Juraj Slafkovsky - Year Two

[NewEraGM]

Very encouraging game tonight. You’re starting to see the package! Just needs to keep it up!

 

[Lshap]

We have fans who like to worry a lot in our heard I guess. Can't really blame them from the development failures in the past. I personally don't live in the past though

I'm definitely one of those fans. A decade of messed up picks has given me a serious case of PTSD (Post Timmins Scouting Distrust). Learning to trust again will take time... and at least 35 more points from Slafkovsky.

 

[Habs Halifax]

I'm definitely one of those fans. A decade of messed up picks has given me a serious case of PTSD (Post Timmins Scouting Distrust). Learning to trust again will take time... and at least 35 more points from Slafkovsky.

It's fair for sure, but I don't see you complaining about it like some others are.

 

[Gustave]

Excellent game yesterday. Involved and quicker decisions. Less hesitation, which is normal as he gets experience. Very happy for him, must feel good to be part of it instead of just hanging on.

 

[Seb]

He was damn great last night!! I want to see more of this!

His backhand passes are legit.

 

[Andy]

My favorite part of last night is when Domi just abandoned the puck because he saw Slafkovsky coming at him at full speed. That directly led to the second Newhook goal.

He will be a menace when he gets stronger. 6'4, 230 pounds at 19.

 

[Whitesnake]

A great game. Best game since he's here by a mile.

 

[Benstheman]

My favorite part of last night is when Domi just abandoned the puck because he saw Slafkovsky coming at him at full speed. That directly led to the second Newhook goal.

He will be menace when he gets stronger. 6'4, 230 pounds at 19.

Him and Dach make for a really menacing duo. I knew Slaf would look much more comfortable beside Dach. The latter is becoming a man right now and can take Slaf under his wing to do the same in the next 2 years. Really interesting stuff.

 

[morhilane]

You can tell he put the work in during the offseason and it shows on the ice.

He still won't be 20 years old until the end of March.

He still has so much room to grow, but last night was a nice start.

He's currently the 8th youngest player in the league (or so said the commentator during last night game). That number will go down as some of the kids will only get 9 games and get returned to their junior team too or the AHL.

 

[ReHabs]

You sound mad as hell that Slaf had a good game.

Yeah I'm livid my team's 1OA pick had a good game. Genius.

The calls for moderation after one good game would sound way more genuine had we not went through months and months of constant whining about him and his development.

The calls for celebration after one good game would sound way more genuine had we not went through months and months of constant hype about him and his development.

Rehabs around the 2022 draft: pages upon pages of posts about how Slaf is/was/will be a bad pick without ever having seen him play a game.

Also Rehabs: wHy ArE yOu GuYs OvErReAcTiNg AfTeR jUsT oNe gAmE.

You're entitled to react as you wish. The 2022 draft is ages ago, you seem to skip over his 2022-2023 season (I can certainly understand why you'd want to convince everyone that it never happened). Don't you find it strange how the same voices that minimized the 39 games are now maximizing game no. 40? I guess not!

If you haven't spent your entire summer trashing a kid with 39 games in the NHL, maybe the sneering wouldn't be that bad.

But as you said , it's just one game.......but it's his first one as a top 6 players, playing with top 6 skills next to him. You could've have wait a little before turning him into a bust......

I don't want him to be a bust. I want the Habs to develop him appropriately. If he's actually capable of sticking in the NHL after what we last saw from him... then that's tremendous and a welcome surprise! Let's revisit it in intervals -- or at least see what the next few games have in store. What's the point of prematurely celebrating?

It's fine to take your shots at me if you're convinced I want him to fail. I hope you will serve me a heaping dish of crow when the time comes. Career GP 40 is not that time, imo.

The assist on the goal was crispy.

 

[Jamaican Patty]

By reading your posts you sound mad as hell. Fix your tone, genius @ReHabs

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

The improved cardio and footwork makes all the difference. He's staying involved in the plays for his entire shift now and being so much more of a factor.

 

[Justin11]

I thought Slaf played a very good game last night. He has been trending upwards since the pre-season, and If he continues to improve during the course of the season, of course with the expected bumps on the road, kid will probably be ready to take a more prominent role with the team next season.

 

[Saundies]

He's finding his legs. Camp can be hard to hop in and just be ready to go. You have under-the-radar guys that have worked out all summer trying to make teams and impress. That's why vets and bigger guys tend to struggle.

