Juraj Slafkovsky - Year Two

[Retired]

People continue to overlook Slaf's defensive abilities.
He's a shot blocking machine. I'd like to see him get some PK time in the next few games.

No. pk yields broken feet and pooped offensive players. Maaaaaybe the very elite with lungs of steel and thick shin pads.

unrelated - I’m reading the new debate revolving around “90pts? pfff yeah right” - I feel the bar got raised lol wow that went fast.

 

[417]

Ya he was dogshit for a good 60 games, lets not rewrite history.

There's no rewriting history…saying “dogshit” isn't accurately writing that history either.

It's using histrionics and hyperbole for effect.

It never meant hed bust, as weve said a thousand times, it just meant he was shit.

Speaking of not rewriting history (and i‘m NOT talking about you)

But for having personally participated in a lot of these discussions, that's a pretty funny statement to write, if not a bold one.

 

[Tabarouette]

I don't need to know…you’re bitter about a player on a team, I presume you cheer for, doing better.


His current performance isn't an outlier, it's pretty steady growth that's typical for most players.

Just because he didn't do it fast enough for you or on YOUR timeline, doesn't mean it's an outlier.

There's plenty of other ways to describe it.

I don't think you understand the concept of an outlier but it's ok

you sound like mrb1p about KK at the beginning of the year (giving you ammos to make fun of him here)

 

[River Meadow]

This guy will NEVER score 90 points in the NHL jesus christ y'all need to be kept in check by @Mrb1p and I, you run wild when we're not around

 

[Team_Spirit]

Hockey fan grindset

Slovak jersey, -$120
Nosebleeds ticket in jersey,-$30
Slaf stick + $600

 

[Mrb1p]

There's no rewriting history…saying “dogshit” isn't accurately writing that history either.

It's using histrionics and hyperbole for effect.


Speaking of not rewriting history (and i‘m NOT talking about you)

But for having personally participated in a lot of these discussions, that's a pretty funny statement to write, if not a bold one.

He was dogshit, like bottom 1% of NHL players for a good bit of his first 60ish games, blame it on Anderson if you want, that didnt help, but he was. He had stretches of multiple games without even landing a shot on net, like come on.

I cant control what others say.

 

[River Meadow]

He was dogshit, like bottom 1% of NHL players for a good bit of his first 60ish games, blame it on Anderson if you want, that didnt help, but he was. He had stretches of multiple games without even landing a shot on net, like come on.

I cant control what others say.

He was bad.

Agreed.

He looks better lately though.

 

[417]

I don't think you understand the concept of an outlier but it's ok

Yeah, that must be it.

you sound like mrb1p about KK at the beginning of the year (giving you ammos to make fun of him here)

Me and @Mrb1p couldn't be more different, he’ll vouch for that on my behalf lol.

For the record, I had a lot of back and forth in this thread with some folks, don't recall having one with you.

So either way, we good lol

 

[Mrb1p]

He was bad.

Agreed.

He looks better lately though.

Miles better, Id say hes been our 2nd best forward for a stretch now. Not 90 points good, but hes been good.

 

[River Meadow]

Miles better, Id say hes been our 2nd best forward for a stretch now. Not 90 points good, but hes been good.

Agreed.

So what is everyone up in arms about?

 

[Tabarouette]

Yeah, that must be it.

Me and @Mrb1p couldn't be more different, he’ll vouch for that on my behalf lol.

For the record, I had a lot of back and forth in this thread with some folks, don't recall having one with you.

So either way, we good lol

you wanna back and forth with me?

Miles better, Id say hes been our 2nd best forward for a stretch now. Not 90 points good, but hes been good.

just to make things interesting, if people were allowed to blame Anderson for making him look like shit, I guess we could also say he's getting carried by Nick

 

[Retired]

Agreed.

So what is everyone up in arms about?

some new guy running around the thread getting personnal in the hopes of replies… Completely fabricated debate along with posturing and all. Internet things.

Slaf has not had a bad game in a while, I hope he gets truculent to keep himself awake tonight.

 

[JianYang]

He was dogshit, like bottom 1% of NHL players for a good bit of his first 60ish games, blame it on Anderson if you want, that didnt help, but he was. He had stretches of multiple games without even landing a shot on net, like come on.

I cant control what others say.

I thought he looked good in the early stages of last year. He played with a bull in a China shop mentality and was a disruptive force on the forcheck. It didn't last long though whether he started to feel a lingering physical issue or whatever else.

But his game has visibly changed today compared to the guy who just started to get his feet wet. I wonder if someone got in his ear at some point to change his style or if he just personally had a hard time trying to define the type of player he will be in this league. I still think he's trying to find himself in that sense but the difference is that he's finding some offensive success in the process now.

