Juraj Slafkovsky - Year Two

[MrNasty]

Throw me into the group that thinks Slaf should go the AHL at the start of the season. It is clear the guy has the skill to play in the NHL but what is holding him back IMO is confidence. Giving him all these opportunities on the top 2 lines in the NHL is actually hurting because he is making a lot of mistakes which seems to knock him down a notch each time. Let him build confidence (and balance!) in the AHL and bring him up when really ready.

 

[nhlfan9191]

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!!

When management came out and said they gave Slaf specific things to work on outside of production last season, the stuff in the videos you showed are the things I think they were referring too. It’s actually good that he is catching on and learning those things. If somebody was doubting if Slaf can or cannot be a regular in the NHL, that would be a good indicator that he will be good enough to at least hold a roster spot at this level. The problem is people are looking for flashes of this “unicorn” we’ve all heard about and we haven’t seen any of that yet.

 

[417]

Look at the lack of hockey IQ displayed by Austin Matthews here…

After initially getting the picked stolen from him from Dach, he fails to stay with Monahan who eventually floats into the open ice facilitated by Matthews deciding to unplug his controller, makes a sweet pass to Dach whose all alone while Morgan Reilly is looking for loose change in front of his goalie.

Leafs should really consider waiving them to the AHL.

https://x.com/canadiensmtl/status/1709005569279881374?s=46

 

[Tyson]

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.

Kulich, Jiricek and Nemec all excelled as 18 year olds in the AHL

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I still don’t see how Slaf plays anything like Luc Robespierre…. Sure he could score but he used to run around in his own zone with his head cut off.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Throw me into the group that thinks Slaf should go the AHL at the start of the season. It is clear the guy has the skill to play in the NHL but what is holding him back IMO is confidence. Giving him all these opportunities on the top 2 lines in the NHL is actually hurting because he is making a lot of mistakes which seems to knock him down a notch each time. Let him build confidence (and balance!) in the AHL and bring him up when really ready.

I think he should go down too. I think this team is going to have rough patches and I’m not really a fan of keeping a player in that environment. Moreover, I think he’d get more out of the AHL.

But I don’t think keeping him up is disastrous. Judging from preseason he looks like he’s improved and if they keep him in the top six hopefully he can produce 15 goals and 30-35 points. That’s be a good year as far as I’m concerned.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

It doesn’t matter if you’ve played hockey or at what level. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Let’s get back on topic.

 

[Andrei79]

Darryl Belfry never played the game and he's one of the most sought out development coach in Canada. It's a shit argument and useless.

 

[HuGort]

It's a real thing for sure. That's why I'm kind of choked we're rushing Slaf. He won't be a finished product for another 3-4 years, let him marinate in the A.

Have to trust Hughes

 

[Andy]

Darryl Belfry never played the game and he's one of the most sought out development coach in Canada. It's a shit argument and useless.

I played baseball for 12 years and was quite good. Actually, I was top player in every league for every year I played.

While I knew how to play the game well, I can't watch other players and tell if they are good or are going to be good. Being able to play the game and being able to analyze the game are two different skillsets. They can go hand-in-hand, but they don't need to.

 

[1909]

Throw me into the group that thinks Slaf should go the AHL at the start of the season. It is clear the guy has the skill to play in the NHL but what is holding him back IMO is confidence. Giving him all these opportunities on the top 2 lines in the NHL is actually hurting because he is making a lot of mistakes which seems to knock him down a notch each time. Let him build confidence (and balance!) in the AHL and bring him up when really ready.

Confidence will be very hard to get in a hockey crazy environment like Montreal (and Quebec). The kid will want out like KK did in a couple of years.

 

[OnTheRun]

Confidence will be very hard to get in a hockey crazy environment like Montreal (and Quebec). The kid will want out like KK did in a couple of years.

He didn't want out because of the market.

 

[Miller Time]

When management came out and said they gave Slaf specific things to work on outside of production last season, the stuff in the videos you showed are the things I think they were referring too. It’s actually good that he is catching on and learning those things. If somebody was doubting if Slaf can or cannot be a regular in the NHL, that would be a good indicator that he will be good enough to at least hold a roster spot at this level. The problem is people are looking for flashes of this “unicorn” we’ve all heard about and we haven’t seen any of that yet.

and, further, many don't seem to grasp that much of what they have asked him to do requires a lot of thinking... far more than is conducive to playing on instincts, and that can give the appearance of being a bit lost, slow, akward et. Assuming the team is accurate in their assessment, the parts of his game that are being rebuilt will eventually become more comfortable and allow him to move back into a much more instinctual processing, just at a highel level of impact.

It's a dip that, if well executed, will contribute to an even bigger long term gain... as long as teh player has the mental fortitude to stick with it. Slaf's commitment to it, despite the dip in his performance and all the negative chatter from fans and media, is reassuring imo. Shows how committed he is and how bought in to the approach the team laid out for him.

The unicorn stuff will start to show up, in spades, once he's through the dip... i think we've seen glimpses of it, and the team certainly has.

Future is bright !

 

[ZUKI]

What would you tell Slaf in reviewing this video?

9 x months without playing, it will take some time to shake that rust buddy so we don't f***ing care . (Mod)

This thread is starting to remind me of Grumpy Old Men.

only this thread ?

 

[1909]

He didn't want out because of the market.

