Juraj Slafkovsky - Year Two

[SlafySZN]

 

[Licou]

In my observations he is a little lost in the O zone without the puck. I have observed a lot of moments where you could have made himself available by moving a little. He just seems unsure of where to go when he is without the puck.

I agree and I recall from the scouting videos available for him at the time that his positioning away from the puck was a weakness.

I don't think this will be an issue going forward as he gains pro experience though.

 

[morhilane]

Slaf has a season objective now!!!

 

[admiralcadillac]

He needs to shoot more and find a way to get his shots off. It’s definitely a problem.

 

[Tyson]

He is progressing which is a huge +

 

[Heffyhoof]

I still don't know how a slow skating, 0 IQ player with no above average talent in anything can even be good. OH WAIT, Slaf is actually playing and not injured so I can't lie about him right now. Best go on hiatus.

 

[LesCanadiens]

I still don't know how a slow skating, 0 IQ player with no above average talent in anything can even be good. OH WAIT, Slaf is actually playing and not injured so I can't lie about him right now. Best go on hiatus.

Yep. They've moved on to finding other targets. I question at times whether they're in it for the game or just to get attention they lacked growing up...there are a couple in particular who have gone completely radio-silent since Slafkovsky's true talent is starting to shine through...it's OK, sucks for them to be so miserable.

 

[Canadienna]

Kirby Dach has played more overtime minutes this season than Slafkovsky.

Just thought I'd throw that out there.

 

[KevSkillz4]

Kirby Dach has played more overtime minutes this season than Slafkovsky.

Just thought I'd throw that out there.

I have no word honestly.

 

[V13]

He is looking so f***ing pretty for a guy who dont score. The prettiest non-scorer who ever played hockey.

Yes he is better but come on. People here looking satisfied that our best prospect does play but doesnt finish.

He has 1 more goal and only 5 less assists than Cooley. He compensate for those 5 assists by bringing others attributes to the table like being better defensively and creating space for Suzuki and Caufield in the offensive zone

He'll be fine but we need to be patient. I too would have prefered to get 1st overall in 2023 and draft generational 100pts potential Bedard but it's not what happened. Once all is said and done i think Slaf will belong in the debate about who is the best from the 2022 draft. Now i may be wrong but i'm willing to give him the time to develop at his pace. It's still very early

 

[LesCanadiens]

He has 1 more goal and only 5 less assists than Cooley. He compensate for those 5 assists by bringing others attributes to the table like being better defensively and creating space for Suzuki and Caufield in the offensive zone

He'll be fine but we need to be patient. I too would have prefered to get 1st overall in 2023 and draft generational 100pts potential Bedard but it's not what happened. Once all is said and done i think Slaf will belong in the debate about who is the best from the 2022 draft. Now i may be wrong but i'm willing to give him the time to develop at his pace. It's still very early

Exactly. And he's absolutely awesome defensively. Add to that that Cooley has had lots of time with Arizona's very best players right from the get-go, and with PP time to boot. Slaf started with offensively challenged teammates and absolutely no pp time. Slaf is a far better player than Cooley today, IMHO.

 

[Sorinth]

Kirby Dach has played more overtime minutes this season than Slafkovsky.

Just thought I'd throw that out there.

My assumption is that they feel there's a risk that if he turns the puck over and costs the team the game that it will negatively impact his confidence and therefore his entire development. It's about managing responsibilities so that he can focus on the things you want him focused on.

 

[G0bias]

My assumption is that they feel there's a risk that if he turns the puck over and costs the team the game that it will negatively impact his confidence and therefore his entire development. It's about managing responsibilities so that he can focus on the things you want him focused on.

What would negatively impact his confidence would be lowering his role/minutes the following game or removing his shifts in OT

 

[The Great Weal]

Kirby Dach has played more overtime minutes this season than Slafkovsky.

Just thought I'd throw that out there.

Lol. Gotta make sure to send out Anderson instead for whatever reason.

 

[waitin425]

Yep. They've moved on to finding other targets. I question at times whether they're in it for the game or just to get attention they lacked growing up...there are a couple in particular who have gone completely radio-silent since Slafkovsky's true talent is starting to shine through...it's OK, sucks for them to be so miserable.

It would be so much easier if they just put out there that they got it wrong and joined the excitement. Instead they triple down and pivot their arguments. It's uncomfortable to see at times.

 

[BehindTheTimes]

Yep. They've moved on to finding other targets. I question at times whether they're in it for the game or just to get attention they lacked growing up...there are a couple in particular who have gone completely radio-silent since Slafkovsky's true talent is starting to shine through...it's OK, sucks for them to be so miserable.

Only one side of this debate seems to be full of personal attacks. It isn’t and hasn’t come from those who dared to questions managements development approach.

Slaf has improved tremendously, as a Habs fan this is all that matters. The little potshots directed at posters with a different opinion are what drags this board down.

 

[le_sean]

Kirby Dach has played more overtime minutes this season than Slafkovsky.

Just thought I'd throw that out there.

That’s honestly insane and inexcusable

 

[Scriptor]

Only one side of this debate seems to be full of personal attacks. It isn’t and hasn’t come from those who dared to questions managements development approach.

Slaf has improved tremendously, as a Habs fan this is all that matters. The little potshots directed at posters with a different opinion are what drags this board down.

