Juraj Slafkovsky - Year Two

[Kennerback]

Keith played 0 games in the AHL.

He beat on sub-AHL players that could barely tie their skates for D+1&2 and developed just as well as his sons.

 

[Captain Mountain]

the fancy stats are very similar between both.

Really? Slaf's relative 5v5 on-ice stats are much better, his actual 5v5 plays (chances, shot assists, etc.) range from better to significantly better (both offensively and defensively). Both have uneven usage but have played with top guys for decent stretches.

Cooley's a good prospect/young NHL player, but he's never going to be able to bring the kind of elements that Slaf can. And Montreal needs what Slaf brings a hell of a lot more than what Cooley does.

 

[Kennerback]

yeah and put him in the AHL to grow

You’re a real breath of fresh air. This thread had degenerated in an exercise of circular backslapping.

 

[Tabarouette]

You’re a real breath of fresh air. This thread had degenerated in an exercise of circular backslapping.

thanks we gotta keep these trolls in check

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

 

[BaseballCoach]

He beat on sub-AHL players that could barely tie their skates for D+1&2 and developed just as well as his sons.

Keith was 6 months older than Brady for their respective first NHL games.

Both played in Boston University the year prior, and Keith scored more points than Brady.

 

[bonneaug]

I don't know if I'm just connecting easy dots, but it's funny to me that we hire Lecavalier as a special advisor, then we draft this big goofy kid... If not for the fact that Vinny played C, they're the same. I saw it on that one-timer, I had to go look at footage... Slaf is a little more upright, but a little shorter stick, some work over the summer and that's fixed. He's got the perfect guy to get advice from.

Now let's just remember it took 5 full seasons for Lecavalier to reach PPG! I'm sure Marty remembers that with all that patience talk.

Slaf after 82 games: 26pts
Vinny after 82 games: 28pts

Anyways. I was dumbfounded when we drafted him. Now I'm super happy we did!

 

[Habs]

Who would't ? But Slaf is playing in the most demanding hockey market in the World. He has played barely the equivalent of one full season over two years so far, was injured badly last season. He will be only 20 at the end of March. He is becoming slowly but surely what he was advertised.

I think we are underestimating how hard it is to play in other markets like NY, Toronto, Winnipeg, Vancouver etc.. the players are under the microscope their as well. I agree he is progressing nicely, his shot is deadly and he's finding / creating open ice with that size. This is why I was hoping for another big forward in the pipeline at last year's draft, we need to build around kids here and free up some space. Some player's do not thrive on good teams, the Oilers are a prime example of failed prospects on good teams. I really like what Winnipeg is doing and the size/speed combo they are building around and they can afford to take a chance on smaller prospects because of it.

 

[CHwest]

thanks we gotta keep these trolls in check

irony lol

 

[Whitesnake]

Development isn't about applying cookie cutter approaches.

And yet, 99,9 % of the players playing in the NHl right now didn,t play in the NHL at 18. So as far as not playing in the NHL at 18, yeah, I'd say it's applying cookie cutter approach.

Yes, every player develop differently. Never said otherwise. My point was and always is this....it would not have been detrimental for him to go there. Not even sure I had a hard stance of it being detrimental if he stayed here though....I don't remember...lol.

I had no problem with the pick. Compared to the Reinbacher one...it's not even close. I know what they saw when they picked Slaf. It wasn't a cut and dry year, they went with the specimen. And chances are they were right. Though, the others haven't stopped developing either. But for us, he'll be damn fine.

 

[Whitesnake]

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?

To each their own I guess. Caufield didn't seem to mind developing in Wisconsin in order to get 43 points in 67 games in his first complete year as a NHL'er being a player of his stature. I'm not sure why it would be impossible to see Slaf having the same stats line in his 1st NHL season after a AHL season. Now, if the point is as far as the entirety of his game ('Cause Slaf is much more than points)....well we will never know.

also Nick came in in the NHL at 20....was playing juniors at 19.

Slaf was 18. I don't know why people underestimate the age that much....But somehow, it was ludicrous to think that Slaf would have needed to play in a men's league at 18 while being overseas for the very 1st time for all it entails....

 

[Kennerback]

Keith was 6 months older than Brady for their respective first NHL games.

Both played in Boston University the year prior, and Keith scored more points than Brady.

My point is that you can’t f*** up someone’s development of the 3 Tkachuk‘s level because they’re just that good. I think the AHL or NHL absolutists have it wrong with top players. This is not Higgins or Plekanec.

Had Keith had even a year more at BC, he still has his two 50 goal seasons.
Or put Brady in the AHL for his first two seasons, the delayed NHL adaptation would have been of the nature of learning the name of the equipment manager and how to park in the arena. They would end up just where they are.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Look at this long stick action here , like a dog on a bone , he's a disruptive man. 47 gets absolutely bum rushed from behind

What a pass by cole though

I think we are underestimating how hard it is to play in other markets like NY, Toronto, Winnipeg, Vancouver etc.. the players are under the microscope their as well. I agree he is progressing nicely, his shot is deadly and he's finding / creating open ice with that size. This is why I was hoping for another big forward in the pipeline at last year's draft, we need to build around kids here and free up some space. Some player's do not thrive on good teams, the Oilers are a prime example of failed prospects on good teams. I really like what Winnipeg is doing and the size/speed combo they are building around and they can afford to take a chance on smaller prospects because of it.

Toronto and Vancouver are the only comparables in the entire world to Montreal in terms of pressure when it comes to hockey. Perhaps there's some swedish or russian clubs that also have heavy scrutiny out there . Quite frankly when it comes to the NHL nobody is even close to Montreal Toronto and Vancouver

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

View attachment 816013

Look at this long stick action here , like a dog on a bone , he's a disruptive man.

