Juraj Slafkovsky - Year Two

[crosbyshow]

Lindros was a lot stronger than Slaf... no contest. Slaf is awesome with his puck protection technique but in term of body check Lindros was a force of destruction.

Slaf's weight transfer to deliver à check is still a bit weak. Lindros at 18 was destroying adults players at the 92 Olympics and at 19....he was the strongest player in the NHL.

Lindros wrist shot was so heavy too at young age.

I am in love with Slaf but in terms of pure strenght those 2 are not in the same league at 19 years old

 

[Habricot]

I appreciate all comments on this board, I think the majority are starting to see what is the potential for this kid and while it would be nice to set a number it is also impossible. What I do like it that we have a prospect that is developing well with our team. I could actually add multiple prospects if I count Ghule, Struble, Barron, RHP. The new structure is starting to pay off. Its a good start.

Will Slaf hit 80pts in his career, nobody knows. But I think we will have an exciting player for multiple years. We are 2 players away from a very exciting top 6. (Dach, Slaf, Suzuki and Caufiled). I am hoping we will draft one this year and acquire one this summer or next summer. This team is moving in the right direction.

 

[Kennerback]

Lindros was a lot stronger than Slaf... no contest. Slaf is awesome with his puck protection technique but in term of body check Lindros was a force of destruction.

Slaf's weight transfer to deliver à check is still a bit weak. Lindros at 18 was destroying adults players at the 92 Olympics and at 19....he was the strongest player in the NHL.

Lindros wrist shot was so heavy too at young age.

I am in love with Slaf but in terms of pure strenght those 2 are not in the same league at 19 years old

Meh for the strength. They use their size differently. Lindros delivered crushing checks all over the ice. Slaf doesn‘t. He’s just extremely strong down low during puck battles. And I don‘t want him to change and go around bodychecking all over the ice like Lindros did. It’s not him, hockey has changed since that time and he has other areas in his game that are much more crucial to work on.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

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.

I didn’t want him either.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Meh for the strength. They use their size differently. Lindros delivered crushing checks all over the ice. Slaf doesn‘t. He’s just extremely strong down low during puck battles. And I don‘t want him to change and go around bodychecking all over the ice like Lindros did. It’s not him, hockey has changed since that time and he has other areas in his game that are much more crucial to work on.

He’s never going to be Lindros. He’ll be big and strong but Lindros he ain’t.

 

[FerrisRox]

Perhaps I am off a year but I promise you he played against the Habs in October 92 in a game the Habs won 7-6. Maybe he was 19. All I know whether he was 18 or 19 he was a beast.

He was 19, as I said, he never played in the NHL at 18. In fact, he turned 20 before his rookie season ended.

You saw something very rare in that game you attended - a Mike Keane four-point night!

 

[Canadiens Ghost]

It's been over 30 years, memory was off by a year. It was a fun game. When you remember the score you know it's memorable. Lindros actually scored that night. I think Roussel started and got yanked. Racicot was in nets for the Habs. Patrick Roy always struggled against the Flyers. Fun times

He didn't score but he did get 3 assists. Freak of nature. He would have had a heck of a career if not for the concussions.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

He's certainly the heaviest. Even Lindros, as imposing as he was, wasn't over 200lbs at the time of the draft. Slafkovsky was 230lbs.

Lindros was at least 220. Has to be. He was a monster.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Saying players on other teams are the best is rational and objective. Saying your own player is the best is blind sheepdom and what would the main boards think?!?

I think what he’s saying is that it’s a marathon not a sprint. And he’s right.

But… that don’t mean you can’t be excited. I think everyone is.

And really… if he turns out to be a great player but Cooley’s “better” - I dont think we’ll care. I think we can all agree that we’re happy with the progress.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Apparently Lindros was 228 or so!

That sounds about right.

I’ve seen him in person twice - one is a hilarious story that shall not be repeated here (nothing negative on him) - the guys hands were the size of hubcaps. Just a monster dude.

 

[Tyson]

He was 19, as I said, he never played in the NHL at 18. In fact, he turned 20 before his rookie season ended.

You saw something very rare in that game you attended - a Mike Keane four-point night!

That I don't remember. I do remember chatting with Lyle Odelein and Kirk Muller before the warm ups. The only Hab I remember that scored was Brisebois on a slap shot. 7-6 games are entertaining.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

If you go back and check on one of Lindro's rookie cards. You'll see he was listed at 6'4 and 225lbs.

View attachment 795171

There ya go!

You guys are right. I just googled his draft card and he was 228lbs. Insane. So heaviest since Lindros.

There have to be some others, Thornton, Getzlaff, Perry, Nash. Lots of big guys who came in.

He definitely has that pass first mentality to a fault. He’s a magnificent passer but he overpasses so much he makes me cry. He also has a visible windup on his wrist shot, the takeoff point is obvious and will never fool a goalie, plus he has tons of problems to adjust the release to get it through Ds and hit the net.

Next year: shot quota.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Yes!!.

But as I wrote earlier Lindros at 16....was a lot stronger than Slaf is now.

He was so solid on his skates. In fact as a rookie at 19 ...Eric Lindros was the strongest player in the NHL...litterally....a force of nature

He was a genrerational talent who never got to fulfill his promise. A modern day Gordon Howe. Just an incredible player. I can’t imagine how he’d do in today’s league. There’d be no stopping him.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

He was 200 lbs in PeeWee.

Took me until my late 40s to get there. And I did it the right way - on hotdogs and beer.

 

[Tyson]

He was a genrerational talent who never got to fulfill his promise. A modern day Gordon Howe. Just an incredible player. I can’t imagine how he’d do in today’s league. There’d be no stopping him.

Just could not figure out why he never learned to keep his head up. Man between Stevens and Kasparaitus they brutalized him.

