Juraj Slafkovsky - Year Two

[Lafleurs Guy]

Imagine how much further behind in his development he'd be if he spent the past season and a half playing in an inferior league, with inferior teammates, coaching, facilities and resources?

I think the growing pains of last year created the player we are starting to see today. Steel sharpens steel

If this is trolling... it's a masterful job. I salute you sir.

 

[waitin425]

well yesterday was the first time he scored 2 goals that weren't shots that were aimed at the scoreboard that miraculously pinball'd themselves into the net so

it's all positive

 

[Tabarouette]

us: fair and honest criticism of a player that was struggling

you: omg he's literally the goat he scored twice, mcdavid arc????

who are the real trolls in here

 

[sampollock]

keep shooting love that shot and toe drag

 

[BLONG7]

There's an expectation that if you're starting off in the NHL as a teenager, it means you HAVE to be a dominant/productive player.

That's a myth that's going to have to disappear because there's going to be more and more teams embedding their 1st round picks into the NHL as teenagers and success isn't going to come right off the bat for all of them.

This is bang on!!
We have been spoiled in recent years, with Ovie, Crosby, Malkin McJesus etc............
There have been many who take 2-3-4 years to come out as a big time player, RNH, Drai, Marner etc

 

[Redux91]

well yesterday was the first time he scored 2 goals that weren't shots that were aimed at the scoreboard that miraculously pinball'd themselves into the net so

it's all positive

As you write a negative post lmao

I love how much the kids success and growth just eats at you guys inside, it's incredible lol

We've almost chased away all you guys too, thank god

 

[417]

This is bang on!!
We have been spoiled in recent years, with Ovie, Crosby, Malkin McJesus etc............
There have been many who take 2-3-4 years to come out as a big time player, RNH, Drai, Marner etc

It doesn't have to be an instant impact and if it isn't...it doesn't necessarily mean that the player is doomed for eternity either.

That doesn't mean that teams should just stick any 18-19 year old in the NHL either.

Physical and mental maturity have a lot to do with it, along with where said team is on, in their own path to being competitive.

 

[Ozmodiar]

There is no certain path to success. Each player is unique. Some will thrive against stronger opposition. Some will be overwhelmed. But the good/ skilled athletes will generally succeed whatever path they follow. Too much angst has been expended, in my opinion, on this player’s journey to success.

Yessir.
Look no further than the top 2 picks from that draft. Slaf and Nemec. Both started having success in the NHL at the same time, but followed a different path.

Slaf - NHL
Nemec - AHL

 

[Tabarouette]

As you write a negative post lmao

I love how much the kids success and growth just eats at you guys inside, it's incredible lol

We've almost chased away all you guys too, thank god

that was the joke, we don't need to be that serious Rejean Tremblay

 

[BLONG7]

It doesn't have to be an instant impact and if it isn't...it doesn't necessarily mean that the player is doomed for eternity either.

That doesn't mean that teams should just stick any 18-19 year old in the NHL either.

Physical and mental maturity have a lot to do with it, along with where said team is on, in their own path to being competitive.

The habs have been preaching patience, for sure..............the kid is rounding out very nicely as a 19 year old.....great to see.
We have had ZERO to look forward to since the 2017 debacle of an offseason by the clown GM.

Slaf's coming out party which will be over a 3 year period is a nice change for us....

 

[McGuires Corndog]

It doesn't have to be an instant impact and if it isn't...it doesn't necessarily mean that the player is doomed for eternity either.

That doesn't mean that teams should just stick any 18-19 year old in the NHL either.

Physical and mental maturity have a lot to do with it, along with where said team is on, in their own path to being competitive.

The difference now is we have a coach who understands and values these young players and the development curve.

If Slafkovsky was a 2017 pick, we’d probably have the same regurgitated results as every other pick in that regime.

 

[Whitesnake]

Sensing a bit of sarcasm here…lol

But it's all true lol

If so, it means that Kulich is behind his development because he was in the AHL? Same for Nemec? Same for every player that played first in tihe AHL? Shane Wright too? Cooley wouldn't have benefiated some AHL time?

