Juraj Slafkovsky - Year Two

[Tyson]

It's insane to me that some people were arguing that Slaf's potential was being a 40-point player.

8 points in his last 12 games equates to about 55 points over an entire 82 game schedule, that's as a 19 year old who started the year with 1 assist in the first 13 games.

 

[Kennerback]

It's insane to me that some people were arguing that Slaf's potential was being a 40-point player.

20 goals and 50 points. Perhaps more if and only if he fixes his release and shoots more.

 

[le_sean]

And what happens if you ice the puck? Who plays man-to-man vs. the opposition's best centres?

Evans plays a shutdown role in OT, because we only have 1 good player in the middle, so he can't play all the time. They are not competing at all, different roles.

Your point about the future is moot because Slaf is progressing rapidly. Playing him in all situations he's not ready for is exactly what might chip away at his confidence level, what they are trying to boost.

Who ices the puck in OT? I’m not changing my OT strategy for the 1 in 99 chance of that happening. Again, bad coaching.

Shutdown centre? In OT? Are you just arguing for the sake of arguing? It’s akin to Gainey putting Laraque on the 1st line in the playoffs because of Chara. It’s idiotic. How did Evans work in the Philly game OT? Because he kept losing the faceoffs and is such a poor player he couldn’t get possession.

How is it moot that a key 1st line winger and 1st overall pick has to sit on the bench while players who never score in OT keep getting thrown out there?

Again, you’re clearly just drinking this bullshit Marty St. Louis Kool-Aid.

 

[MTL Dirty Birdy]

His goal was a PP net front beauty. Nice cross-ice pass by Nick and Slaf then uses his reach to tuck in his own rebound after his first shot was stopped.

He was a force all game long in all 3 zones. Colorado had no answer for him. Couldn't handle him. He literally had his way vs them.

I will expect this to be the norm game in game out within two years. We have to remember he’s still a kid!!! No mature” man strength” yet. Watch out when he hits his prime!!!

 

[Andrei79]

How was his goal and his play last game?

There was one interesting play. All game Colorado was trying to get the puck off him, but he was too strong and barely budged. At some point, one of Colorado's defensemen was right besides him while Slaf had the puck and didn't even try to contain him physically.

He completely gave up before he even tried. He also shot a lot more and he continues to make heads up passes too. He's getting better and better as a front net presence. On a high talent team like TB or Colorado, I think he would be pacing around 50-60 points. He seems to be trending to be the teams most complete winger. Time will tell, but the coaching staff and development team are clearly adding more and more elements to his arsenal. Slaf has so many natural tools that he can become a multifaceted threat offensively.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Sportsnet was roasting his defensive side of the game , just shows that these guys don't watch , he's already our best defensive winger at 5 on 5 in my opinion , not saying much but still

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

It's insane to me that some people were arguing that Slaf's potential was being a 40-point player.

and we'd be lucky if it happened. I still remember that post. Might've been more but at least one said that for sure.

This will sound snide and oh well who cares lol...but a lot of people aren't great with seeing potential. Many fans will pat themselves on the back for knowing Bedard was going to be great. 'Man when I saw him at the WJCs, I told everyone look out for this kid.' etc. When it's really raw a lot of people won't see it.

But there's other reasons why people didn't see it. And before I go further, yes he was genuinely bad at times. I'm not saying there were ZERO reasons to be concerned.

A lot of fan's more cynical projections stemmed from our horrid luck. A veritable curse if you will. Again, valid. To a point though. People don't want to be let down...again. Fair.

Another reason is the axiom of 'beware of scouting from International tournaments'. But more specifically, the WJCs. Valid somewhat. It's all about context though.

Putting all your eggs in the Liiga basket where he played on the 4th line for a huge part of the year and ACTIVELY IGNORING not even the WJCs but the Olympics and the WCs production doesn't exactly qualify as 'objective'. Hell if you go PPG at the WJCs as a 17 year old player in their draft year, that's pretty impressive. It's not a guarantee they're a star but you're likely looking at a player that's going top 15 in the draft. But then you have Slaf who goes PPG in two separate men's int'l tourneys and I just don't know what the precedent for that is, or if there even is one.

