Juraj Slafkovsky - Year Two

Where would you prefer Slaf spend his 23-24 season?


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Lafleurs Guy

Guuuuuuuy!
Jul 20, 2007
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That's the point, he did not look lost.
I disagree.
Slaf kept up Anderson for many chances to score.
Slaf kept playing quite solid hockey prior to moving to the first line.
I don’t think so. I think it’s fair to say that he repeatedly set up CC though.

The change did not come right away.
Slaf kept setting up Cole and Nick with good passes to score and it was not happening right away.
The points came later...
Again, I disagree with you.

I noticed a huge difference in play when he was moved up. The points didn’t come until later but he was much improved when moved up.
 
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ReimanSum1908

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Feb 23, 2012
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Montreal
I noticed a huge difference in play when he was moved up. The points didn’t come until later but he was much improved when moved up.
That's it exactly; he was drowning lower in the lineup, and not due to anyone else. A below replacement level player.

With the elevation to a line with Caufield and Suzuki, he and his play have been transformed, and most nights he has been at least a solid contributor.
 

Jaynki

Registered User
Feb 3, 2014
5,870
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Disagree. He had the tools. The question was the toolbox. He was inconsistent last year and looked out of place this season until he was moved to the first line. Since then he’s vastly improved.

The word I used for him before was ‘mystery box.’ Now he’s demonstrating not only consistent play but steady improvement.

You are only reflecting your past bias. (Respectfully)

His talent was always obvious. It was also on full display and for everyone to see.

But it was always dismissed to fit one's agenda that he was the worst pick, that Bobrov is not better than a used car dealer, etc.

-Small sample international size are worthless. (Even though what he did is unprecedented.)

-Worst 1st overall in decade. (Even tho 90% of player making the NHL at 18 end up top of the line-up player, disregard of the rank of drafting and performance in the first season.)

-We are ruining his development and the front office dont know what they do. Some even going as far as we were f***ing with his prefrontex cortal.(LOL).

-He has no elite skills. (Something also not obvious i guess.)

He was never a mystery box. There was never any question about his talent and commitment. It was invention from the fanbase and insecurity/PTSD from former failed top picks.
 

Miller Time

Registered User
Sep 16, 2004
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That's it exactly; he was drowning lower in the lineup, and not due to anyone else. A below replacement level player.

With the elevation to a line with Caufield and Suzuki, he and his play have been transformed, and most nights he has been at least a solid contributor.

Disagree.

Playing with better player's affects the outcomes of any player. Slaf's game the day before & the day after he moved to that line was negligibly different.

He was showing a lot of the qualities that are being rewarded now with points & praise long before. The coaching staff recognized this, and that's the major reason why he was staying in Montreal. Many fans just couldn't see it & needed the stat sheet validation to start recognizing it.
 

Lafleurs Guy

Guuuuuuuy!
Jul 20, 2007
78,787
50,216
You are only reflecting your past bias. (Respectfully)
What bias?

His talent was always obvious. It was also on full display and for everyone to see.

But it was always dismissed to fit one's agenda that he was the worst pick, that Bobrov is not better than a used car dealer, etc.
Please show me where I denied his talent? I can show you several posts where I said I could see why we drafted him and said he has all the tools.

-Small sample international size are worthless. (Even though what he did is unprecedented.)

-Worst 1st overall in decade. (Even tho 90% of player making the NHL at 18 end up top of the line-up player, disregard of the rank of drafting and performance in the first season.)

-We are ruining his development and the front office dont know what they do. Some even going as far as we were f***ing with his prefrontex cortal.(LOL).

-He has no elite skills. (Something also not obvious i guess.)
I’m not sure what you’re talking about here. You’re bringing in stuff I never said. Absolutely true that I felt we shouldn’t have brought him up so early but that doesn’t mean I didn’t think he had talent.

The fact is that he looked lost for much of his first year. I would’ve preferred the minors coming in. Same in the second year. But he and Dach were so good together in preseason I felt like it could work. Then Dach got hurt and Slaf looked lost again. He’d show flashed of brilliance but he wasn’t doing well. Then he was moved up to the first line - then for a while only Caufiled - and he looked great.

He was never a mystery box. There was never any question about his talent and commitment. It was invention from the fanbase and insecurity/PTSD from former failed top picks.
Sorry but I disagree. Nobody doubted his commitment but there wasn’t any kind of consensus on how good this guy would be.

Yeah, some people had written him off from day one. A few people were insanely hard on him. Those people aside though, I don’t see how you can look at some of those stretches and say he was always awesome. No he wasn’t.
 
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KevSkillz4

Registered User
Apr 11, 2016
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Until his 3rd period, like all Habs players, make mistakes, but he is really good on PP.

His pass on PP are on the same level of Suzuki. No doubt, this guy will be the face of the franchise. Special talent, special attitude and he want to make the difference (the speech of Bobrov), he want to be the difference maker and you see that on all details of his game. His forecheck is so good at 19 years old. His protection of puck is great at such young age.

Great 2nd season by Slaf so far.
 

CAUFIELD

Registered User
Oct 16, 2015
904
1,376
No, stop putting our 1st overall pick with a plug winger and a guy you’re showcasing for a trade. Newhook can take that spot on the 2nd.
Well Monahan isn’t traded yet. Perfect center to play with Slaf to me.

And Playing on the 2nd line isn’t bad …. Being on the 1st line with Suzuki and Caufield always brings the tough matchups.

Slaf will develop nicely on the second line for now. To be re-evaluated when Monahan is dealt .
 

LesCanadiens

Hardcore Curmudgeon
Feb 27, 2002
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West Kelowna
Well Monahan isn’t traded yet. Perfect center to play with Slaf to me.

And Playing on the 2nd line isn’t bad …. Being on the 1st line with Suzuki and Caufield always brings the tough matchups.

Slaf will develop nicely on the second line for now. To be re-evaluated when Monahan is dealt .
I have a feeling Suzuki's influence is all over the demotion. I have no evidence for this. Just a gut feeling based on their vibe on the ice. I think Suzuki asked to have Anderson back on the line. Either way, I also agree with your post and assessment. I actually would rather have him play with Monahan. I was never a fan of making Nick captain, tbh. Not ready or mature enough in my view.
 

SlafySZN

Registered User
May 21, 2022
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I have a feeling Suzuki's influence is all over the demotion. I have no evidence for this. Just a gut feeling based on their vibe on the ice. I think Suzuki asked to have Anderson back on the line. Either way, I also agree with your post and assessment. I actually would rather have him play with Monahan. I was never a fan of making Nick captain, tbh. Not ready or mature enough in my view.
It’s the other way around. Nick said they were doing good with Slaf and that it’s probably only to shake things off, not permanent.

If anything he was down playing Anderson. Who would want the worse player on their line.
 

LesCanadiens

Hardcore Curmudgeon
Feb 27, 2002
3,665
1,551
West Kelowna
It’s the other way around. Nick said they were doing good with Slaf and that it’s probably only to shake things off, not permanent.

If anything he was down playing Anderson. Who would want the worse player on their line.
Good to know. Guess I read it wrong. That's reassuring to hear.
 
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Zilo44

Registered User
Jul 4, 2012
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Well Monahan isn’t traded yet. Perfect center to play with Slaf to me.

And Playing on the 2nd line isn’t bad …. Being on the 1st line with Suzuki and Caufield always brings the tough matchups.

Slaf will develop nicely on the second line for now. To be re-evaluated when Monahan is dealt .
Hopefully Newhook is back at the point
 
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