Of course, he did not like his use by the coaching staff. But he doesn't miss MTL medias and fans craziness.

 

[ewfwgfwahbger]

I'd like to see Slaf have a offensive role in the AHL for at least half a year and see him play with some DMAN that have more leash.

 

[Mad]

Man, this is probably the worst thread on the whole board.

There’s no doubt Slafkovsky played his best game as a Habs against Ottawa. He wasn’t as good following games with a mix bag of good and bad moments.

He’s getting more puck touches and having some chances which was pretty rare last year.

There’s also a lot he needs to work on. He does win some battles but most times those wins aren’t convincing (more puck luck or not as effective) and still processing the game too slowly in some occasions.

Especially without the puck he seems not to know where to go on the ice which often puts him in his teammate’s way or inability to find open ice at times.

I won’t blame him completely on that as it’s probably hard to play hockey on concepts only and without a true system in place which can create confusion.

It’s perplexing to say the least. I don’t really care about production, even though 30pts and 15 goals should definitely be the target in that second season.

I just want him to be consistent. At least in some areas of the game. His combination of size and skill is truly unique, top talents are able to show glimpses of what they can do even when they aren’t ready and it’s definitely an area where he is lacking.

Give him 10 games with Dach and hopefully Monahan, if he doesn’t look better they should send him down.

Most people on here aren’t saying the kid can’t succeed, they are just questioning the methods used to bring him to that success.
Let him play 20 minutes and be “the guy”. He could gain the confidence needed to never look back once he’s back up.

 

[Tyson]

Have to trust Hughes

It's a heck of a gamble how they are handling such an important piece of the rebuild. I trust him too in many facets but I am not sure at the course they are taking.

 

[RationalExpectations]

Look at the lack of hockey IQ displayed by Austin Matthews here…

After initially getting the picked stolen from him from Dach, he fails to stay with Monahan who eventually floats into the open ice facilitated by Matthews deciding to unplug his controller, makes a sweet pass to Dach whose all alone while Morgan Reilly is looking for loose change in front of his goalie.

Leafs should really consider waiving them to the AHL.

https://x.com/canadiensmtl/status/1709005569279881374?s=46

Remind me or Matthews point totals his first year in the NHL ? Slafs point totals ?

Thanks you.

 

[sandviper]

The issue I see with many fans is thinking this guy with his size will be a power forward type. Not from what I see. He doesn't really have a mean streak and he wants to be a skilled type. Not like he is overly soft but I don't see him focusing on the physical areas like you would expect for a guy his size.

I think the Hockey IQ area is in question. I'm not saying he is dumb but not sure this is his strength. Hope he puts it all together but like I said last week or the week before, I think we have a modest season/season growth over the next few years.

Stay patient because expecting a break out season doesn't seem to be in the cards.

I heard them mention it in Marinaro’s show, but if Slaf can develop into a John Leclair type of power forward, that’d be pretty good. Leclair wasn’t a mean and bruising power forward but he was a PITA to deal with when he got going. Don’t see the goal scoring upside, but just saying I’d like to see Slaf develop into that style of power forward.

 

[ReHabs]

Have to trust Hughes

Absolutely not.

He's a rookie GM who hired a peewee coach to lead an NHL team; Gorton was not a success in New York; Bobrov's reputation is worse than Timmins; and Molson is a terrible and cheap owner.

Hughes has to earn trust. No more "In Bergevin we Trust" crap.

 

[Jaynki]

Kulich, Jiricek and Nemec all excelled as 18 year olds in the AHL

Michael Carcone had 85 points in 65 games in the AHL as the leading.

Unclaimed on waivers Alex Barre Boulet is the 2nd scorer there.

Followed by TJ Tynan, Chris Terry, Matthew Phillips, Rocco Grimaldi, Logan Shaw, Anthony Richard not far behind.

Logan Shaw is a top dog AHLer. Can you believe it. f***ing Logan Shaw. Heckk, Lias Andersson was a great AHLer.

Im glad they have done well in the AHL but there a bunch of guys being stellar down there who simply can't cut it and be NHLers.

 

[ReHabs]

Michael Carcone had 85 points in 65 games in the AHL as the leading.

Dude is 27 years old, the other guys were teenagers... in their first NA pro league season.

 

[Jaynki]

Absolutely not.

He's a rookie GM who hired a peewee coach to lead an NHL team; Gorton was not a success in New York; Bobrov's reputation is worse than Timmins; and Molson is a terrible and cheap owner.

Hughes has to earn trust. No more "In Bergevin we Trust" crap.

A lot of statement here are debatable.

I do agree that they will have to earn the trust and ultimately, performance will be the judge.

Dude is 27 years old, the other guys were teenagers... in their first NA pro league season.

I know.

I would be ecstatic with any of these prospects.

I just want to highlights that there is a major step between the AHL and the NHL and it feels like the AHL is on a pedestal here. Its such a sad league filled out with guys whose NHL dream is dead.

Here and there, you will have an RHP/Evans/Pezzetta popping out of there.

 

[Jaynki]

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.

I mean, it was not his highlights because if it was it would have shown his two breakaways, his 2 on 1, him setting up Anderson and setting up Newhook after he created a turnover in the ozone. Obvious no?

It was just his more subtle, NHL ready game. Like you so eloquently said, just about anyone in the NHL do this.