But fine. Ignore the production at the men's tournaments. But can you also ignore the absurd size, skating, skill package? Again, people seemed to refuse to see the kid had skill even though he displayed silky hands enough times in those highlight videos. Big shot AND he can pass? Moves as well as anyone in his laughably absurd near 6'4 240 lb frame? Did people really see NO scenario where he could succeed? It's just weird.

There were arguments that he wouldn't have dominated juniors last year had he played. Another one stated he wasn't even a First round talent. Just bizarre takes

 

[Deebs]

There was one interesting play. All game Colorado was trying to get the puck off him, but he was too strong and barely budged. At some point, one of Colorado's defensemen was right besides him while Slaf had the puck and didn't even try to contain him physically.

It was very Draisaitl like and that's the exactly the player he should pattern his game after. Control the play and protect the puck with your body while looking to make a play.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

There was one interesting play. All game Colorado was trying to get the puck off him, but he was too strong and barely budged. At some point, one of Colorado's defensemen was right besides him while Slaf had the puck and didn't even try to contain him physically.

He completely gave up before he even tried. He also shot a lot more and he continues to make heads up passes too. He's getting better and better as a front net presence. On a high talent team like TB or Colorado, I think he would be pacing around 50-60 points. He seems to be trending to be the teams most complete winger. Time will tell, but the coaching staff and development team are clearly adding more and more elements to his arsenal. Slaf has so many natural tools that he can become a multifaceted threat offensively.

He looked like this last night , young Jagr lite

 

[overlords]

So, uh... where does one buy a pair of them breathing goggles? Asking for a friend.

 

[Paddy17]

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.

Yes, there are still moments where he is passive and uncertain, but those moments have been drastically reduced for the last 20 games. He's much more active and assertive now.

 

[SOLR]

Who ices the puck in OT? I’m not changing my OT strategy for the 1 in 99 chance of that happening. Again, bad coaching.

Shutdown centre? In OT? Are you just arguing for the sake of arguing? It’s akin to Gainey putting Laraque on the 1st line in the playoffs because of Chara. It’s idiotic. How did Evans work in the Philly game OT? Because he kept losing the faceoffs and is such a poor player he couldn’t get possession.

How is it moot that a key 1st line winger and 1st overall pick has to sit on the bench while players who never score in OT keep getting thrown out there?

Again, you’re clearly just drinking this bullshit Marty St. Louis Kool-Aid.

Nope, it's about using your assets in some ways to produce the most points. That's it. When Dach is hurt, Dvorak is hurt, and suddenly, you don't have the luxury to send each line to win the OT.

 

[Ozmodiar]

I agree it feels
Different. As for points, what’s his PPG once he was put with talent( Suzuki/ Caufield). Amazing production for a kid

I don’t know his point production since moving to Suzuki’s like but I know this thread took a turn for the better. Much less negativity and second guessing.

 

[Schooner Guy]

Sportsnet bozos in disbelief

Sportsnet on weeknights is talentless and lifeless. I really hope TSN gets the next NHL TV rights contract.

Loving the progress Slaf is showing. Keep it up kid!

 

[Redux91]

All I know is I was all in for Wright, and boy was I wrong.. thank god Hugo doesn't listen to the peanut gallery.

Even Joshua Roy is outproducing Shane Wright in the AHL lmao

 

[BehindTheTimes]

And his visible commitment to the process of change he was asked & coached to undertake, despite the dip in immediate comfort level/outcomes, is precisely what validated the decision to keep him here... And precisely what so many overlooked either from inability to recognize it and/or from an over-emphasis on stat line outcomes in their assessment

No small feat to maintain the self-esteem required to stay diligent with that kind of work in such a critical media/fan environment, where every shift, let alone game, without a point draws intense scrutiny. That trait/quality was part of the team's scouting profile on him, and has shown itself to have been a very good assessment. Bodes well for his ongoing progress and chances at hitting the high end of his considerable potential.

