, but not one where he'll be on the scoreboard. D or Suzuki gets the dump pass, transits through someone else before ending up in the net. = 0 points.
Sometimes he touches the puck a second time he then rotely looks for a dump pass again. Sometime Habs score a goal in the end. But Slaf = 0 points

To produce points you need to directly affect the finish of a goal. In the NHL that means many assists are a shot on net batted in by someone else. As hard as he tries, he won't get away from shooting on net to get points. Right now 80 points is pie in the sky science-fiction.

 

[Sagikev]

View attachment 786096

He was the one getting manhandled last year... Fast forward to now and he's starting to hit more and more. Imagine the guy at 25, at the peak of his life physically

 

[ReHabs]

Slaf forechecks hard. Often bumps and outmuscles two players. Forces a turnover. That's the Slaf everyone knows and love. It's why he's a net positive.

But what happens after is why he's never on the scoreboard. He never immediately exploits the play to score, he always forces a dump pass. Sometimes the dump pass is a technical wonder as it's done with panache and not many players can do it. But it's still just a dump pass.

Often Slaf's play leads to a goal, but not one where he'll be on the scoreboard. D or Suzuki gets the dump pass, transits through someone else before ending up in the net. = 0 points.
Sometimes he touches the puck a second time he then rotely looks for a dump pass again. Sometime Habs score a goal in the end. But Slaf = 0 points

To produce points you need to directly affect the finish of a goal. In the NHL that means many assists are a shot on net batted in by someone else. As hard as he tries, he won't get away from shooting on net to get points. Right now 80 points is pie in the sky science-fiction.

Ask people who've seen him in Liiga they'll describe to you pretty much the same thing: He can't figure out in time what to do with the puck.

Some of us wanted him in the AHL so that he figures out how to play with the puck but we were wrong, dead wrong. He's in the NHL and he's forechecking hard.

The Points Will Come. In Hughes We Trust.

 

[Jeune Poulet]

I mean he’s taking charge as we speak. He’s the most noticeable player on his line which has two $8m players on it.

Maybe the most noticeable if you are looking for shiny new things in typical HF fashion.

But to the trained eye, Suzuki remains the best player on his line.

 

[Kennerback]

Ask people who've seen him in Liiga they'll describe to you pretty much the same thing: He can't figure out in time what to do with the puck.

Some of us wanted him in the AHL so that he figures out how to play with the puck but we were wrong, dead wrong. He's in the NHL and he's forechecking hard.

The Points Will Come. In Hughes We Trust.

It's one of two things, either A) he can't figure out in time what to do with the puck OR B) shooting and taking the puck to the net are not even in his repertoire. I think it's B but who knows, time will tell.

Also his slick passes to someone in the slot are more akin to dump passes, as he doesn't really take into account the goalie's position and ease to make the save. It's more, I'm passing to a good player somewhere in the slot instead of I'm passing to the player in the right place at the right time for him to score.

 

[le_sean]

It's one of two things, either A) he can't figure out in time what to do with the puck OR B) shooting and taking the puck to the net are not even in his repertoire. I think it's B but who knows, time will tell.

Also his slick passes to someone in the slot are more akin to dump passes, as he doesn't really take into account the goalie's position and ease to make the save. It's more, I'm passing to a good player somewhere in the slot instead of I'm passing to the player in the right place at the right time for him to score.

Your second point is ridiculous. Slot passes are the most dangerous and typically the most fruitful passes in the NHL. Just because Cole’s shoulder is rehabbing this year and he can’t time anything doesn’t take away from the opportunities he’s getting from Slafkovsky.

“Too many slick slot passes” is definitely a new one. I’m betting he’s thinking more about his passes than you are of your post.

 

[calder candidate]

If Poitras was still playing an important role in Boston, they wouldn't have sent him to the WJC.

NHL teams priorities are not to stock other countries WJC rosters.

How should that be clear?