I really don't understand this anti-AHL sentiment here.

If Slaf is in the AHL and does well, we would be happy. We would not be saying that he misses some development time. Actually we would say we are happy to see him with a team competing for playoffs rather this this Montreal shitshow...

Should we be mad at Lane's development because he stayed in the NCAA too long?

They decided to stick with Slaf in the NHL and it pays off. Asked the management right now if they expected such a fast progression..they TOO will tell you how suprised they are...lol

 

[Tabarouette]

The difference now is we have a coach who understands and values these young players and the development curve.

If Slafkovsky was a 2017 pick, we’d probably have the same regurgitated results as every other pick in that regime.

careful bro don't bring the anti-marty thread in here

 

[Captain Mountain]

If so, it means that Kulich is behind his development because he was in the AHL? Same for Nemec? Same for every player that played first in tihe AHL? Shane Wright too? Cooley wouldn't have benefiated some AHL time?

I really don't understand this anti-AHL sentiment here.

If Slaf is in the AHL and does well, we would be happy. We would not be saying that he misses some development time. Actually we would say we are happy to see him with a team competing for playoffs rather this this Montreal shitshow...

I suspect its in response to the the people that were/are insistent that Slaf needs to be in the AHL or Europe to develop and that he wasn't/isn't going to develop playing the NHL.

 

[Tabarouette]

If so, it means that Kulich is behind his development because he was in the AHL? Same for Nemec? Same for every player that played first in tihe AHL? Shane Wright too? Cooley wouldn't have benefiated some AHL time?

I really don't understand this anti-AHL sentiment here.

If Slaf is in the AHL and does well, we would be happy. We would not be saying that he misses some development time. Actually we would say we are happy to see him with a team competing for playoffs rather this this Montreal shitshow...

Should we be mad at Lane's development because he stayed in the NCAA too long?

They decided to stick with Slaf in the NHL and it pays off. Asked the management right now if they expected such a fast progression..they TOO will tell you how suprised they are...lol

Honestly i'm sure part of it is just ptsd from years of atrocious AHL development

having a bunch of Corey Locke scoring a ppg in the AHL and then they'd be called up and needed help to tie their skates destroyed this franchise

 

[Frank Drebin]

If this is trolling... it's a masterful job. I salute you sir.

We need strife, can't just be patting eachother on the back because of our awesome young player

 

[Kennerback]

If so, it means that Kulich is behind his development because he was in the AHL? Same for Nemec? Same for every player that played first in tihe AHL? Shane Wright too? Cooley wouldn't have benefiated some AHL time?

I really don't understand this anti-AHL sentiment here.

If Slaf is in the AHL and does well, we would be happy. We would not be saying that he misses some development time. Actually we would say we are happy to see him with a team competing for playoffs rather this this Montreal shitshow...

Should we be mad at Lane's development because he stayed in the NCAA too long?

They decided to stick with Slaf in the NHL and it pays off. Asked the management right now if they expected such a fast progression..they TOO will tell you how suprised they are...lol

You put Thornton or Sundin in the AHL or NHL, it won’t matter in the end because they’ll make it even if all the wrong development choices are made. Not comparing Slaf with those players. Just that when you’re good enough, you’ll be a success no matter what.

 

[417]

The difference now is we have a coach who understands and values these young players and the development curve.

If Slafkovsky was a 2017 pick, we’d probably have the same regurgitated results as every other pick in that regime.

Under previous administrations, they would have succumbed to fan/media pressure and sent him down to Laval and play yo-yo with him, with every hot/cold streak.

 

[Whitesnake]

Just saying it's OBVIOUSLY great to see him succeed. It,s actually PREFERABLE. But the hindsight views of no to the AHL is laughable when actually we've sent Mesar in juniors...Hutson will be in Montreal at 20 or 21 if he doesn't go to Laval, when Reinbacher is in Europe etc....Usually, players go through normal development stages. Being in the NHL at 18 is NOT a normal stage. But in HIS case, it does pay off 'cause there's no setbacks.

