Juraj Slafkovsky - Year Two

[admiralcadillac]

Heard it here first folks, Slaf is a bust and Caufield is a measly fourth line winger, because basically every nhl player pots .5 gpg on average over their careers.

 

[Miller Time]

Don't feed the trolls!!

 

[BehindTheTimes]

So who had Nemec, Jiricek or Wright ? You will see them against Laval this year. They are not being rushed.

So what is your point?

 

[BehindTheTimes]

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

I thought it was a good game, but the gloating is over the top. I thought he was the worse player on his line, but still effective. Monster is not what I saw. However, it was still a very good game from him, just not a game that erases everything we’ve already seen of him.

I hope it continues. Dach, Newhook and Slaf had momemntum snd were buzzing all night.

 

[Scriptor]

I don’t doubt his 1st line upside but I don’t think he’s there yet. Just because you score 40 goals doesn’t mean you are a lock for the 1st line. Lots of 40 goal guys aren’t first line wingers. You need bigger stronger playmaking and board play to be considered first line in my books. I question slafs ability to put up 80 plus point consistently while playing well defensively. That’s a first line wing.

Just how many 40-goal wingers do you think there are with your assertion that LOTS of 40-goal wingers aren't first line players!?

There were a total of Eleven 40-goal wingers and nineteen 40-goals scorers overall in 2022-2023.

The list of 40-goal wingers is:

Patrnak (1st line winger)
Rantanen (1st line winger)
Robertson (1st line winger)
Ovechkin (1st line winger)
Kempe (1st line winger)
Verhaeghe (1st linewinger)
Kaprisov (1st line winger)
Nylander (2nd line winger)
Meier (2nd line winger)
M. Tkachuk (1st line winger)
McCann (1st line winger)

Two 2nd line wingers, only, from the ten 40-goal wingers. More importantly, only two 40-goal wingers that weren't first line players in the whole NHL!

Lots of 40 goal guys aren’t first line wingers.

Really? In your beer league?

I'd have thought you might be more right about 30-goal scoring wingers, but with Kuzmenko (1stline winger), Keller (1st line winger), Guentzel (1st line winger), Tuch (1st line winger), Hyman (2nd line winger), Kreider (1st line winger), Skinner (1st line winger), B.Tkachuk (1st line winger), Giroux (1st line winger), Toffoli (1st line winger), J.Benn (3rd line winger), Bratt (1st line winger) and Connor (1st line winger),Koneckny (3rd line winger), Boldy (2nd line winger), Reinhart (3rd line winger), Marner (1st line winger), Hagel (2nd line winger), Kucherov (1st line winger), you're also out to lunch there, just a little less, with 6 out of 19 not on the first line.

Only Eight 30+ goalscoring wingers are not 1st line players in the whole NHL!

Don't know what to say, but maybe you should consider things before making assertions?

Check your facts, buddy!

 

[ReHabs]

Perhaps you better understand at least my perspective. It's not about gotchas.

I get your perspective clearly. You construct it well and are consistent. I disagree with your conceptual approach to player development but that is perfectly fine.

There are many commentators who openly operate on the notion of Gotchas and personal attacks. In theory, who cares — if I ever cared what sports commentators thought about my own sports comments I’d immediately jump off the Jacques Cartier Bridge.

In effect, it contributes to a nasty commentary environment — these individuals are no different than those screaming Subbanista at anyone critical of Bergevin. They’re likely one and the same.

I am a hater, I admit it. If you define hater as someone who doesn’t trust or feel optimistic about the Habs, I am 100% a hater. Many of us exist. In my eyes, the Habs have done nothing to earn trust or the benefit of the doubt — and I am not alone, there will always be haters and doubters. Other fans should get used to it.

With Slafkovsky I will not be an optimist. The Galchenyuk, Kotkaniemi, and Drouin experiences ensured that it would feel foolish to once again revert to simple-minded optimism when it comes to “Projects”. Projects can fail… and with the Habs in my lifetime they have always failed.

If Slafkovsky continues to show better things we should celebrate it, not sneer at those who didn’t think it would happen. I hope he succeeds, and I won’t celebrate if he fails. Just as nobody celebrated the failures of Galchenyuk, Kotkaniemi, and Drouin. It sucks to experience.

 

[Barriwhite]

(mod) You've been a Slaf hater since day one. You are probably sweating after witnessing how Juraj could dominate a game like he did yesterday. The kid is barely 19 and we can clearly see the superstar potential after yesterday's game. It doesn't matter if it's only one game or not. The importance is that he showed us that he CAN be this good. Consistency will come as he mature physically and as a hockey player and that comes with time and patience.

