Juraj Slafkovsky - Year Two

[Mrb1p]

Yeah there were definitely people who wanted Cooley, but it was a minority. I would have even been fine with it. But now EVERYONE is acting like he was the obvious pick which just wasn't the case.

It doesnt matter. What matters is what we end up with. People in charge of making the picks need to be held accountable. They have millions of dollars at their disposal.

 

[RationalExpectations]

Except, perhaps, the next draft lottery.

Fake news. They did not trade for Hall…

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

It doesnt matter. What matters is what we end up with. People in charge of making the picks need to be held accountable. They have millions of dollars at their disposal.

Accountable for what? Slafkovsky hasn't played 40 nhl games yet and Cooley hasn't even played a single game.

 

[nhlfan9191]

Yeah there were definitely people who wanted Cooley, but it was a minority. I would have even been fine with it. But now EVERYONE is acting like he was the obvious pick which just wasn't the case.

I don’t think it was less of a minority then Slafkovsky, regardless of Bob Mackenzies list. Lots of people had Slaf as their last option of the realistic picks available.

 

[ReHabs]

I don’t think it was less of a minority then Slafkovsky, regardless of Bob Mackenzies list. Lots of people had Slaf as their last option of the realistic picks available.

It really shouldn't matter what fans said or thought. We access no more than a fifth of the information the NHL teams access. They interview coaches, agents, players, teammates, even parents. It is not our responsibility as fans to get the pick right -- and yet, many of us felt Slafkovsky was an enigmatic prospect and inexplicable and unjutifiable as the 1OA.

And everything they've done since the 2022 Draft until today has reinforced the notion the Habs think they're smarter than the fans, and have access to different information and metrics than the fans, and feel secure in their decision to draft and thrust Slafkovsky into the NHL. So be it, let's hold the Habs accountable for their decisions -- that's the least we could do.

 

[nhlfan9191]

It really shouldn't matter what fans said or thought. We access no more than a fifth of the information the NHL teams access. They interview coaches, agents, players, teammates, even parents. It is not our responsibility as fans to get the pick right -- and yet, many of us felt Slafkovsky was an enigmatic prospect and inexplicable and unjutifiable as the 1OA.

And everything they've done since the 2022 Draft until today has reinforced the notion the Habs think they're smarter than the fans, and have access to different information and metrics than the fans, and feel secure in their decision to draft and thrust Slafkovsky into the NHL. So be it, let's hold the Habs accountable for their decisions -- that's the least we could do.

I’m not sure what you’re talking about outside of the Slafkovsky pick alone. Reinbacher and the Slafkovsky pick have nothing to do with each other.

 

[waitin425]

So what do we think guys? Starting to warm up to the Slaf pick? I'm excited to get this season started. We are in tough in the Atlantic, but I think Slaf is going to surprise some people, and I think we as a team are going to take a couple steps forward.

LFG!!!

 

[417]

It really shouldn't matter what fans said or thought. We access no more than a fifth of the information the NHL teams access.

Do you not find it odd to write the bolded statement above.

They interview coaches, agents, players, teammates, even parents. It is not our responsibility as fans to get the pick right -- and yet, many of us felt Slafkovsky was an enigmatic prospect and inexplicable and unjutifiable as the 1OA.

And everything they've done since the 2022 Draft until today has reinforced the notion the Habs think they're smarter than the fans, and have access to different information and metrics than the fans, and feel secure in their decision to draft and thrust Slafkovsky into the NHL. So be it, let's hold the Habs accountable for their decisions -- that's the least we could do.

Then in the same post, write the bolded statements in this part of your post?

You initially point out that fans don't have access to a fith of the information NHL teams have...yet in the same breath you criticize them for having access to different information and metrics than fans?

Are you writing a script? This can't be real with all due respect.

 

[waitin425]

Do you not find it odd to write the bolded statement above.

Then in the same post, write the bolded statements in this part of your post?

You initially point out that fans don't have access to a firth of the information NHL teams have...yet in the same breath you criticize them for having access to different information and metrics than fans?

Are you writing a script? This can't be real with all due respect.

 

[Egresch]

It really shouldn't matter what fans said or thought. We access no more than a fifth of the information the NHL teams access. They interview coaches, agents, players, teammates, even parents. It is not our responsibility as fans to get the pick right -- and yet, many of us felt Slafkovsky was an enigmatic prospect and inexplicable and unjutifiable as the 1OA.

