Juraj Slafkovsky - Year Two

[BLONG7]

There is much light, at the end of the tunnel......................look out, it will be a train.
The kid has been fantastic since joining the top line.

 

[Kennerback]

He's played the same amount of games this year, as he did last.

He only has 4 more points.

Yet it feels totally different.

I know some folks can’t separate production from development, but he's shown a ton of progress.

I can’t wait to see what the next 40+ games look like.

Slaf now creates plays that lead to shooting opportunities. Which is a big step forward. Unfortunately, this shooting opportunity too often leads to the same result as before. No shot being taken, neither by Slaf nor his linemates. Which is mind-boggling but I guess part of the learning process.

 

[Lshap]

He's played the same amount of games this year, as he did last.

He only has 4 more points.

Yet it feels totally different.

I know some folks can’t separate production from development, but he's shown a ton of progress.

I can’t wait to see what the next 40+ games look like.

He had 1 point in his first 11 games, so the increase in production during the next two months is real.

 

[HabsCode]

He's played the same amount of games this year, as he did last.

He only has 4 more points.

Yet it feels totally different.

I know some folks can’t separate production from development, but he's shown a ton of progress.

I can’t wait to see what the next 40+ games look like.

I remember arguing with you about tanking to draft high and its correlation to cup winning team in the past. Do you think the tank for Slaf was worth it?

 

[Milhouse40]

He had 1 point in his first 11 games, so the increase in production during the next two months is real.

His game is much much more than just points and everybody can see that.

The fact it's this much obvious at 19 years old and after only 78 NHL games, it's impressive in terms of development.

 

[Lshap]

His game is much much more than just points and everybody can see that.

The fact it's this much obvious at 19 years old and after only 78 NHL games, it's impressive in terms of development.

Agreed. He's gaining confidence and steamrolling through players towards the net. He's finally starting to shoot more. He's seeing the ice better. Of course, you'd expect those things to translate to points because, after all, points are the main job of a top-six forward.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Agreed. He's gaining confidence and steamrolling through players towards the net. He's finally starting to shoot more. He's seeing the ice better. Of course, you'd expect those things to translate to points because, after all, points are the main job of a top-six forward.

Going into this year - and certainly after the first month of this year - I never thought this guy had the potential to be our best forward. Now I can see it. The potential is there. He’s playing really well at a young age. I’m so impressed with his development this season.

 

[Skip Bayless]

I like how his game is coming together. He is going to have a big impact well beyond the scoresheet.

Future line driver.

 

[Guess]

slaf could become better skating version of mark stone. puck possesion, two way monster.

Mark Stone's style relies on his very high IQ. Slaf will not become the same kind of player.

 

[LesCanadiens]

Mark Stone is good because of his very high IQ. Slaf will not become the same kind of player.

Slaf has a very high IQ. Not sure where this myth came about that he doesn't.

 

[TT1]

Really liking how he's looking now, he'll be a beast of a player if he can put everything together and become a bigger puck handling and scoring threat.

That way he'll draw way more attention and create way more space for his linemates, he definitely has the tools to reach that level. I really like the intensity he plays with, you can't teach that.

 

[Guess]

Slaf has a very high IQ. Not sure where this myth came about that he doesn't.

Can you provide examples of that? I don't think he was ever known for his hockey IQ even before he was drafted.

 

[BenchBrawl]

Slovakian Maestro

 

[LesCanadiens]

Can you provide examples of that? I don't think he was ever known for his IQ even before he was drafted.

Best example I have I can't provide to you because I can't watch him play for you. He anticipates extraordinarily well in all 3 zones which leads rarely being behind the play. Always aware of where his teammates are on the ice which is amply shown by the many smart, one-touch passes he makes. I've said all this stuff from the start, before he made a jump in outcomes of his play. Just watch him and you'll see how he thinks the game. And I'd be shocked if you objectively don't come away being impressed with his "IQ" or what I still prefer to refer as, hockey sense.

Don't know which people doubted his hockey sense/IQ before and when he was drafted. But, IMO those who did, were dead-wrong.

 

[KevSkillz4]

Another great game from him against Rangers. Even if he play with Suzuki and Caufield, you already see that he is a line driver. In few years, he is going to be a player that he can do everything on ice.

 

[BLONG7]

Slovakian Maestro

Love it!!

 

[417]

I remember arguing with you about tanking to draft high and its correlation to cup winning team in the past. Do you think the tank for Slaf was worth it?

I don’t think they tanked for him.

I think it's rare to sabotage an entire season to select a single player that makes it singularily worth it to have done so.

In other words, my position is the same...I don't believe in “tanking”.

 

[HabsCode]

I don’t think they tanked for him.

I think it's rare to sabotage an entire season to select a single player that makes it singularily worth it to have done so.

In other words, my position is the same...I don't believe in “tanking”.

I mean they did got rid of Chariot, Toffoli, Lekhonen and Kulak in 2022 so they in a way substracted player that made the team better short and long term. Not exactly sabotage, but it was the most « tanking » season we had seen in recent years.

 

[417]

I mean they did got rid of Chariot, Toffoli, Lekhonen and Kulak in 2022 so they in a way substracted player that made the team better short and long term. Not exactly sabotage, but it was the most « tanking » season we had seen in recent years.

Teams that aren't making the playoffs make changes, they were headed towards the last pick with or without those players.

Chiarot was a UFA
Lehkonen was a RFA who they couldn't afford to pay
Kulak was a UFA
Toffoli might be the only player you could qualify as a "tank trade" but that was as much opportunity as anything.

 

[SlafySZN]

 

[the valiant effort]

Goddamn Engels revealing proprietary secrets!!!

 

[waitin425]

Looks like the work is on shortening his receiving of a pass, to speed up the release for a shot. Exactly what he needs to work on! Pay attention kid and get those reps in!

 

[417]

Looks like the work is on shortening his receiving of a pass, to speed up the release for a shot. Exactly what he needs to work on! Pay attention kid and get those reps in!

Been saying it since last year, his issue is his shot preparation...he's not ready to shoot most of the time.

 

[SlafySZN]

Goddamn Engels revealing proprietary secrets!!!

Now everyone knows he’s gonna shoot.

 

[morhilane]

Sill getting 1v1 practice time with "Dr. Shot", nice.

I still can't believe the Habs hired Glen Tucker as a shot consultant this season (he also worked with the Rocket).