For all the scrubs out there hating non stop on Slaf, he will prove you all wrong shortly. For everyone else who liked that pick from the start, ladies and gentlemen... I think we have a superstar in the making right before our eyes.

Mods, quick, strip the ability to use that emoji from her.


(welcome back)

 

[vlady]

I get your perspective clearly. You construct it well and are consistent. I disagree with your conceptual approach to player development but that is perfectly fine.

There are many commentators who openly operate on the notion of Gotchas and personal attacks. In theory, who cares — if I ever cared what sports commentators thought about my own sports comments I’d immediately jump off the Jacques Cartier Bridge.

In effect, it contributes to a nasty commentary environment — these individuals are no different than those screaming Subbanista at anyone critical of Bergevin. They’re likely one and the same.

I am a hater, I admit it. If you define hater as someone who doesn’t trust or feel optimistic about the Habs, I am 100% a hater. Many of us exist. In my eyes, the Habs have done nothing to earn trust or the benefit of the doubt — and I am not alone, there will always be haters and doubters. Other fans should get used to it.

With Slafkovsky I will not be an optimist. The Galchenyuk, Kotkaniemi, and Drouin experiences ensured that it would feel foolish to once again revert to simple-minded optimism when it comes to “Projects”. Projects can fail… and with the Habs in my lifetime they have always failed.

If Slafkovsky continues to show better things we should celebrate it, not sneer at those who didn’t think it would happen. I hope he succeeds, and I won’t celebrate if he fails. Just as nobody celebrated the failures of Galchenyuk, Kotkaniemi, and Drouin. It sucks to experience.

It's one thing to be pessimistic or skeptical.

It's another to bash one player relentlessly for a year and half, repeating the same points over and over again like a broken record and presenting some of your opinions as facts, when they are in fact, only opinions. Even going so far as already writing him off as the wrong pick and something the management should be held accountable for. After half a friggin season.

What you reap is what you sow

 

[ReHabs]

It's one thing to be pessimistic or skeptical.

It's another to bash one player relentlessly for a year and half, repeating the same points over and over again like a broken record and presenting some of your opinions as facts, when they are in fact, only opinions. Even going so far as already writing him off as the wrong pick and something the management should be held accountable for. After half a friggin season.

What you reap is what you sow

Posting stats is factual. Denying stats is an opinion. 10pts in 39gp is factual, claiming that it is irrelevant because it was a rookie season is an opinion. Predictably, you have it all backwards.

Arguments get repetitive when multiple parties repeat the same points and refuse to concede on facts such as the one above. There is nothing wrong with using subjective judgements to support a sports opinion — but at least don’t have it backwards here.

As for reap/sow, it goes both ways.

We saw it most recently when the same individuals in the media and fansbase were gloating about Michkov’s issues and then tucked their tails underneath them when Michkov roared alive. Except what’s worse is they were rooting for a young player’s failure while us skeptics want Slafkovsky’s success despite his perceived weaknesses.

 

[BaseballCoach]

I get your perspective clearly. You construct it well and are consistent. I disagree with your conceptual approach to player development but that is perfectly fine.

My approach to player development is based on strong theory that is multi-sport. It is part of the training for national level coaches like me.

Furthermore, I spent 20 years developing high level tween-age and teenage athletes in baseball in particular, though I have coached university Volleyball and Minor hockey too.

Some of the people my organization trained are or were in MLB. Several in AAA as well. And about a dozen more were drafted. About 100 made it to Major Junior.

My high level training and experience are the reasons why I am able to construct a consistent perspective and communicate it.

When someone is a rank amateur in any subject, he may hold an opinion that is completely wrong-headed, for example "always play at the level that you can ridiculously dominate - it breeds confidence". When he starts to acquire knowledge, it is often assimilated first at the principles level, for example "always play at the highest level you can attain - it develops skill".

But as you gain experience and see more and more, you kind of circle back a bit. Some of the nutty, wrong-headed ideas do contain kernels of truth. Some of the ideas based on strong data contain exceptions. Not all players benefit from a cookie-cutter approach, not even if that approach is the one designed to work the largest number of times.

All this to say that I have the background to thoroughly understand the ins and outs on this subject, much more so than if we were discussing a specific technique like HOW to skate faster, where I am a rank amateur.

There are many commentators who openly operate on the notion of Gotchas and personal attacks. In theory, who cares — if I ever cared what sports commentators thought about my own sports comments I’d immediately jump off the Jacques Cartier Bridge.

I don't usually do that, though occasionally if someone makes a condescending or arrogant statement that is factually wrong, I will point it out, without name calling.

