Juraj Slafkovsky - Year Two

[Kennerback]

hopefully he can quicken up his release and not suffer from Jesperititis



he'd pull another Drouin

They need to make him shoot 10,000++ pucks this summer with someone there to correct him. Strike the iron while it’s hot… He’s getting so awesome in all other aspects, it makes this blind spot that much more striking. He’s otherwise excellent with his other stick work and super accurate with his passes.

 

[HabbyGuy]

Imagine if we traded and signed him to that contract (probably to a higher cap hit too). Would have been a huge regret and the media would be all over him.

It would have been a mitigated disaster, throw in the "french" aspect and it would be even worse. I shudder to think of the hell that would have turned into.

 

[Andrei79]

It's just a damn shame he's the worst producing 1st OA in history.

A damn shame.

 

[LesCanadiens]

hopefully he can quicken up his release and not suffer from Jesperititis

He won't. Reason? He's a hard working, humble kid, who is infinitely coachable. KK is none of those. Spoiled by his dad is my guess. Slaf works for hours with the coaches going over video. I'm pissed at either Matheson or Burrows, or both. Not sure who's responsible between them for Matheson clearly only using the left side of the ice on the PP, especially when Slaf is almost always open. What these doorknobs don't seem to get, is Slaf is the perfect guy to leverage to move the PK box out of position due to his awesome give-and-go plays. Between that, and his passes not being converted by Anderson, CC and others since the fall, Slaf could easily have another 10 points.

 

[Nedved]

just keep that head up Slaf.

 

[Sorinth]

They need to make him shoot 10,000++ pucks this summer with someone there to correct him. Strike the iron while it’s hot… He’s getting so awesome in all other aspects, it makes this blind spot that much more striking. He’s otherwise excellent with his other stick work and super accurate with his passes.

I'm thinking it's still mostly normal growing pains of a young guy since you see it with everyone when they first enter the league. So it will probably self correct with time and experience but yeah if he can develop a quick release he's going to be a monster.

I wonder what Kovalev is up to these days. He once talked about when he was young one summer he spent evey day taking 1000+ shots. If he can impart just a fraction of his shot then watch out.

 

[LesCanadiens]

I'm thinking it's still mostly normal growing pains of a young guy since you see it with everyone when they first enter the league. So it will probably self correct with time and experience but yeah if he can develop a quick release he's going to be a monster.

I wonder what Kovalev is up to these days. He once talked about when he was young one summer he spent evey day taking 1000+ shots. If he can impart just a fraction of his shot then watch out.

I remember that. Also, Lemaire used to practice all day shooting a puck made from 100% steel against his garage door. I think his dad or some other family member worked at a steel smelter and made the puck for him. Slaf has a very good first-timer. It's the release on his wrister that needs some love.

 

[Andrei79]

I remember that. Also, Lemaire used to practice all day shooting a puck made from 100% steel against his garage door. I think his dad or some other family member worked at a steel smelter and made the puck for him. Slaf has a very good first-timer. It's the release on his wrister that needs some love.

I have one of those steel pucks. There's absolutely no way someone can shoot them on a garage door unless it's the garage door of a nuclear bunker. Heck, our neighbors door is completely wrecked from normal rubber pucks.

Regarding Slaf, I think the shooting will correct itself with time. It wasn't long ago people were calling him a low IQ player, when in reality he's ahead of most 19 year olds and just needed time to adapt. I think there's a good chance this is the case for his shot too as he has a rocket of a shot.

 

[crosbyshow]

Well the good thing is 90% of his game is really good now. Just needs to learn to set his feet to shoot. I get why they won't pass to him on the pp yet.

Just fix that last part and we're golden.

Exactly.

He is almost a complete player already:

Speed
Iq
Vision
Takeaway
Reach
Strength
Awareness
Hands
Puck protection technique

Once that he will set his feet to shoot on the one timer...watch out.

 

[Paddy17]

I remember that. Also, Lemaire used to practice all day shooting a puck made from 100% steel against his garage door. I think his dad or some other family member worked at a steel smelter and made the puck for him. Slaf has a very good first-timer. It's the release on his wrister that needs some love.

He doesn't have any release... he just pulls it back slowly and sweeps the puck like a broom. No change of angle / release point. That's why it's always blocked.

We'll wait for that level-up to happen next year, and we'll take the good playmaking and board play for now.

 

[LesCanadiens]

I have one of those steel pucks. There's absolutely no way someone can shoot them on a garage door unless it's the garage door of a nuclear bunker. Heck, our neighbors door is completely wrecked from normal rubber pucks.

Regarding Slaf, I think the shooting will correct itself with time. It wasn't long ago people were calling him a low IQ player, when in reality he's ahead of most 19 year olds and just needed time to adapt. I think there's a good chance this is the case for his shot too as he has a rocket of a shot.

"Raised in the Montreal suburb of Ville LaSalle, Lemaire spent the better part of his youth slapping a steel puck against a driveway wall. The drill served him well when he joined the Canadiens in 1967 and established himself as one of the hardest shooters in the league. Though a consistently high scorer, especially in the playoffs, he was the kind of unassuming, all-round player who invariably wins the most-underrated honors."


I remember reading that it was a garage door. Not sure if it was in Drydens book, The Game, or in The Lions of Winter book. I assume was indeed probably built like a bunker back in those days, lol. Either way, this story says "driveway wall". FWIW ;-).

I agree 100% regarding his progression. I think they had him work on the basics and now that he's got a good grasp on them, they'll probably devote more time on his release and using some deception. IE, faking pass and shooting and faking a shot and passing. Either way, it's exciting to watch this kid develop.