 

[Retired]

I thought he looked good in the early stages of last year. He played with a bull in a China shop mentality and was a disruptive force on the forcheck. It didn't last long though whether he started to feel a lingering physical issue or whatever else.

But his game has visibly changed today compared to the guy who just started to get his feet wet. I wonder if someone got in his ear at some point to change his style or if he just personally had a hard time trying to define the type of player he will be in this league. I still think he's trying to find himself in that sense but the difference is that he's finding some offensive success in the process now.

He has sick tools.

It’s like a noob spawned in a shooter with a rocket launcher. Every trick they would learn has a visible output (flanking, stealth, cover, circle—straffing…).

 

[Jeune Poulet]

The only people I've seen mention 90 pts for Slaf are those saying he will never get 90 pts.

Well, just a few minutes before you posted that, Miller Time pretty unambiguously said he expected 90 points. That's like, a few minutes ago.

And earlier today:

It wouldn't shock me if he reaches 90pts. Like 35 goals, 55 assists.

It's pretty routine to read stuff like this on this thread, with no one ever questioning these completely ridiculous takes, like even a little.

 

[River Meadow]

Well, just a few minutes before you posted that, Miller Time pretty unambiguously said he expected 90 points. That's like, a few minutes ago.

And earlier today:


It's pretty routine to read stuff like this on this thread, with no one ever questioning these completely ridiculous takes, like even a little.

Some people are all or nothing.

He's either a superstar or nothin', lol.

The truth is probably somewhere in between, but what Slaf doesn't get in points he should make up for in the playoffs with his size, strength and room he creates for others.

 

[417]

He was dogshit, like bottom 1% of NHL players for a good bit of his first 60ish games, blame it on Anderson if you want, that didnt help, but he was. He had stretches of multiple games without even landing a shot on net, like come on.

Yeah I don’t agree with your assessment…I think you're guilty of what a lot of folks were/are, and that's viewing his performance through the lens of a 1st overall picks and all those who have come before or after him.

Which, is understandable on some level, he was afterall a 1st overall pick...but just being a 1st overall pick doesn't mean you have a pre-determined path.

Some guys get off to quick starts and fade (Yakupov), others get off to slow starts and turn into HOFers (Joe Thornton).

Slafkovsky is determining his own path and personally, I stopped caring about where he was picked, the moment he was picked. So I looked at his first 60ish games as a player who was getting used to playing in a new country, new ice, on a rebuilding team with not much support.

So I didn't expect a ton production wise, but there were clear signs of progress outside of production if you chose to look at it. I'm glad the last 1/3 of his first 82 games is going much better than the previous 2/3, but it's all a part of the process.

We're not where we are with him now, without him having gone through what he did initially.

I cant control what others say.

There's nothing you can't do if you put your mind to it.

you wanna back and forth with me?

Pause...but you're free to read through my thread for my posts

 

[waitin425]

Crazy that there are still pessimists around us.

Slaf is beasting right now and the sky is the limit for this kid.

Stats are following. Many of us predicted this. Correctly I might add. Some of those correct posters, are now predicting 90 point ceilings. Once again the nay-sayers are flabbergasted by such lofty predictions, and shouting them down as if they have the crystal ball to his development. Well....that crystal ball has already proven wrong, so maybe .......

 

[Jeune Poulet]

Some people are all or nothing.

He's either a superstar or nothin', lol.

The truth is probably somewhere in between, but what Slaf doesn't get in points he should make up for in the playoffs with his size, strength and room he creates for others.

Exactly this!

I think some people have also miconstrued perfectly reasonable, middle ground takes on Slafkovsky for some sort of edgy postings.

 

[JoelWarlord]

Also funny when our 1st overall scores twice bringing him up to 6 goals past the halfway point of the season and people in here go "hmmm the haters don't have much to talk about anymore hehe "

Eat the crumbs

Nah it's about distinct visible changes in on-ice play that have converted into increased production ever since he got away from playing with Anderson and Newhook. That also does not mean I am "blaming" those guys or saying he had nothing to do with that line's performance or that he was a perfect player from day 1. It means Anderson is not that good and that Newhook is a winger and not a C, not a great line for a 19 y/o adjusting to the NHL, and a combo of a better spot and his own development is showing results now.

It's certainly possible that he takes a downturn and this will end up looking like a hot streak in hindsight, but it's hard to really see it that way as it's not like he's riding some sky high shooting percentage. Ever since he's been put on the top line he's been consistently helping them drive the play and making big impacts on both ends of the ice. He's given that line a boardplay/forecheck/cycle + playmaking element and they're playing all around very well over the past two or so months controlling play against opposing top lines. It's not like they're just shooting 20% as a group and getting shelled otherwise, he's a key part of why that line is controlling play and creating dangerous chances again.