With Slafkovsky I will not be an optimist. The Galchenyuk, Kotkaniemi, and Drouin experiences ensured that it would feel foolish to once again revert to simple-minded optimism when it comes to “Projects”. Projects can fail… and with the Habs in my lifetime they have always failed.

Each of the three failures you note are different.

The comparables for Drouin would be Dach or Newhook, guys acquired at the end of their ELC who appeared to have untapped upside. Ofr course, if you are talking about Sergachev, then yes he was in the relevant age group when we moved him and his development path might be relevant.

Galchenyuk's development was frustrating to fans who wanted him to play C, but he still got some initial success and grew steadily unitil he reached ppg level at age 22, over 45 consecutive games, at the C position. His career only started going downhill at the end of his D+5 after a major injury.

Kotkaniemi's development was marred by firstly being selected too high, secondly terrible developmental coaching, thirdly, weakish balance and strength at 18-19 and last but not least a lower drive to push himself than some other youngsters with a similar talent level but who have done better than him. Still I believe that had Hughes and MSL arrived before KK left, we would have got more out of him, and it is clear that in Carolina he is not a total bust, he is a middle six player.

Drouin is a whole other thing. Total mis-evaluation of the pro player, and total mismanagement of the cap in his case. Not going into it further other than to say his case has ZERO relevance to Slafkovsky's.

All this being said, like I stated earlier, each player is different. I don't subscribe to the idea that a new management team with a new player should be viewed through the lens of previous draftees managed by stubborn, arrogant Neanderthals.

If Slafkovsky continues to show better things we should celebrate it, not sneer at those who didn’t think it would happen. I hope he succeeds, and I won’t celebrate if he fails. Just as nobody celebrated the failures of Galchenyuk, Kotkaniemi, and Drouin. It sucks to experience.

Of course.

 

[Jaynki]

So what is your point?

Many people have been vocal about how they had them and Cooley above Slaf, many going as far as saying they had Slaf at 5.

Its ok.

I am simply exposing how it already looks like a bad take.

Btw, they are in the AHL because they could not crack an NHL line up. Not because they are being developed down there.

While Slaf is rapidly emerging as a top six player.

Posting stats is factual. Denying stats is an opinion. 10pts in 39gp is factual, claiming that it is irrelevant because it was a rookie season is an opinion.

That we cannot draw any conclusion from an 18YO playing in the NHL is not an opinion. Its a fact demonstrated by many evidences.

 

[HomaridII]

Just how many 40-goal wingers do you think there are with your assertion that LOTS of 40-goal wingers aren't first line players!?

There were a total of Eleven 40-goal wingers and nineteen 40-goals scorers overall in 2022-2023.

The list of 40-goal wingers is:

Patrnak (1st line winger)
Rantanen (1st line winger)
Robertson (1st line winger)
Ovechkin (1st line winger)
Kempe (1st line winger)
Verhaeghe (1st linewinger)
Kaprisov (1st line winger)
Nylander (2nd line winger)
Meier (2nd line winger)
M. Tkachuk (1st line winger)
McCann (1st line winger)

Two 2nd line wingers, only, from the ten 40-goal wingers. More importantly, only two 40-goal wingers that weren't first line players in the whole NHL!

Lots of 40 goal guys aren’t first line wingers.

Really? In your beer league?

I'd have thought you might be more right about 30-goal scoring wingers, but with Kuzmenko (1stline winger), Keller (1st line winger), Guentzel (1st line winger), Tuch (1st line winger), Hyman (2nd line winger), Kreider (1st line winger), Skinner (1st line winger), B.Tkachuk (1st line winger), Giroux (1st line winger), Toffoli (1st line winger), J.Benn (3rd line winger), Bratt (1st line winger) and Connor (1st line winger),Koneckny (3rd line winger), Boldy (2nd line winger), Reinhart (3rd line winger), Marner (1st line winger), Hagel (2nd line winger), Kucherov (1st line winger), you're also out to lunch there, just a little less, with 6 out of 19 not on the first line.

Great analysis. I did the same for Centers last year. Everyone thinks every team has a 80pt two way center when in reality this is not real life in the NHL.

 

[vlady]

Posting stats is factual. Denying stats is an opinion. 10pts in 39gp is factual, claiming that it is irrelevant because it was a rookie season is an opinion. Predictably, you have it all backwards.

Arguments get repetitive when multiple parties repeat the same points and refuse to concede on facts such as the one above. There is nothing wrong with using subjective judgements to support a sports opinion — but at least don’t have it backwards here.

As for reap/sow, it goes both ways.