I don’t know why Boston is sending him to the WJC I 100% garantie that it isn’t to help Canada and he is tied 7th (tied for 6th amongst FW) scoring in the team and 7th in ice time amongst FW + Zacha is injured even if he isn’t playing a important role they are sending him to the WJC even if he can play in the NHL.

They decided it was better for him to play WJC than to play in a limited role in the NHL even if he is playing top 9, contributing offensively on the best team in the NHL.
Slaf was a rookie playing playing in the NHL, no playing a significant role (was amongst the least used fw on the team) or contributing pts on a team that wasn’t even playoff bound.

If the argument that it ok to send Poitras because he isn’t playing a significant role (which is debatable with Zacha injury), it is undeniable that he is playing a bigger role than Slaf was. Why was sending Slaf no a consideration even after the fact…

Maybe is first season was a blessing in disguise but there no way to consider it that is was optimal. Going to WJC or AHL might not have improved anything but there absolutely no way missing ~4games to go to the WJC could have hurt either…

 

[habdynasty]

Lots of AHL fans here. Some day you guys will make it to the nhl. lol

 

[Miller Time]

Dang.

The Habs should hire you in player development.

You really sound like you know what you're talking about.

nah... they've got a group in place that gets it, finally. Don't worry, in time you may come to understand their approach, it's not rocket science, just hard to do when given the external pressure from fans/media who don't know much about sport development and owners who often don't have a clue about much of anything lol

enjoy the ride, Future is bright

 

[Kennerback]

Your second point is ridiculous. Slot passes are the most dangerous and typically the most fruitful passes in the NHL. Just because Cole’s shoulder is rehabbing this year and he can’t time anything doesn’t take away from the opportunities he’s getting from Slafkovsky.

He would have more points if CC was not in a slump for whatever reason. But often there's 2 players in the slot. You need to pick the right one. Or the goalie can easily move to cut his angle if there's a pass. Or he'll get the puck there one second too early or too late to trick the goalie.

If he's behind the net, sometimes the right move is stepping in front of the net and stuffing the net not passing to Caufield in the slot with a D piggybacking him in full view of the goalie. It's not one of the world deep mysteries why he's a 20 point player right now. Changes need to happen for him to improve even playing with Gretzky and Kurri. Look at Semenko's point production playing with them.

 

[cphabs]

nah... they've got a group in place that gets it, finally. Don't worry, in time you may come to understand their approach, it's not rocket science, just hard to do when given the external pressure from fans/media who don't know much about sport development and owners who often don't have a clue about much of anything lol

enjoy the ride, Future is bright

Fantastic!

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

Let’s say his shot doesn’t come around, it’s possible but I have seen enough instances that it’s there and just needs some tweaking along with more confidence.

But let’s say it doesn’t. He can still score his fair share in and around the net. With his freakish size and reach as he gets even stronger he’ll likely be able to impose his will with impunity in the paint. Cashing in on rebounds, winning lose pucks,etc. This is where his long reach, shiftiness and quick hands will shine.

With a game as well rounded as his, he’ll have plenty of opportunities to score goals even without a plus shot

 

[River Meadow]

People want Slaf to go to the WJC? Imagine how bad the Habs will look without Slaf in the lineup right now.

Yes, the very same thing we said last year.

We never learn, lol.

3 weeks without Slaf will destroy our playoff hopes because we're contenders!

 

[Guess]

People want Slaf to go to the WJC? Imagine how bad the Habs will look without Slaf in the lineup right now.

Perfect. Send him to the WJC.

Ask people who've seen him in Liiga they'll describe to you pretty much the same thing: He can't figure out in time what to do with the puck.

Some of us wanted him in the AHL so that he figures out how to play with the puck but we were wrong, dead wrong. He's in the NHL and he's forechecking hard.

The Points Will Come. In Hughes We Trust.

I think that Slaf will eventually adapt to reading plays better, they're probably working with him on a few things at a time to avoid confusing him.

Whether that ability becomes good enough to truly complement a first line offensively, we will see.

 

[Naslundforever]

People want Slaf to go to the WJC? Imagine how bad the Habs will look without Slaf in the lineup right now.