 

[Kennerback]

He’s never going to be Lindros. He’ll be big and strong but Lindros he ain’t.

To say he’ll never be Lindros, you’re right they’re completely different players. But for the strength. Meh.

This dates me but I was in the crowd at the Montreal Forum to see very young Lindros vs Czechoslavakia at the 1991 Canada Cup. He was definitely strong. But what distinguished him with Slaf would be the mean streak during scuffles. Pushing guys on the ground, and delivering brutal body checks. During that game, they had to help Martin Rucinsky off the ice after one of his hits. He also took out Ulf Samuellson in another game. He was more feared than Slaf.

But as far as pure strength along the boards which is one of the areas to compare them on, I don’t remember Lindros being more dominant than Slaf at that time.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Eric Lindros spent his D+1 year split between Oshawa of the OHL and the Canadian National Team.

He never played in the Spectrum, or the NHL for that matter, as an 18-year old.

He played on the 91 Team Canada team before he ever played an NHL game.

He was insanely good.

 

[Tyson]

It's been over 30 years, memory was off by a year. It was a fun game. When you remember the score you know it's memorable. Lindros actually scored that night. I think Roussel started and got yanked. Racicot was in nets for the Habs. Patrick Roy always struggled against the Flyers. Fun times

I looked up the boxscore, Lindros had 3 assists but did not score. Fuzzy memory.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Just could not figure out why he never learned to keep his head up. Man between Stevens and Kasparaitus they brutalized him.

The league let too much go. The way Kasparitus basically was allowed to tackle Lemieux in the 93 playoffs was a disgrace.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

To say he’ll never be Lindros, you’re right they’re completely different players. But for the strength. Meh.

This dates me but I was in the crowd at the Montreal Forum to see very young Lindros vs Czechoslavakia at the 1991 Canada Cup. He was definitely strong. But what distinguished him with Slaf would be the mean streak during scuffles. Pushing guys on the ground, and delivering brutal body checks. During that game, they had to help Martin Rucinsky off the ice after one of his hits. He also took out Ulf Samuellson in another game. He was more feared than Slaf.

But as far as pure strength along the boards which is one of the areas to compare them on, I don’t remember Lindros being more dominant than Slaf at that time.

Geez, I don’t know about strength. And really who cares? Slaf is huge and we drafted him.

I’m just saying that it’s a disservice to Slaf to compare him to a generational player like that. And you’re right their styles are completely different.

Slaf wil be Slaf. And I’m happy with what I’ve seen so far.

 

[Kennerback]

Geez, I don’t know about strength. And really who cares? Slaf is huge and we drafted him.

I’m just saying that it’s a disservice to Slaf to compare him to a generational player like that. And you’re right their styles are completely different.

Slaf wil be Slaf. And I’m happy with what I’ve seen so far.

Many of Lindros’ hit would lead to supplementary discipline if done today. Slaf would be wasting his time trying to play that way. Refs often turned a blind eye to charging, late hits, hits to the head, hits on the numbers, jumping up to hit. Slaf should work on his shot release. He’ll get more bang for his buck.

 

[FerrisRox]

That I don't remember. I do remember chatting with Lyle Odelein and Kirk Muller before the warm ups. The only Hab I remember that scored was Brisebois on a slap shot. 7-6 games are entertaining.

Breezer and LeBeau both scored less than a minute apart in the third period (both set up by Mike Keane, his third and fourth points of the game.)

Needless to say, with a score like that, you had Andre 'Red Light' Racicot in net for the Habs. It was an all Quebec affair with Dominic Roussel and Stephane Beauregard in net for the Flyers.

Beauregard faced just six shots and allowed four goals. Quite an effort.

 

[Tyson]

Breezer and LeBeau both scored less than a minute apart in the third period (both set up by Mike Keane, his third and fourth points of the game.)

Needless to say, with a score like that, you had Andre 'Red Light' Racicot in net for the Habs. It was an all Quebec affair with Dominic Roussel and Stephane Beauregard in net for the Flyers.

Beauregard faced just six shots and allowed four goals. Quite an effort.

I remember Brisebois blasted one by Roussel. We were all bummed Roy didn't start but we figured it out over the next couple of years that he struggled mightily against the Flyers.

Breezer and LeBeau both scored less than a minute apart in the third period (both set up by Mike Keane, his third and fourth points of the game.)

Needless to say, with a score like that, you had Andre 'Red Light' Racicot in net for the Habs. It was an all Quebec affair with Dominic Roussel and Stephane Beauregard in net for the Flyers.

Beauregard faced just six shots and allowed four goals. Quite an effort.

I saw another game live at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh during the 73-74 season. The Habs won 5-4 and were outshot 57-18. Wayne Thomas was in nets. I have been fortunate to see the Habs in many NHL arenas.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Many of Lindros’ hit would lead to supplementary discipline if done today. Slaf would be wasting his time trying to play that way. Refs often turned a blind eye to charging, late hits, hits to the head, hits on the numbers, jumping up to hit. Slaf should work on his shot release. He’ll get more bang for his buck.

Lindros wasn’t just a hitter. He was highly skilled. A true generational talent.

And then he met Scott Stevens…

 

[Andrei79]

There ya go!


There have to be some others, Thornton, Getzlaff, Perry, Nash. Lots of big guys who came in.


Next year: shot quota.

There you go. Thornton was the guy I was thinking of ! Not Lindros. I looked at the past top picks a while ago and ended up going up to Lindros, I mixed both up trying to go from memory. Thornton was 198 lbs at the draft. None of these guys you mention were Slafs size, I'm pretty sure. Nash was 188lbs.

The only two forwards I can think of are Steve Bernier, who wasnt fit like Slaf and Anthony Stewart, who wasn't as skilled.