What a pass by cole though


Toronto and Vancouver are the only comparables in the entire world to Montreal in terms of pressure when it comes to hockey. Perhaps there's some swedish or russian clubs that also have heavy scrutiny out there . Quite frankly when it comes to the NHL nobody is even close to Montreal Toronto and Vancouver

These 3 are gonna comprise the best Habs line since I started watching since 88-89.
Best part is they're not even in their primes yet.

 

[Kennerback]

View attachment 816013

Look at this long stick action here , like a dog on a bone , he's a disruptive man.

What a pass by cole though

This is exactly why I have Slaf ahead of the other 2022 forwards. He’s a disruptive force that helps his linemates offensively even when he doesn’t get on the scoreboard. Even forgetting his past 10 games, the other 2022s don’t have the explosive production to compensate for this.

 

[417]

And yet, 99,9 % of the players playing in the NHl right now didn,t play in the NHL at 18. So as far as not playing in the NHL at 18, yeah, I'd say it's applying cookie cutter approach.

But this is twisting data...yes, MOST players need to play in some league outside of the NHL if only because of roster size.

This ain't it man lol

Yes, every player develop differently. Never said otherwise. My point was and always is this....it would not have been detrimental for him to go there. Not even sure I had a hard stance of it being detrimental if he stayed here though....I don't remember...lol.

Sure, it wouldn't have been detrimental, but would it have been more beneficial than what they did? Would he be X amount better today had he played last year in the AHL?

I guess you could argue that, but I don't think that's a strong take.

I'm not really interesting in what doesn't hurt a player, more interested in what can make him better and for Slafkovsky, given the alternatives, it's hard to argue they made the wrong decision right now.

I had no problem with the pick. Compared to the Reinbacher one...it's not even close. I know what they saw when they picked Slaf. It wasn't a cut and dry year, they went with the specimen. And chances are they were right. Though, the others haven't stopped developing either. But for us, he'll be damn fine.

Agreed

 

[Redux91]

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

He struggled a bit in October yes, everyone's acknowledged it, tho 'fair and honest criticism' is putting it mildly..
Now go check the calendar, and count on your fingers how long ago that was

Nobody is calling him McDavid. Bedard won't even be McDavid.

And who's 'us'? Did the Super Slaf Haters get T-shirts made?

 

[Paddy17]

Not right now but in the futur. I 100% could see it.

He's already doing a lot of what a C does in the D-zone right now, which is to support the D-men in puck retrieval and breakout.

It's certainly an option that's not ludicrous down the road, but only in 2-3 years once he's well established, like Olympic diver Stutzle in Ottawa.

 

[waitin425]

He struggled a bit in October yes, everyone's acknowledged it, tho 'fair and honest criticism' is putting it mildly..
Now go check the calendar, and count on your fingers how long ago that was

Nobody is calling him McDavid. Bedard won't even be McDavid.

And who's 'us'? Did the Super Slaf Haters get T-shirts made?

Hahahahah! Who is calling him McDavid! LMAO. He is nothing like McDavid. Get a grip, whoever said that!

It's Jagr we are comparing him to! Sheesh!

 

[Tabarouette]

He struggled a bit in October yes, everyone's acknowledged it, tho 'fair and honest criticism' is putting it mildly..
Now go check the calendar, and count on your fingers how long ago that was

Nobody is calling him McDavid. Bedard won't even be McDavid.

And who's 'us'? Did the Super Slaf Haters get T-shirts made?

god I wish, that'd be pretty sick, all of us booing him from the bleachers

 

[Milhouse40]

Can't wait to meet Playoff Slafkovsky.

It's all speculation of course, but I think this is why Hugues went for him instead of Cooley or Wright.

The next best thing after a McDavid or MacKinnon in your forward group in the PO is the type of forward Slafkovsky is on the path to become,

 

[Redux91]

Hahahahah! Who is calling him McDavid! LMAO. He is nothing like McDavid. Get a grip, whoever said that!

It's Jagr we are comparing him to! Sheesh!

A poor man's Jagr would be Lovely

 

[Redux91]

god I wish, that'd be pretty sick, all of us booing him from the bleachers

Yup!
All 4 of you!
Tell ReHabs to send me a postcard too.

 

[Captain Mountain]

And yet, 99,9 % of the players playing in the NHl right now didn,t play in the NHL at 18. So as far as not playing in the NHL at 18, yeah, I'd say it's applying cookie cutter approach.

Yes, every player develop differently. Never said otherwise. My point was and always is this....it would not have been detrimental for him to go there. Not even sure I had a hard stance of it being detrimental if he stayed here though....I don't remember...lol.

I had no problem with the pick. Compared to the Reinbacher one...it's not even close. I know what they saw when they picked Slaf. It wasn't a cut and dry year, they went with the specimen. And chances are they were right. Though, the others haven't stopped developing either. But for us, he'll be damn fine.

No argument with the rest, I don't love the bolded argument. Especially since part of the debate from day 1 was that 1st OA picks (especially forwards) almost always play in the NHL right after being drafted.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

This is exactly why I have Slaf ahead of the other 2022 forwards. He’s a disruptive force that helps his linemates offensively even when he doesn’t get on the scoreboard. Even forgetting his past 10 games, the other 2022s don’t have the explosive production to compensate for this.

You must have been happy to see him rip two piss misilles in the back of the net ! I know that was your main criticism on him , nice to see him show the world he's got those shots in his arsenal at the NHL level