 

[417]

Best part is there is so much more room growth in his game.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Best part is there is so much more room growth in his game.

He’s 19… damn. So much potential.

7 in his last 8. He was in on at least three goals tonight and walked away with an assist. And the really cool part is that these aren’t gifted. He’s the one doing the work. Awesome to watch him develop.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

He ain't no Cooley though.

All jokes aside if he can continue on this progression, at 23 he could be special.

Despite being so young and termed a project he's already showing sustained glimpses of what could be.

It's exciting.

Thought Slafkovsky played one of his better games last night. He displayed the traits/skills that can’t be taught: vision and anticipation. He even shot the puck tonight. He’s quickly becoming a key player on this team. In fact, he probably already is.

 

[The Great Weal]

Beast of a game. Was still looking for a pass on an empty net lol, can't wait until he works on his release and integrates a shooting mentality into his arsenal.

 

[Rapala]

He ain't no Cooley though.

All jokes aside if he can continue on this progression, at 23 he could be special.

Despite being so young and termed a project he's already showing sustained glimpses of what could be.

It's exciting.

The dude is playing on our first line and doing it better than any other player we've tried there except Kirby.
When I think back on just how far he's come in such a short period of time It's amazing.
Last season I was convinced he had zero play making ability because that is what he showed.
Earlier this season I was among those commending him for his work ethic which was clearly evident from day one in camp.
I never expected however that he could assume this role and be productive with it.
This is where we saw him when he was drafted but I don't think many of us saw him playing these minutes in what is now roughly one full season games wise.

Keep it rolling Slaf.

 

[Kennerback]

I'm thinking it's still mostly normal growing pains of a young guy since you see it with everyone when they first enter the league. So it will probably self correct with time and experience but yeah if he can develop a quick release he's going to be a monster.

I wonder what Kovalev is up to these days. He once talked about when he was young one summer he spent evey day taking 1000+ shots. If he can impart just a fraction of his shot then watch out.

I remember that. Also, Lemaire used to practice all day shooting a puck made from 100% steel against his garage door. I think his dad or some other family member worked at a steel smelter and made the puck for him. Slaf has a very good first-timer. It's the release on his wrister that needs some love.

For his shot release, the issue goes beyond getting the shot off quicker. It’s unfortunate mechanics. Maybe his size complicates things or maybe Covid slowed him down, IDK.
But there needs volume training to develop muscle memory. I don’t know another way. Better now than at 24.

 

[LesCanadiens]

For his shot release, the issue goes beyond getting the shot off quicker. It’s unfortunate mechanics. Maybe his size complicates things or maybe Covid slowed him down, IDK.
But there needs volume training to develop muscle memory. I don’t know another way. Better now than at 24.

Don't know if you mean his shot is not fixable because he was born that way, If you do, I disagree. He'll learn how to get it off his stick quicker. Just like he learned to react quicker to NHL play. He'll learn to snap that puck off his stick. MSL is an excellent coach and can walk the talk. And Slaf wants to be the best. Match made in heaven.

 

[BehindTheTimes]

Wanna know whats crazy? hes got the same amount of points as Dubois

Want to know what’s even crazier?

He just jumped over Newhook. Lolol.

Imagine if we traded and signed him to that contract (probably to a higher cap hit too). Would have been a huge regret and the media would be all over him.

I asked all the time why did we have a 200 page thread on a mediocre player that wasn’t coming here.

PLD is nothing special, never was and never will be.

 

[Heffyhoof]

As posters continue to double down on their stupidity, Slaf is now catching up to the mythical golden goose Cooley. 14 points to 18 points.

One kid barely played on the PP until the last dozen or so games and has 2 PPPs, the other was getting force fed PP minutes from his first game and has 10 PPPs. Guess which is which?

And before anyone pulls the dumb argument "Slaf played in the NHL last year and so has the advantage," make sure you weren't one of the posters who waxed poetic for months about how Slaf would be better if he developed elsewhere.

 

[Bombshell11]

As posters continue to double down on their stupidity, Slaf is now catching up to the mythical golden goose Cooley. 14 points to 18 points.

One kid barely played on the PP until the last dozen or so games and has 2 PPPs, the other was getting force fed PP minutes from his first game and has 10 PPPs. Guess which is which?

And before anyone pulls the dumb argument "Slaf played in the NHL last year and so has the advantage," make sure you weren't one of the posters who waxed poetic for months about how Slaf would be better if he developed elsewhere.

I think most people here did not agree with how he was being used. He was being played as a 3rd liner instead of developing his skills in the minors.

He looked out of place in that 3rd line chaise... it was obvious. But now on the first line he's bringing some well needed size.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

He was unreal last night...

He's got a little flow going too watch out this man might grow a jagr mullet

 

[sandviper]

7 pts in his last 8 games.

And tonight, if you watched the game, you saw two goals that don't happen without him even if he didn't get any points.

Grr… but how can I blindly hate on the player if I watch the game? Grr…

 

[Andy]

Not enough credit for his defensive awareness. He’s among the best on the club in the defensive zone and on the back check.

Actually, I’ll say it, he’s the best on the club on the back check. Unreal.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

As posters continue to double down on their stupidity, Slaf is now catching up to the mythical golden goose Cooley. 14 points to 18 points.

One kid barely played on the PP until the last dozen or so games and has 2 PPPs, the other was getting force fed PP minutes from his first game and has 10 PPPs. Guess which is which?

And before anyone pulls the dumb argument "Slaf played in the NHL last year and so has the advantage," make sure you weren't one of the posters who waxed poetic for months about how Slaf would be better if he developed elsewhere.

If you’re looking for consistency I suggest that you add more bran to your diet.