Caufield whiffing on pucks from nobody because nobody went and got the puck lol

 

[jrom]

He would have more points if CC was not in a slump for whatever reason. But often there's 2 players in the slot. You need to pick the right one. Or the goalie can easily move to cut his angle if there's a pass. Or he'll get the puck there one second too early or too late to trick the goalie.

If he's behind the net, sometimes the right move is stepping in front of the net and stuffing the net not passing to Caufield in the slot with a D piggybacking him in full view of the goalie. It's not one of the world deep mysteries why he's a 20 point player right now. Changes need to happen for him to improve even playing with Gretzky and Kurri. Look at Semenko's point production playing with them.

I agree with you that more and more we see Slaf starting to create plays but still make a mistake and it fails at step 3of4 instead of 1of4 at the beginning of the year.

For me the key point is that he’s improving, figuring things and growing with this core group.

 

[Kennerback]

I agree with you that more and more we see Slaf starting to create plays but still make a mistake and it fails at step 3of4 instead of 1of4 at the beginning of the year.

For me the key point is that he’s improving, figuring things and growing with this core group.

Slaf’s improved tremendously. I love the way he plays. He’s absolutely the real deal. He’s a totally different player than early this season. Nevertheless we need to be realistic in how much production he can provide without ”drastic” changes to his offensive game.

He played a lot less games in the COVID year and probably had much less practice. Euro hockey is much more practice than game heavy unlike NA Juniors. An anecdotal example of how that 16 year old season can be important for shooting and offense, it’s the year Luc Robitaille feels he really learned to shoot well as he would shoot a zillion pucks on the ice after practice. Slaf had minimal ice time to work on offense that year. The other 2022’s seem crippled in other areas.

 

[ReHabs]

He’s absolutely the real deal.

What does this even mean?

Real deal for a 1OA in the NHL?
Real deal as in he belongs in the NHL?
Real deal as in he will be a cornerstone for our team?

 

[417]

Maybe you should lower your expectations. This guy literally said that "Slaf decided to flip the switch".

lol sorry not sure I know what you mean here .

I don’t know why Boston is sending him to the WJC I 100% garantie that it isn’t to help Canada and he is tied 7th (tied for 6th amongst FW) scoring in the team and 7th in ice time amongst FW + Zacha is injured even if he isn’t playing a important role they are sending him to the WJC even if he can play in the NHL.

They decided it was better for him to play WJC than to play in a limited role in the NHL even if he is playing top 9, contributing offensively on the best team in the NHL.
Slaf was a rookie playing playing in the NHL, no playing a significant role (was amongst the least used fw on the team) or contributing pts on a team that wasn’t even playoff bound.

If the argument that it ok to send Poitras because he isn’t playing a significant role (which is debatable with Zacha injury), it is undeniable that he is playing a bigger role than Slaf was. Why was sending Slaf no a consideration even after the fact…

What's good for Poitras, isn't necessarily what's good for Slafkovsky, especially not right now.

Maybe is first season was a blessing in disguise but there no way to consider it that is was optimal. Going to WJC or AHL might not have improved anything but there absolutely no way missing ~4games to go to the WJC could have hurt either…

Doing something cause it can't hurt, I'm not sure is a reason to do that very thing. Especially when you're trying to integrate a player into your lineup and to make him apply NHL habits.

He's played a total of 70ish games, we’re starting to see what he’s been working on being applied in real time.

Not sure what would be the point of halting that personally, especially given he's already played in a WJC.

 

[Kennerback]

What does this even mean?

Real deal for a 1OA in the NHL?
Real deal as in he belongs in the NHL?
Real deal as in he will be a cornerstone for our team?

Real deal for a 1OA in 2022.
Real deal as in he will be a cornerstone for our team.

 

[417]

Yes, the very same thing we said last year.

We never learn, lol.

3 weeks without Slaf will destroy our playoff hopes because we're contenders!

What was there to learn from not sending him to the WJC last year?