And everything they've done since the 2022 Draft until today has reinforced the notion the Habs think they're smarter than the fans, and have access to different information and metrics than the fans, and feel secure in their decision to draft and thrust Slafkovsky into the NHL. So be it, let's hold the Habs accountable for their decisions -- that's the least we could do.

Especially when it comes to Slaf (1OA) or Reinbacher (5OA) Habs might have like 100 times more info than any engaged fan. e.g. Lecavalier spent 2x 1 hour conf call with Slovakia coach Craig Ramsay talking about Slaf. Ramsay has 1000+ GP in NHL, 30 years of coaching in NHL and he coached both Vinnie and MSL in Tampa. MSL even mentioned him as one of his two most infuential coaches in his career. Add to that hours of video analysis, many games attended by various scouts or executives, several interviews, etc.
So we basically know nothing (1%), but you want to hold them accountable? Isn't it funny?

 

[ReHabs]

Especially when it comes to Slaf (1OA) or Reinbacher (5OA) Habs might have like 100 times more info than any engaged fan. e.g. Lecavalier spent 2x 1 hour conf call with Slovakia coach Craig Ramsay talking about Slaf. Ramsay has 1000+ GP in NHL, 30 years of coaching in NHL and he coached both Vinnie and MSL in Tampa. MSL even mentioned him as one of his two most infuential coaches in his career. Add to that hours of video analysis, many games attended by various scouts or executives, several interviews, etc.
So we basically know nothing (1%), but you want to hold them accountable? Isn't it funny?

Yes — if they got it wrong, they’re 100% to blame. Not another fan who thought another prospect seemed better.

How sad is it that some fans and commentators have a better hit rate% than the Head Scout of the Montreal Canadiens?

 

[Goldthorpe]

Yes — if they got it wrong, they’re 100% to blame. Not another fan who thought another prospect seemed better.

Has the habs management ever NOT been accountable for their decision?

How sad is some fans and commentators have a better hit rate% than the Head Scout of the Montreal Canadiens?

Over a large number of fans this isn't surprising, even a fan picking at random could potentially beat the club assessment just by pure luck.

 

[Andy]

Over a large number of fans this isn't surprising, even a fan picking at random could potentially beat the club assessment just by pure luck.

Yup.

 

[waitin425]

Over a large number of fans this isn't surprising, even a fan picking at random could potentially beat the club assessment just by pure luck.

And.....in addition to this point, if the club assessment picking against that fan picking at random over an extended period of time, the club will get it right far more often. A one off does not make a fan smarter than the professionals who do this for a living. Some of the fans on this site are too much to handle with their internet "knowledge".

 

[ReHabs]

Has the habs management ever NOT been accountable for their decision?

Yes of course — like last season when Hughes and MSL were insistent that Slafkovsky had a good season. A clear lie… or a clear indication the Habs refuse to be held accountable for their decisions.

Over a large number of fans this isn't surprising, even a fan picking at random could potentially beat the club assessment just by pure luck.

Bobrov must be a spectacularly unlucky man.

 

[Goldthorpe]

Yes of course — like last season when Hughes and MSL were insistent that Slafkovsky had a good season. A clear lie.

Management will always lie for PR. Have you ever notice how MSL basically never say anything negative about any of his player? And if he does he's thinking 30 minutes before answering, like when he said Dach needed to shoot more. Not sure how this has to do with accountability though.

Bobrov must be a spectacularly unlucky man.

So you agree your point that a fan or commentator has a better hit rate than a professional scout isn't really a groundbreaking observation?

 

[417]

So you agree your point that a fan or commentator has a better hit rate than a professional scout isn't really a groundbreaking observation?

It's also very easy to have a better hit rate when you're not accountable to anyone lol.

Very easy for me to sit on my couch and wax poetically about who the Habs should pick.

I imagine it would be very different at the draft table in front of the hockey worlds eyes, with my reputation on the line.

To actually sit here and conflate both of those perspective is wild stuff man lol

 

[BLONG7]

Yes of course — like last season when Hughes and MSL were insistent that Slafkovsky had a good season. A clear lie… or a clear indication the Habs refuse to be held accountable for their decisions.

Bobrov must be a spectacularly unlucky man.

Come on man, they said over and over, he was picked #1 because of his intangibles, that he would morph into a good NHL player..............yes we all know, he should not have even played in the big show last year, but he did................

So we now have a base, and he is in year two of a 3-4 year development plan......