His pass on Newhook's goal was *chef's kiss*. It's one of those plays that, when it's happening on TV, you yell for him to do it because you can easily see it developing from your couch but don't really expect it to happen in real-time.

 

[Mrb1p]

Its not just one game.

We saw it all through preseason.

We saw glimpse of that last year.

We saw that at the WC and OG.

Lets not start lying. None of the games he played this preseason were as good.

 

[Ozmodiar]

Solid game.

Has the patience to make the right play. Doesn’t rush it and throw puck away. He’s using his stick and length more effectively to get to loose pucks.

Has to improve on seeing the hit coming.

 

[Jaynki]

Lets not start lying. None of the games he played this preseason were as good.

Against Ottawa yes. Agree for the others.

He still had a solid preseason all around.

 

[MonkeyBusiness]

He was damn great last night!! I want to see more of this!

His backhand passes are legit.

He also made a great saucer pass to Harris (I think) and the latter wasn't able to one-time it. His vision certainly isn't as dismal as some people here make it out to be.

 

[Jack Skellington]

The more confident he gets the more we will see him take over games like he was doing at times at the WC. Even last night he actually has more time and space sometimes than he thinks he does. He underrates his own speed and puck carrying ability. Sometimes he has some run way and will defer to a linemates who's maybe in a worse spot than he is. He's still so young and raw, alot of guys that end up being major superstars are still not even playing in the NHL at his age. All in all very good signs were seeing. He has the ability to be a very good defending winger as well, imagine having our own version of Hossa.

 

[Jaynki]

But his IQ

 

[KevSkillz4]

The more confident he gets the more we will see him take over games like he was doing at times at the WC. Even last night he actually has more time and space sometimes than he thinks he does. He underrates his own speed and puck carrying ability. Sometimes he has some run way and will defer to a linemates who's maybe in a worse spot than he is. He's still so young and raw, alot of guys that end up being major superstars are still not even playing in the NHL at his age. All in all very good signs were seeing. He has the ability to be a very good defending winger as well, imagine having our own version of Hossa.

Yes, he reminds me of Marian Hossa with his offensive and defensive ability. Already a good two-way player. Hybrid of Nash//Hossa will be the best thing for Habs future. I think he have the talent to being that type of guy. I said that with Caufield // DeBrincat, right now, Caufield looks a better version of DeBrincat. If Slaf reach that type of level, Habs are in a good buisiness!!

 

[badfish]

The whole shift that led to Newhooks 2nd goal was great. If that's a taste of whats to come more consistently, that's a good player by my estimate.

 

[Guy Larose]

Yeah I'm livid my team's 1OA pick had a good game. Genius.


The calls for celebration after one good game would sound way more genuine had we not went through months and months of constant hype about him and his development.


You're entitled to react as you wish. The 2022 draft is ages ago, you seem to skip over his 2022-2023 season (I can certainly understand why you'd want to convince everyone that it never happened). Don't you find it strange how the same voices that minimized the 39 games are now maximizing game no. 40? I guess not!


I don't want him to be a bust. I want the Habs to develop him appropriately. If he's actually capable of sticking in the NHL after what we last saw from him... then that's tremendous and a welcome surprise! Let's revisit it in intervals -- or at least see what the next few games have in store. What's the point of prematurely celebrating?

It's fine to take your shots at me if you're convinced I want him to fail. I hope you will serve me a heaping dish of crow when the time comes. Career GP 40 is not that time, imo.

The assist on the goal was crispy.

You're really in no position to call anyone "genius" lmao. You even quoting last season is a joke. 18 years old, only 39 games, adjusting to NA, adjusting to being a Montreal Canadien which comes with a lot of pressure, and I can go on. You're a hater and have been since I've been on this board, period.

 

[Kennerback]

I would take a year's worth of posts about him being rushed over one more post about him having 50 point upside.

50 points? Let’s not put the cart before the bull. Other big forwards with some skills like Benoit Pouliot (for the old timers) never reached 40 points. Josh Anderson hit 40 points only once in his career. 50 points means he’s the 3rd wheel on the top line, or at the very least a career top-6 no questions asked.

 

[kyne]

Still thinking of that sequence of play that led to the rush up ice on Newhook's goal. He really fits in well on that line. If he can keep up with Newhook and Dach, he's an Anderson with a good hockey IQ. They don't grow on trees.

I may yet forgive Hughes for not taking Nemec.