Juraj Slafkovsky - Year Two

[Hannibal]

The fire to get better and be the best is a trait that every superstar has and Slaf clearly has it. This is so awesome to see. He’ll be a superstar pretty soon.

 

[Kennerback]

The fire to get better and be the best is a trait that every superstar has and Slaf clearly has it. This is so awesome to see. He’ll be a superstar pretty soon.

How often do you see young Habs use their time off to do this. Aside from “optional” practice. Also kudos to Guhle. I already like him better. It’s great PR. Show the video to future Habs rookies.

 

[morhilane]

Am I the only one who noticed that Slaf is having better games when he plays an "away" game outside of Montreal?

Any reason for that or is it just a coincidence?

The entire team plays better away from Montréal since like 2016.

 

[Hannibal]

Slaf still working with Dr.Shot this morning! Gotta love that committement

 

[Tabarouette]

glad he is

having some dude named Dr. Shot is still pretty funny tbh

 

[KevSkillz4]

In 2 years, Dach and Slaf will be both best forwards on Habs roster.

Suzuki looks very good this year, Caufield put points aswell, but the total package of Dach and Slaf are too impressive to don't become best forwards in this team.

 

[Deebs]

In 2 years, Dach and Slaf will be both best forwards on Habs roster.

Suzuki looks very good this year, Caufield put points aswell, but the total package of Dach and Slaf are too impressive to don't become best forwards in this team.

Suzy is our best overall player and I don't see anyone on our roster currently that will take that title away from him. Would be great if it happens though.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

In 2 years, Dach and Slaf will be both best forwards on Habs roster.

Suzuki looks very good this year, Caufield put points aswell, but the total package of Dach and Slaf are too impressive to don't become best forwards in this team.

However you rank them I feel like they could easily form an impressive forward corps. Dach just needs to stay healthy.

You still have Newhook, Roy and Mesar to fill out the top 6. All 3 have shown impressive upside themselves.

I’m not saying no to a blue chip forward prospect but I don’t think it’s that big a need potentially

 

[sampollock]

hope the Slaf gets to be a 30 goal man

 

[morhilane]

hope the Slaf gets to be a 30 goal man

He needs to increase his amount of "on net" shots per game to get there. For that he can take more shots or try to be more accurate because he has 176 shot attempts in 50 games, but only 74 were on net (42%). As a comparison, Suzuki had 187 attempts and 112 were on net (60%).

If he can get to 3 shots per game over 82 games, he would be a 30 goals guy with his current sh% (12.2).

 

[sampollock]

He needs to increase his amount of "on net" shots per game to get there. For that he can take more shots or try to be more accurate because he has 176 shot attempts in 50 games, but only 74 were on net (42%). As a comparison, Suzuki had 187 attempts and 112 were on net (60%).

If he can get to 3 shots per game over 82 games, he would be a 30 goals guy with his current sh% (12.2).

working with this "shooting coach" now, will increase his chances

 

[abo9]

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Thanks for sharing, that's awesome, and looks like a pretty solid shooting drill!

I'm curious, has there been recent young (or old) players on the roster that did extra reps like this? Price maybe?

That's just me hypothesizing, but I wonder how much having an ex-superstar like St-Louis as the coach helps our young forwards improve. Like, how do young players otherwise learn the little details that elevate their games from "good" to "star"? They're not gonna learn it from Gallagher or Armia, as good as Gallagher has been for the Habs.

Some players ala Crosby, McDavid, Mackinnon bring that mindset to a team when they're drafted. But in absence of such a player, I wonder if a St-Louis type coach isn't the best substitute. I liked bringing guys like Kovalchuk or Perry as well, but they didn't stay very long.

In any case, happy to read about Slaf improving this year! With guys like Suzuki and Caufield also doing well, it's a nice change of pace! Starting to get into seriously interesting drafting/development results here!

 

[tooji]

what those stats show me is he still needs to shoot more.

 

[rik schau]

what those stats show me is he still needs to shoot more.

It sure does but from what I'm reading here is that Jethro has brought his game up a notch,good on him.

 

[Kennerback]

what those stats show me is he still needs to shoot more.

He does need to shoot way more but I’m pumped by the extra shooting reps he’s doing.

