Juraj Slafkovsky - Year Two

[morhilane]

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.

He is, the Suzuki's line has never been that good statistically and while it took a few games to get going, they have been producing at a good rate since things clicked between them. Something that really improved the team moral as a whole.

And he still has room to grow. He's going to be a real beast at 22 years old, now he's more of a baby beast. Still awkward at times you know.

 

[nhlfan9191]

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.

I disagree that it’s mechanics. He isn’t a natural finisher, but he’s got a pretty decent shot. If he used it more, he would score some goals. Those types of things do typically come with time. He’s a natural playmaker so he’s doing what comes comfortable right now but he may figure out how to find a balance that works between shooting and passing.

 

[le_sean]

I remember when Laraque said we had to trade Slaf for Dubois during last season because Slaf would never be better than what he showed.

Breaking News: Moron says something moronic

he'd pull another Drouin

Drouin? I think we can call it a Dubois now

 

[Andrei79]

I just want people to endlessly argue every detail of his game and use cool words like alchemy, hockey historians and unprecedented low levels of scoring. I just want this thread to be great again. Can anyone help ? I'm sure someone can. Who though ? Who ?

 

[BLONG7]

Last night, to me, it was his best game yet. Dominated at times..............he had one assist, but as mentioned, there were two other goals that we do not get, without his play in getting them to happen.
The Harris goal was the perfect example............the other was just a great passing play that went through four of the five guys on the ice, started by Slaf.

Glimpses are what we are getting. This will get better with time........exciting for sure. Is there still work to be done, of course.....great to see the kid getting ocnfidence in his play.
Finally.....................we have a winger for the captain, and CC.

 

[BenchBrawl]

Players like him will win you more Stanley Cups than unidimensional scorers.

 

[Andy]

Too bad Anderson was snake bitten during the entire sequence Slaf played with him. He could easily have 4-5 more points this season. Likewise for Caufield's cold stretch.

One thing is certain, Slaf is creating a ton of room for Suzuki with his forecheck and quick plays.

 

[MTL Dirty Birdy]

Want to know what’s even crazier?

He just jumped over Newhook. Lolol.


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.

I always felt that PLD would be best served as a power winger. I’ve felt that center was never his natural position

 

[417]

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.

You can still develop your skills, in the NHL, playing on the 3rd line.

 

[waitin425]

I just want people to endlessly argue every detail of his game and use cool words like alchemy, hockey historians and unprecedented low levels of scoring. I just want this thread to be great again. Can anyone help ? I'm sure someone can. Who though ? Who ?

Alchemy? LMAO!

Seriously though, I have consulted my gemstones and health crystals, and we have a good one on our hands!

 

[BaseballCoach]

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

Crazy indeed, and also a more relevant comparison than Newhook, since many of us wanted PLD, though my AAV max was much lower than the $8.5M he got.

Oh, and Slaf is also just 3 points behind the $10.5M man whom many fans wanted us to trade for and sign.

 

[OldCraig71]

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.

He is hesitating a wee bit and that extra half a second is causing blocks or deflections, the coaches see this and they will continue working with him. Someone else mentioned that he went from being lost on the ice to one of our best defensive forwards. Last night was the best game I have seen from him, he was effective with and without the puck and was a very big reason for the hang-on win.

 

[Adam Michaels]

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.

I don't. And as much as I can appreciate Matheson, it's frustrating when Slaf is wide open and Matheson looks to pass it to the left to either Suzuki or Caufield, even if they're covered. Or chooses to shoot when there are bodies in front of him to block the shots.

Slaf has to work on being a shooting threat, which would force the other team to respect his shot and thus opening other options. But to not pass it to him when he's your best option is bad hockey.

 

[BLONG7]

I don't. And as much as I can appreciate Matheson, it's frustrating when Slaf is wide open and Matheson looks to pass it to the left to either Suzuki or Caufield, even if they're covered. Or chooses to shoot when there are bodies in front of him to block the shots.

Slaf has to work on being a shooting threat, which would force the other team to respect his shot and thus opening other options. But to not pass it to him when he's your best option is bad hockey.