But he would have been in tihe AHL last year, and come in this year in the NHL...and nobody would have said that we f***ed up his development.

 

[Runner77]

FWIW, Anthony Marcotte dubs Slaf the best player of the 2022 draft.

 

[Kennerback]

Honestly i'm sure part of it is just ptsd from years of atrocious AHL development

having a bunch of Corey Locke scoring a ppg in the AHL and then they'd be called up and needed help to tie their skates destroyed this franchise

Habs have historically had tons of AHL failures and a few success. Examples are Plekanek and Higgins. I think the AHL made a huge difference in their career. And keeping them up would have been a disaster. Is Slafkofsky really a player where it makes a big difference one way or another?

 

[waitin425]

LMAO if he goes cold it's 100% your fault. I will send the Slafminator after you.

View attachment 815883

I prefer this guy.....

 

[Kennerback]

Just saying it's OBVIOUSLY great to see him succeed. It,s actually PREFERABLE. But the hindsight views of no to the AHL is laughable when actually we've sent Mesar in juniors...Hutson will be in Montreal at 20 or 21 if he doesn't go to Laval, when Reinbacher is in Europe etc....Usually, players go through normal development stages. Being in the NHL at 18 is NOT a normal stage. But in HIS case, it does pay off 'cause there's no setbacks.

But he would have been in tihe AHL last year, and come in this year in the NHL...and nobody would have said that we f***ed up his development.

I think he’d be more or less where he is right now in terms of development if he stayed in the AHL. In the end, it will not make a difference.

 

[BaseballCoach]

I think he’d be more or less where he is right now in terms of development if he stayed in the AHL. In the end, it will not make a difference.

LOL, no way. You can't make the adjustment to the NHL playing with and against sixth liners.

One can argue that the hindrance from going down to the AHL would not be permanent, but no way would Slaf be where is NOW had he stayed in the AHL until the date Joshua Roy came up this year for instance.

Had Brady Tkachuk played two seasons in Belleville, do you think he would have come up to Ottawa and earned the captaincy almost immediately?

 

[417]

If so, it means that Kulich is behind his development because he was in the AHL? Same for Nemec? Same for every player that played first in tihe AHL? Shane Wright too? Cooley wouldn't have benefiated some AHL time?

No, what's good for Slafkovsky was good for Slafkovsky. It has nothing to do with what the Sabres are doing with Kulich or the Devils with Nemec or the Kraken with Wright.

Cooley? The same guy people were nutting over early in the season?

I'm not worried about him either, he's had ups and downs and that's totally normal for a kid playing in the toughest league in the world.

In itself, is not a reason to demote a player and I don't watch enough Coyotes game to say whether or not a demotion would be beneficial.

But I do watch and care about the Habs and have been consistent from the beginning that I felt what Slaf was doing in the NHL would prove way more beneficial than anything else he could have been doing at lower levels.

I was told to “stick to basketball”…go figure.

I really don't understand this anti-AHL sentiment here.

I really don't understand this AHL infatuation, sometimes I wonder if fans cheer for their teams AHL affiliate more than the NHL one.

If Slaf is in the AHL and does well, we would be happy. We would not be saying that he misses some development time. Actually we would say we are happy to see him with a team competing for playoffs rather this this Montreal shitshow...

Meh, I can't speak for others but I'm not that moved by performances at lower levels. It's nice, but hardly indicative.

I've been watching sports for too long to get too excited by that anymore.

Should we be mad at Lane's development because he stayed in the NCAA too long?

I don't get the correlation here…Lane is exactly where he should be because he's at or was at, such a disadvantage physically.

They decided to stick with Slaf in the NHL and it pays off. Asked the management right now if they expected such a fast progression..they TOO will tell you how suprised they are...lol

Debatable and I think if you asked management right now, they'd tell you the same thing I been saying for the last 12-14 months.

He's just scratching the surface, there’s so much more room for improvement.