We saw it most recently when the same individuals in the media and fansbase were gloating about Michkov’s issues and then tucked their tails underneath them when Michkov roared alive. Except what’s worse is they were rooting for a young player’s failure while us skeptics want Slafkovsky’s success despite his perceived weaknesses.

I wasn't talking about you posting stats. I have no problem with that part.

 

[BLONG7]

Don't feed the trolls!!

I always wonder why our mods are so patient??

Anyhow, this kid is a work in progress but for those of us who actually watched the game vs the Leafs he had a very good game!!

 

[BLONG7]

I get your perspective clearly. You construct it well and are consistent. I disagree with your conceptual approach to player development but that is perfectly fine.

There are many commentators who openly operate on the notion of Gotchas and personal attacks. In theory, who cares — if I ever cared what sports commentators thought about my own sports comments I’d immediately jump off the Jacques Cartier Bridge.

In effect, it contributes to a nasty commentary environment — these individuals are no different than those screaming Subbanista at anyone critical of Bergevin. They’re likely one and the same.

I am a hater, I admit it. If you define hater as someone who doesn’t trust or feel optimistic about the Habs, I am 100% a hater. Many of us exist. In my eyes, the Habs have done nothing to earn trust or the benefit of the doubt — and I am not alone, there will always be haters and doubters. Other fans should get used to it.

With Slafkovsky I will not be an optimist. The Galchenyuk, Kotkaniemi, and Drouin experiences ensured that it would feel foolish to once again revert to simple-minded optimism when it comes to “Projects”. Projects can fail… and with the Habs in my lifetime they have always failed.

If Slafkovsky continues to show better things we should celebrate it, not sneer at those who didn’t think it would happen. I hope he succeeds, and I won’t celebrate if he fails. Just as nobody celebrated the failures of Galchenyuk, Kotkaniemi, and Drouin. It sucks to experience.

I think it's fair to say, that the Habs and Slafkosky are both, a work in progress.
How can you not like the process, and how we are moving forward? You liked the way Bergevin did things? Seriously?

 

[417]

Posting stats is factual. Denying stats is an opinion. 10pts in 39gp is factual, claiming that it is irrelevant because it was a rookie season is an opinion. Predictably, you have it all backwards.

Arguments get repetitive when multiple parties repeat the same points and refuse to concede on facts such as the one above. There is nothing wrong with using subjective judgements to support a sports opinion — but at least don’t have it backwards here.

As for reap/sow, it goes both ways.

We saw it most recently when the same individuals in the media and fansbase were gloating about Michkov’s issues and then tucked their tails underneath them when Michkov roared alive. Except what’s worse is they were rooting for a young player’s failure while us skeptics want Slafkovsky’s success despite his perceived weaknesses.

Posting stats is indeed factual...ignoring or spinning context around those stats, is disingenuous.

 

[ReHabs]

I think it's fair to say, that the Habs and Slafkosky are both, a work in progress.
How can you not like the process, and how we are moving forward? You liked the way Bergevin did things? Seriously?

I absolutely hated how Bergevin did things! I was posting mostly on Habs twitter during Bergevin era, and a bit on reddit (an awful place) and it was like touching a madness rune.

 

[WinterLion]

I thought it was a good game, but the gloating is over the top. I thought he was the worse player on his line, but still effective. Monster is not what I saw. However, it was still a very good game from him, just not a game that erases everything we’ve already seen of him.

I hope it continues. Dach, Newhook and Slaf had momemntum snd were buzzing all night.

I agree. It was a good game, but there is still a lot of improvement to be made. He definitely looks way better than last year in many ways. I just hope he keeps progressing. That is the key to it all!

 

[Milhouse40]

I am a hater, I admit it. If you define hater as someone who doesn’t trust or feel optimistic about the Habs, I am 100% a hater. Many of us exist. In my eyes, the Habs have done nothing to earn trust or the benefit of the doubt — and I am not alone, there will always be haters and doubters. Other fans should get used to it.

With Slafkovsky I will not be an optimist. The Galchenyuk, Kotkaniemi, and Drouin experiences ensured that it would feel foolish to once again revert to simple-minded optimism when it comes to “Projects”. Projects can fail… and with the Habs in my lifetime they have always failed.

If Slafkovsky continues to show better things we should celebrate it, not sneer at those who didn’t think it would happen. I hope he succeeds, and I won’t celebrate if he fails. Just as nobody celebrated the failures of Galchenyuk, Kotkaniemi, and Drouin. It sucks to experience.

The Habs are not an entity.
You might be more suffering from PTSD from the Bergevin era.