Slaf has improved tremendously, as a Habs fan this is all that matters.

This is true.

He still needs to improve tremendously to satisfy the demands of being a 1st OA, but he is still only 19 (until March 30th) in a year where there seems not to have been any generationnal talents instead to pick at 1stOA, not even Shane Wright, who had once been touted as such.

Slafkovsky still needs to improve his shooting to become more effective as a double threat in the O-zone. We can now see that his vision on display most nights and that his playmaking skills are quite good.

Slafkovsky's improving use of his size prolongs time spent in the O-zone and enables him to feed his line mates for dangerous scoring opportunities.

The young winger's defensive lay is also drastically improved and, with better positioning in his own zone, he seems to be able to use his reach to better block passing and shooting lanes.

Still a work in progress, at such a young age, but Slafkovsky is already harder to play against than he was at the beginning of the season and throughout last year while he was uninjured.

Confidence plays a large part in his current game, as seen with how he swilling to dangle the puck when entering the O-zone, able to dish it back to a freed up line mate.

Using his Sizemore also enables Slafkovsky to protect himself by being less of a passive target for opponents who were starting token in on him as a game plan.

Clearly, the game has slown down for Slafkovsky and he is more able to use his skill set to good use on the ice, often being as good or better as Caufield and Suzuki on any given night.

Yes, that is a rather meteoric improvement for Slafkovsky, but, not unlike Suzuki and Caufield, his play will only improve once we have a roster that provides better offensive depth, with a genuine 2nd line and a stronger two-way, shutdown 3rd line that can eat up more minutes against the opponents' best players, at least at somewhen we get the final line change.

Good things manifesting themselves for Slafkovsky, but I think he can still get better, maybe much better.

He'll definitely need to unload his shot faster and more often, but maybe, for that they will need to hire another Shaman to brainwash Slafkovsky into changing his pass-first mindset.

That hire could be useful because it is a widespread problem on this team, outside of Caufield.

 

[waitin425]

Okay......a couple of thoughts here.

This thread has become the most toxic place on HfHabs. I have played my role in some of that. I propose a truce to all those on either side of the debate. Let us move on with some universal truths.

1. We are all Habs fans.
2. We all want what is best for the team.
3. We all want Slaf to be the best he can be.

If we all start from these three principles we should be able to argue in good faith. If someone is so obviously off the mark in their assessment, it should be considered that the above three topics don't apply to them, and they should be thoroughly shit canned from this thread.

 

[LesCanadiens]

Only one side of this debate seems to be full of personal attacks. It isn’t and hasn’t come from those who dared to questions managements development approach.

Slaf has improved tremendously, as a Habs fan this is all that matters. The little potshots directed at posters with a different opinion are what drags this board down.

How rich. Go back and read the old posts. I sleep quite well at night, thank you. Those of us who were positive about Slaf all along were flamed (or "potshots" as you call it) on a daily basis. Not only here, but everywhere on social media. They earned their plate of crow. Thanks for your opinion just the same.

 

[SOLR]

That’s honestly insane and inexcusable

You do know our overtime records is better than our regular season records? He'll get there, but he needs to be fully responsible to be played in overtime and that level is getting there. This is coming after we sell at the deadline, no impact on evaluations then.

 

[SlafySZN]

You do know our overtime records is better than our regular season records? He'll get there, but he needs to be fully responsible to be played in overtime and that level is getting there. This is coming after we sell at the deadline, no impact on evaluations then.

He’s as responsible as Caufield and Suzuki. And brings more offense than guys like Evans it’s not even a question…

But yeah, MSL has his plan with him even if we argue about the decisions.

 

[SOLR]

He’s as responsible as Caufield and Suzuki. And brings more offense than guys like Evans it’s not even a question…

But yeah, MSL has his plan with him even if we argue about the decisions.

He is not as responsible as Suzuki, that's nonsense.

Then in overtime, you have duos of 1 responsible, 1 non-responsible high offense - that's why Caufield is getting the reps.

I'm not sure Slaf brings more offense than the others non-responsible high-offense assets - yet. It's coming.

There is something to be said about tactical knowledge comprehension at 3v3 (it's another system), it's not a big hill but it's ANOTHER hill for a 19 years old - we don't have to push him in every direction at the rate he's improving right now. It's coming.

 

[SlafySZN]

He is not as responsible as Suzuki, that's nonsense.

Then in overtime, you have duos of 1 responsible, 1 non-responsible high offense - that's why Caufield is getting the reps.

I'm not sure Slaf brings more offense than the others non-responsible high-offense assets - yet. It's coming.

He’s certainly not a problem on that front either.

You win in OT when you think offense. The minute MSL started to think too much and put Evans out there for faceoffs and to be ‘’safe’’ we haven’t won any OT.

 

[SOLR]

He’s certainly not a problem on that front either.

You win in OT when you think offense. The minute MSL started to think too much and put Evans out there for faceoffs and to be ‘’safe’’ we haven’t won any OT.

MSL hasn't changed anything Evans was always getting reps. We are just facing better 3v3 opponents vs. in November.

And, "he's not a problem" is just a pretty naive thing to say about him in 3v3. He's getting comfortable at 5v5, powerplays and improving why put him in another situation while he's improving in his scope?