Please, with all due respect, stop the circle jerk of Rinse and Repeat.....

 

[Tyson]

Come on man, they said over and over, he was picked #1 because of his intangibles, that he would morph into a good NHL player..............yes we all know, he should not have even played in the big show last year, but he did................

So we now have a base, and he is in year two of a 3-4 year development plan......

Please, with all due respect, stop the circle jerk of Rinse and Repeat.....

Lets just sit back and watch the kid develop and do well. I am done dissecting this teenager. Hopefully MSL and his staff bring him along properly.

 

[WeeBey]

I don’t think it was less of a minority then Slafkovsky, regardless of Bob Mackenzies list. Lots of people had Slaf as their last option of the realistic picks available.

For sure. I'm just talking about how the narrative has changed among hockey fans (Habs or otherwise).

 

[ReHabs]

Management will always lie for PR. Have you ever notice how MSL basically never say anything negative about any of his player? And if he does he's thinking 30 minutes before answering, like when he said Dach needed to shoot more. Not sure how this has to do with accountability though.

There isn't any other way for FANS to hold the team accountable than to hold, via the media, their statements and results up to their face. If you have a better idea, I'm all ears.

So you agree your point that a fan or commentator has a better hit rate than a professional scout isn't really a groundbreaking observation?

Yes, sure. We're talking hockey online nothing we say is groundbreaking. If that's the standard of conversation you expect, you're in for a headache.

Please, with all due respect, stop the circle jerk of Rinse and Repeat.....

We'll get nowhere if there are fans who'd rather attack other fans for guessing the pick wrong instead of criticising the GM who chose the wrong damn pick.

 

[Goldthorpe]

There isn't any other way for FANS to hold the team accountable than to hold, via the media, their statements and results up to their face. If you have a better idea, I'm all ears.

The habs management isn't accountable for fans, it's accountable for the ownership. Why would there be a "way" for fans to hold the team accountable?

Yes, sure. We're talking hockey online nothing we say is groundbreaking. If that's the standard of conversation you expect, you're in for a headache.

"Isn't a groundbreaking observation" is an euphemism here. It's not an observation that makes any sense.

Every year during March Madness, basketball fans will try to predict which teams will win which brackets. It's a big deal in the US. Often, some random fan will predict the final result, beating all the professional sport analyst in the process. This random fan isn't some genius, it's just luck.

 

[vlady]

We'll get nowhere if there are fans who'd rather attack other fans for guessing the pick wrong instead of criticising the GM who chose the wrong damn pick.

I see you already know that Slaf was the "wrong pick". Alas, not everyone has the ability to see the future. Do you have any other news from the future? Are you a betting man? Do you try to cash in on all that knowledge of the future?

 

[Habs Halifax]

We'll get nowhere if there are fans who'd rather attack other fans for guessing the pick wrong instead of criticising the GM who chose the wrong damn pick.

The problem is the criticizing is too early. There is no way to know today so none of us should be acting like an authority or with facts. I'm not saying you are but you are talking about attacking the GM with your narrative above.

Everyone needs to chill and listen to what Bob M said... all of Slaf, Nemec, Cooley, Wright, Jiricek projected to be 2nd tier talent with the chance one or a few of them are top of the line-up assets. Anybody saying the others are the better pick before most of them have played 1 NHL game is premature and ignorance. It's just opinions from fans.

Imagine if this was Slaf's 1st season like Cooley and others? Did the Sabres make the wrong pick with Power vs Beniers, McTavish, Hughes? That was the 2021 draft and it's still early with that one too.

You might be right when we look back or you could be wrong. We know your stance on it already.

 

[Egresch]

Yes of course — like last season when Hughes and MSL were insistent that Slafkovsky had a good season. A clear lie… or a clear indication the Habs refuse to be held accountable for their decisions.

Bobrov must be a spectacularly unlucky man.

This is Montreal market, people and media hold management and coaches accountable for every single decision. Pressure is very high, not sure what else do you expect. Do you want to fire HuGo and Bobrov/Lapointe because they 'should have drafted' Cooley/Nemec instead of Slaf? Same people who drafted Hutson, Engstrom or Beck?
Or we should fire MSL because he kept Slaf in NHL?

I am not huge Bobrov fan, but he was or is not the only responsible person. Drafting in first round is usually consensus of whole team. It is him, Lapointe, Gorton, Hughes and team of scouts, plus development after draft is even more important.