New management has not been here for long now, if you don't give them the benefits of the doubt because of Galchenyuk, Kotkaniemi or Drouin.......well, you might want to take a look at Dach with his 40pts in 59 games, Newhook just got a hell of start, Suzuki has 101pts in 120 games and Caufield 72pts in 84 games (49 goals)......

Hell, even guys like RHP (21pts in 36 games) and Ylonen (20pts in 45 games)are being developped pretty well considering their places in the line-up.

Slafkovsky, good camp, great start of the season and he's 3 years younger than pretty all those mentioned above.

If there's one thing this management already proved more competent than the last one, it's development.

 

[Habs Halifax]

I thought it was a good game, but the gloating is over the top. I thought he was the worse player on his line, but still effective. Monster is not what I saw. However, it was still a very good game from him, just not a game that erases everything we’ve already seen of him.

I hope it continues. Dach, Newhook and Slaf had momemntum snd were buzzing all night.

Well said and I seen it the same. Modest growth and improvement but lets not pump that up more than what it is.

Slaf is very young and he needs to be with guys like Dach and Newhook. This is how he gains confidence as he matures towards his prime. He doesn't feel he has to do everything on his own. That's what is important right now.

What I would like to see if better ability to carry the puck around guys and handle contact. He's not 100% stable in that area yet as a big player. If he figures that part out, watch out! He has a long reach and if he can cut around guys where he overpowers them, he's going to get the leverage he needs to get that shot or pass off.

Positive signs of him learning how to deal with less time and space. It was an issue last year. Not playing a full season was not a good thing.

 

[LaP]

Look I don’t expect him to be Bedard, I expect Bedard to be better than Slaf even if it’s only his 2nd NHL game because he’s generational. But I still don’t want Bedard to steal his lunch money and then stuff him in a locker. Slaf’s a #1 pick and it’s his second season, is that too much to ask?​

Bedard will steal his launch money 100%. Bedard made the Bruins defense look bad and this is one of the very good defense in the NHL in its prime with lot of experience.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

Bedard will steal his launch money 100%. Bedard made the Bruins defense look bad and this is one of the very good defense in the NHL in its prime with lot of experience.

All I saw was one shift of him taking the puck up the ice and how he handled the puck I just instantly thought ‘that’s the best player I’ve ever seen’ lol.

His puck skills look utterly absurd.

 

[Kennerback]

You're being ridiculous, I hope this is just trolling and not how you really read the game. Needless, done responding to you.

I’m not trolling but this thread isn’t life in death. Slaf is now floating on a media and fan-fuelled cloud because of his first game. I’m just bringing a bit of balance and I’m fighting a losing battle trying to do so.

 

[JeffreyLFC]

I think people need to chill out with young prospect.

The Habs were not the only team high on Slafkovsky. He was the highest rated player on Bob McKenzie list and he would have been most likely selected 2nd overall if the habs selected another player. He has talent and size, something that is very hard to acquire if not drafted. It is important that he develop into a top 6 forward for us and that we can see progress in his game.

 

[admiralcadillac]

I get your perspective clearly. You construct it well and are consistent. I disagree with your conceptual approach to player development but that is perfectly fine.

There are many commentators who openly operate on the notion of Gotchas and personal attacks. In theory, who cares — if I ever cared what sports commentators thought about my own sports comments I’d immediately jump off the Jacques Cartier Bridge.

In effect, it contributes to a nasty commentary environment — these individuals are no different than those screaming Subbanista at anyone critical of Bergevin. They’re likely one and the same.

I am a hater, I admit it. If you define hater as someone who doesn’t trust or feel optimistic about the Habs, I am 100% a hater. Many of us exist. In my eyes, the Habs have done nothing to earn trust or the benefit of the doubt — and I am not alone, there will always be haters and doubters. Other fans should get used to it.

With Slafkovsky I will not be an optimist. The Galchenyuk, Kotkaniemi, and Drouin experiences ensured that it would feel foolish to once again revert to simple-minded optimism when it comes to “Projects”. Projects can fail… and with the Habs in my lifetime they have always failed.

If Slafkovsky continues to show better things we should celebrate it, not sneer at those who didn’t think it would happen. I hope he succeeds, and I won’t celebrate if he fails. Just as nobody celebrated the failures of Galchenyuk, Kotkaniemi, and Drouin. It sucks to experience.

Imagine saying the habs have done nothing to earn trust in the context of year two of a rebuild. No shit.

What you seem to not understand is that you’ve spent 100+ posts criticizng Slafkovsky when the greater point is he hasn’t played enough NHL games for anyone to form a serious opinion on his future. It seems more like an elaborate game or form of trolling for you to pretend like you have a leg to stand on.

Bravo buddy