If they can get this kid to work on his shot and his shot mentality, we will see more big things........
The PK against us, has all but taken away any chance CC gets a one timer..............guess who is open on the other half wall.
We are now seeing this kid as a project the way HuGo saw in him.............one thing at a time, and we should have a heck of a player on our hands.

 

[BaseballCoach]

You can still develop your skills, in the NHL, playing on the 3rd line.

Many still don't get it. Very few players are good enough on Day 1 in the NHL to be top 6.

Incredibly, a lot of folks think Slaf's progress has been SLOW, held back by the club's stupid approach! He has played 76 games and only has 24 points.

Too cleverly picking him first instead of the obvious consensus number 1 Shane Wright was the Worst Decision Ever, and then starting him in the NHL bottom 6 at 12.20 minutes per game was the most unusual development plan ever devised! For comparison, Wright has 70 points in 72 games over the same period.

Fire Bobrov, Hughes and Gorton.

 

[nhlfan9191]

Crazy indeed, and also a more relevant comparison than Newhook, since many of us wanted PLD, though my AAV max was much lower than the $8.5M he got.

Oh, and Slaf is also just 3 points behind the $10.5M man whom many fans wanted us to trade for and sign.

I was arguing with fans for months that we should avoid Dubois like the plague. And I was screaming at those same fans In the short time they were mentioning Huberdeau. Some people like to just ignore red flags and get stuck up on a fantasy. It’s also the reason I didn’t feel much when they passed on Michkov. People don’t skip on talents like that unless there’s a good reason.

 

[BaseballCoach]

I was arguing with fans for months that we should avoid Dubois like the plague. And I was screaming at those same fans In the short time they were mentioning Huberdeau. Some people like to just ignore red flags and get stuck up on a fantasy. It’s also the reason I didn’t feel much when they passed on Michkov. People don’t skip on talents like that unless there’s a good reason.

Habs were not the only team that passed on Wright or Michkov.

So there are reasons, mostly relating to risk of not hitting potential (and maybe even risk of Michkov somehow not coming over).

 

[nhlfan9191]

Habs were not the only team that passed on Wright or Michkov.

So there are reasons, mostly relating to risk of not hitting potential (and maybe even risk of Michkov somehow not coming over).

I don’t think passing on Michkov had anything to do with potential. I think there were a combination of things not all related to hockey. Same with Wright although his ceiling was levels lower then someone like Michkov.

 

[Andy]

Could you imagine Dach and Slaf on the same line. Oh man. Who would shoot tho ahaha

 

[waitin425]

I think Wrights ceiling is considerably lower and his floor is AHL.

Cooley is an NHLer for sure. His ceiling is probably at PPG, with a considerable amount of those points coming on the PP.

Slaf's ceiling at this point....and I feel more and more confident in it, is a 70-85 point player, who excels in all areas of the ice and is a playoff warrior.

When all is said and done......I feel like we made the best pick in 2022.

For those saying he is 5th in a 2022/23 mashup......I agree. But don't be surprised if he ends up 3rd or even 2nd. The kid is that good and that determined.

Unicorn is a great way to describe him, because he is very unique in his skill set and value.

Could you imagine Dach and Slaf on the same line. Oh man. Who would shoot tho ahaha

I dreamt that it was Berkly Catton shooting on that line.

 

[JoelWarlord]

Could you imagine Dach and Slaf on the same line. Oh man. Who would shoot tho ahaha

Bring Cammalleri out of retirement

 

[Andy]

Bring Cammalleri out of retirement

Maybe Newhook can develop a shooting game. He does have a wicked ass shot.

 

[Jaynki]

He is so good. We never saw KK and Galchenyuk display this level of skills ainec.

Imagine if we would not have messed his prefrontal cortex now

 

[waitin425]

Points are everything!!!!!!!

https://x.com/HabsHappy/status/1742379557531877864?s=20

 

[BenchBrawl]

For those saying he is 5th in a 2022/23 mashup......I agree. But don't be surprised if he ends up 3rd or even 2nd. The kid is that good and that determined.

agreed