Future is bright

Good post. I definitely underestimated his ability to adapt and his commitment to get better. He’s got that desire to learn which is not easy to come by. This changes everything.

I have never had a problem admitting when I am wrong. Always wanted Slaf to succeed, but I didn’t appreciate that he was quite the student of the game. It’s all good, I deserve the criticism for being wrong, but I was never a hater or wishing for him to fail. I genuinely thought the obstacles were a bit too big for him at this level so soon. That’s it.

 

[DAChampion]

Even Joshua Roy is outproducing Shane Wright in the AHL lmao

There's a good chance that Roy will have a better career than Wright.

He was also substantially better in the WJCs.

 

[schwang26]

He did look great last night, but he needs to keep his game a power game. Drive to the net, good work along the boards, pick up the garbage. That’s mostly what he needs to put up points. He tries to pass too often and despite what people have said, I haven’t seen evidence of a great shot. Keep it simple and we’ll have a solid, 2 way power forward.

 

[BaseballCoach]

Good post. I definitely underestimated his ability to adapt and his commitment to get better. He’s got that desire to learn which is not easy to come by. This changes everything.

I have never had a problem admitting when I am wrong. Always wanted Slaf to succeed, but I didn’t appreciate that he was quite the student of the game. It’s all good, I deserve the criticism for being wrong, but I was never a hater or wishing for him to fail. I genuinely thought the obstacles were a bit too big for him at this level so soon. That’s it.

Good man.

It's happened to me too.

In fact, until about a week before the draft, I was pimping Wright.

 

[LesCanadiens]

It was very Draisaitl like and that's the exactly the player he should pattern his game after. Control the play and protect the puck with your body while looking to make a play.

Besides improving on his shot (which I have no doubt he will), just wait for when he figures out how to cut to the net with low center of gravity, with one hand on the stick shielding the puck while holding off a defender with his other hand, the original, classic PF power-move. Who's going to stop him? Not many will be able to. He's going to reek havoc for defenders.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

He did look great last night, but he needs to keep his game a power game. Drive to the net, good work along the boards, pick up the garbage. That’s mostly what he needs to put up points. He tries to pass too often and despite what people have said, I haven’t seen evidence of a great shot. Keep it simple and we’ll have a solid, 2 way power forward.

while I agree with you he also passes the rock extremely well , probably third best passer at forward after suzuki and dach

 

[MTL Dirty Birdy]

I don’t know his point production since moving to Suzuki’s like but I know this thread took a turn for the better. Much less negativity and second guessing.

It’s nice isn’t it?

 

[schwang26]

while I agree with you he also passes the rock extremely well , probably third best passer at forward after suzuki and dach

Pretty well yes. He usually over passes rather then taking the shot or driving to the net. Hopefully he stops that. Although he’s not the only one on the PP that passes way too much.

 

[schwang26]

He probably won’t be a super star, but a solid 2 way power forward 25-30 goals 50-60 points a year I’d be very happy with. I’m ok with that even though they aren’t typical first overall numbers. It’s funny how that kind of player is considered rare, and now these gigantic goalies are becoming more common.

 

[BehindTheTimes]

Good man.

It's happened to me too.

In fact, until about a week before the draft, I was pimping Wright.

I still think Wright is going to prove some ppl wrong.

I will say this in my defence. I still believe that Slaf playing in lesser leagues would have been beneficial, how much so, who knows? I do believe that rushing players to the NHL has some risks that developing slowly doesn’t have. Where I got it wrong was overstating how much playing in the NHL could hurt him. That position isnt defendable anymore, so I’m not going to continue that line of argumentation here. I was wrong, it’s not the first time and it won’t be the last time.

I’m also guilty of diving in the gutter with some, sometimes I find this place can be a bit toxic and I find myself talking in extremes just to be as far opposite of the person I am disagreeing with. I’ve butt heads with a lot of good posters and for that I apologize.