Also regarding his last game, I’ve never seen a shot where he shifts the blade and gets it off that quickly. I’ve seen many pre-NHL goals where he picks up the garbage around the net and one-timers but not that. Also, I find on his one-timer goal he was more poised and not trying to blow the goalie’s head off just to miss the net.

 

[BaseballCoach]

I find on his one-timer goal he was more poised and not trying to blow the goalie’s head off just to miss the net.

The Caps were cheating toward Caufield and Slaf was totally unchallenged. If the kid keeps shooting, it will open space for Caufield.

 

[Heffyhoof]

He does need to shoot way more but I’m pumped by the extra shooting reps he’s doing.

Also regarding his last game, I’ve never seen a shot where he shifts the blade and gets it off that quickly. I’ve seen many pre-NHL goals where he picks up the garbage around the net and one-timers but not that. Also, I find on his one-timer goal he was more poised and not trying to blow the goalie’s head off just to miss the net.

Only way that will likely happen is if Slaf is moved down to pair with Newhook. Otherwise Slaf will likely defer to Caufield and Suzuki and I don't blame him. Hard to work on your shot during any game when you've got two linemates who're also developing and both have 26 goal seasons. Both his linemates easily hit 30+ per year when on a contending team.

If Montreal wants Slaf to drive the play more, and they should, he'll likely need to be on his own line with Newhook.

 

[CHwest]

Found this pretty encouraging, not only for Slaf but the entire team.

Canadiens' Slafkovsky, Guhle part of group committed to accelerated development

The Canadiens have created an environment that has at least partially influenced the players to take ownership of their own development. They have a number of players taking the same approach, and that’s the way it has to be for them to keep advancing in their build.

www.sportsnet.ca

 

[BLONG7]

Only way that will likely happen is if Slaf is moved down to pair with Newhook. Otherwise Slaf will likely defer to Caufield and Suzuki and I don't blame him. Hard to work on your shot during any game when you've got two linemates who're also developing and both have 26 goal seasons. Both his linemates easily hit 30+ per year when on a contending team.

If Montreal wants Slaf to drive the play more, and they should, he'll likely need to be on his own line with Newhook.

Which will eventually be Dach.....which is also good.

 

[Lshap]

From the article posted by @CHwest, here's Guhle describing Slafkovsky:

"He wants to be the best player out there, and that’s what you want. He works hard on and off the ice, and that’s something I’ve really learned about him is just his work ethic and how much he always wants to be the best.”

It’s a trait Guhle—and several other Canadiens—appear to share, which obviously bodes well for the team’s future.

 

[Gally11]

One thing I will counter with in regards to this is you can’t learn to play hockey at a professional level at 18+. Obviously this doesn’t apply to Slafkovsky at all but there is a lot of skill required to make it. If being hungry, work ethic, and personality got you by in sports, there’d be a lot more guys making it over players who currently play in the NHL now. If you get a draft like 2022 where it’s tight between a handful of players, I go with your philosophy like HuGo did. But there are a lot of cases where I’d take talent over the character unless there‘a signs of serious flaws i.e Pierre Luc Dubois.

Yeah it’s a balancing act for sure; there’s got to be a baseline level of talent as well; I wouldn’t hire someone who hasn’t opened excel before to be a senior analyst or anything so I agree with what you’re saying

 

[Andrei79]

Seeing the development staff work with Slaf in practice and Slaf then, a few games or weeks later, start using those abilities during games is so interesting to me.

It's interesting because apparently development doesn't exist. Nothing you can do to help a player will have any impact whatsoever. So, Slaf putting those teachings to work is purely coincidental. He would have done exactly that, exactly at that time, even if the coaching staff gave him no support, called him out in the media and benched him to play Pearson.

 

[BLONG7]

Guys on the main board have gone into hiding on the Slaf and Monahan threads.
LOL
Moving goalposts when they do appear.

 

[habbubba]

Guys on the main board have gone into hiding on the Slaf and Monahan threads.
LOL
Moving goalposts when they do appear.

I went to the main board after reading you and why they call him a unicorn? I don't get it. He's a young player with a lot of potential but has't proven anything yet.

 

[red devil]