I'd love to cheer for him and i'd love for him to impress me and turn into a great player, I just don't see it happening with this guy at all, this is KK and Galchenyuk all over again from where I stand so i'm not holding my breath

I guess we'll see how the rest of the season/next few years go but KK/Galchenyuk don't have anything to do with what's going on now. They were drafted 5 and 11 years ago, their coaches are gone, the entire team is different and they're entirely different players with no link to Slafkovsky, it's just fandom anxiety to map this situation onto those guys. It doesn't even really make sense either as KK and Galchenyuk both looked much better than Slafkovsky as rookies but worse in their 2nd seasons than he does now. If you're not sold on him being a star yet that's fine, but just because there are still some rough edges and there will be ups and downs in the future doesn't mean the last 2 months are an outlier.

 

[admiralcadillac]

Well, just a few minutes before you posted that, Miller Time pretty unambiguously said he expected 90 points. That's like, a few minutes ago.

And earlier today:


It's pretty routine to read stuff like this on this thread, with no one ever questioning these completely ridiculous takes, like even a little.

Please explain why it is ridiculous to believe Slafkovsky can hit 90 points in a season.

Give me the prescient details please.

You’ve said your posts are reasonable middle ground posts, but you haven’t given any reasoning behind your takes. What is it exactly that makes you believe he won’t be a ppg in at least one season in his career?

 

[Tabarouette]

Crazy that there are still pessimists around us.

Slaf is beasting right now and the sky is the limit for this kid.

Stats are following. Many of us predicted this. Correctly I might add. Some of those correct posters, are now predicting 90 point ceilings. Once again the nay-sayers are flabbergasted by such lofty predictions, and shouting them down as if they have the crystal ball to his development. Well....that crystal ball has already proven wrong, so maybe .......

View attachment 805609

When you get burned over kids showing signs of progress for 25+ years you kinda get defensive about it

 

[waitin425]

When you get burned over kids showing signs of progress for 25+ years you kinda get defensive about it

Fair, but recognize that is your baseline. Try to remove that pain and be purely objective. Objectively his development curve is plain to see and quite exciting.

 

[Tabarouette]

Nah it's about distinct visible changes in on-ice play that have converted into increased production ever since he got away from playing with Anderson and Newhook. That also does not mean I am "blaming" those guys or saying he had nothing to do with that line's performance or that he was a perfect player from day 1. It means Anderson is not that good and that Newhook is a winger and not a C, not a great line for a 19 y/o adjusting to the NHL, and a combo of a better spot and his own development is showing results now.

It's certainly possible that he takes a downturn and this will end up looking like a hot streak in hindsight, but it's hard to really see it that way as it's not like he's riding some sky high shooting percentage. Ever since he's been put on the top line he's been consistently helping them drive the play and making big impacts on both ends of the ice. He's given that line a boardplay/forecheck/cycle + playmaking element and they're playing all around very well over the past two or so months controlling play against opposing top lines. It's not like they're just shooting 20% as a group and getting shelled otherwise, he's a key part of why that line is controlling play and creating dangerous chances again.

I guess we'll see how the rest of the season/next few years go but KK/Galchenyuk don't have anything to do with what's going on now. They were drafted 5 and 11 years ago, their coaches are gone, the entire team is different and they're entirely different players with no link to Slafkovsky, it's just fandom anxiety to map this situation onto those guys. It doesn't even really make sense either as KK and Galchenyuk both looked much better than Slafkovsky as rookies but worse in their 2nd seasons than he does now. If you're not sold on him being a star yet that's fine, but just because there are still some rough edges and there will be ups and downs in the future doesn't mean the last 2 months are an outlier.

hey I actually do like the phrase "fandom anxiety" and I will admit 100% i'm afflicted by it

This guy is not a typical 1st overall and I highly doubt his ceiling is near the typical 1st overall, our core around him is *ok* in some places, we still don't have any superstars, we don't have enough talent, but we're already looking like a team that will not be bad enough to keep tanking much longer, while also not being anywhere good enough to contend

I am a scared little boy and i'm definitely afraid that we missed our tanking window (and sadly, he should've been the centerpiece) and that we're most likely back to being a drive for 9th team for the next decade and it's affecting my opinions for sure, it f***ing sucks, i'd love to cheer for a team that isn't just ok for once

 

[KevSkillz4]

No doubt Slaf in 2 years will be a able to put 70 pts++ per season.

His skillset are too good don't produce big numbers. Do you see his passing ability on PP? He is a elite playmaker. His pass he made on PP that's only elite playmaker can do that.

Imagine with Lane Hutson on PP instead of Mike "Don't pass to Slaf" Matheson, Slaf will put more goals. He have the shot of a 30 goalscorer, no doubt.