This thread is starting to remind me of Grumpy Old Men.
Juraj Slafkovsky - Year Two
- Thread starter Lafleurs Guy
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Jaynki
Registered User
- Feb 3, 2014
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Well, tough to disagree with anything here.
Still, unless Slaf play start trending in the wrong direction, its tough to envision him being sent down right now. But like you said, its an evolutive situation but if his plays is trending down then not only should we consider send him down but that would as red as a flag it could be possibly be.
dackelljuneaubulis02
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- Oct 13, 2012
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He's a really tough one to gage and that's why the debate is as heated as it is. When arguments are that heated it invariably means that both sides have relevant points.
I think that you are right that he has been one of our better forwards. From what I've seen. He's doing many positive things out there. He's shown improvement which is great to see.
What I saw last night is pretty strong evidence of a lack of awareness. I tried to look for it and honestly I didn't have to try that hard lol. I think he's acquitting himself well on the whole despite of it because of how great the physical package is.
If I didn't see him get lit up like a Christmas tree so many times last season, I'd be more inclined to keep him up. But I can't shake the feeling he could still be on the receiving end of a particularly nasty play. Now the argument is that the AHL has far more head hunters there and could be in more danger down there. It's a point well taken but the speed of play is significantly less. I feel like the play being slower might give him a bit more breathing room to work on the myriad of things he needs to get better. That's not necessarily a knock because I just think his game is very well rounded (though also that much more raw) which means he has to pay attention to improving that many more things. That's hard for a player to do when he's also showing signs of his awareness being a step or so behind.
We can definitely see strides and that's heartening but I feel like the strides could come down there as well and with less chance of him getting completely obliterated. Again, hope to be wrong but you can't ignore those hits he took last year. Once regular season comes and the physical play ramps up, I hope that he's gained enough awareness to stay out of harm's way.
DAChampion
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- May 28, 2011
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Given that Slaf is starting in the NHL, I hope he plays on a line with Dach and gets a lot of minutes.
I'm not sure who should be winger #3.
I'm not sure who should be winger #3.
Newhook or Monahan should be the third winger.
Captain Mountain
Formerly Captain Wolverine
- Jun 6, 2010
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I hope not, RHP and Slafkovsky end up playing the same type of roll of puck cycler and screening the goalie.
There was a couple of points yesterday where Slaf was in the high slot ready to tip, and then RHP skates in like 3 feet behind him for the same spot. The puck gets the deflected to the corner and no one is any position to challenge defenders for the loose puck.
That was just one example. I find they just end up trying to do the same thing and they are not in sync. It's just not a good fit at all.
Also, RHP has not had a good camp at all. He's been completely invisible, I'm not sure he really deserves that chair at the moment. This coming from a huge fan of his play last year. He's there to help create room with his intensity and board play and he's done exactly 0 of that in camp.
Caufield Suzuki Anderson
Newhook Dach Slafkovsky
Pearson Monahan Heineman
Ylonen/RHP Evans Gallagher
This is how I'd match it up based on performances in camp.
"Also, RHP has not had a good camp at all. He's been completely invisible, I'm not sure he really deserves that chair at the moment. This coming from a huge fan of his play last year"-
AGREED
AGREED
Some nice little Slaf highlights.
- Jan 18, 2022
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This is not a real argument and isn’t a valid statement. It’s pushed by bad faith commentators who use it to rationalize HuGo’s decision to keep Slafkovsky in the NHL.
Great post. Perfect example of little plays that aren't fancy but create great scoring chances because Slafkovsky is using his reach to his advantage. He also that hook pass that is underrated. Not fancy looking, but super effective.
I love the third video I think the most. The single highlight against Jersey. It is a dump and chase. The puck is dumped into the corner. Slaf goes in....takes a bump from the Jersey player who tries to tie him up. A second Jersey player goes for the puck. Slaf shrugs it off and emerges from the boards with the puck.
This will be his game and his biggest strength. He will do many things well, but IMO his board play and puck possession will be absolutely key. Whether he is playing with Cole and Nick or Dach and whatever other scorer, it is the ability to go into the corners and emerge with the puck that will give our scorers a chance to make something happen. Not a dangle or dipsy doodle move that is going to hit the TSN highlight reel. But a very important and effective tool to have. This one led to an Anderson chance.
This is the highlight package for a guy who just went first overall? Just about anyone in the NHL can make plays like that. And Grant McGagg is reaching because he went all in on Slafkovsky before the draft and started spitting in everyone’s face because he made the prediction that Montreal would take him.
Skip Bayless
The Skip Bayless Show
- Aug 28, 2014
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That's a harsh take on RHP IMO. He made Gallagher look like an NHLer that game they played together. Was the best habs line in that game.
Then the first game he played with Slaf and Dach, they were buzzing, and he really helped Slaf on the forecheck which allowed him to make some plays.
Last game he was less noticeable. But he's been bringing the same thing as last year.
If you are expecting Bedard level highlights, that simply is not going to happen. He is a different player with a different skillset. Sometimes the highlights don't just smack you right in the face.
- Jan 18, 2022
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It's really shocking how low expectations have gotten with this guy.
It's going to get really fiesty when Nemec and Wright and Jiricek and Cooley start to show what they have in the NHL. (mod)
I've been trying to find some Nemec, Wright, Jiricek and Cooley highlight packages from the pre-season. I've seen Cooley's dangle. That was sweet. Hoping to see more of what they have been able to do this pre-season. Please share if you have access!!
Most of that package isn’t highlights, it’s just cherrypicking nice puck touches or pinches which even the lowest level players are expected to make when they make the NHL.
NORiculous
Registered User
Disagree.
When Slaf lost Matthews, he should have seen Mailloux now had the job and should have then paid attention to the open ice he had created in his back and where Marner slipped in.
I appreciate what McCagg is doing, but this is as pointless as people nitpicking his every shift.
Pointing out his every mistake on the ice or pointing out every time he makes a good pass...
It's all the same.
Low expectations with Slafkovsky, in this fanbase especially?
Man
Stop.Slafkovsky never "had" Matthews...Slafkovsky was on Marner as soon as Marner picked up the puck high in the Leafs zone.
Sorry don't want to keep breaking down that play but it's important things are accurately described as they happened.
I'd tell you to go look at the Devils, Blue Jackets and Coyotes board for the latest take on each respective prospect.
But none of those boards have active threads for those players like we do...the Devils board hasn't commented in their Nemec thread since Sept 20th, the Blue Jackets don't have a recently active thread about Jiricek, ditto for the Krakken with Wright, while the Coyotes Cooley thread hasn't been active since he scored his wonder goal.
We're the lunatics
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Nemec is having a great pre-season so far but the Devils are so stacked that he might not make the team yet.
He had a few highlight worthy passes.
It's unfortunate that Slaf didn't score on his two breakaways against Ottawa and Toronto.
He had a few highlight worthy passes.
It's unfortunate that Slaf didn't score on his two breakaways against Ottawa and Toronto.
admiralcadillac
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- Oct 22, 2017
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