Juraj Slafkovsky - Year Two

[Pompeius Magnus]

I have to say, all the weird off season training seems to have made a legit difference on his explosiveness and overall cardio/motor. He's still a 220+ pounds guy so his gas tank won't be the same as a RHP or a Caufield but he's moving his feet and staying in the action for his entire shift now and he's not hitting a wall in the third period like he would last season. That's a big key in unlocking his potential.

 

[Habs Halifax]

I think we have a modest season/season growth with Slaf. At this stage, I'm not expecting break out type seasons. Not that worried about it because he has the tools. I think he is the type that will take a while to reach his ceiling.

Size and Skill is there. Not sure about the hockey IQ area. I do expect him to play a full season and gain slight momentum as the season moves along. Does that mean 10-15 goals and 40 pts. Not sure. Could be more or less. It's very difficult to project.

 

[Jaynki]

Glimpse is the word I used the other night. The talent is there. He shows it in flashes. As he improves that talent will show itself more frequently. Hopefully he gets to the point where he shows it on a consistent basis.

As I said last year, he’s not who I’d have picked. But having seen his play, I understand why they picked him. The potential for a really good player is there.

The big question is whether or not he can put it all together. High ceiling, just don’t know if he’s going to reach it.

We would all be ******* if he played in Europe last year and arrived this summer and performed like that.

We are prudent because of his 1st season and KK/Galchenyuk and the fake narrative that 2022 is a weak draft and Slaf is not a true 1st.

The reality is that KK and Galchenyuk are oddities.

Statistically speaking -> 1) there is too much variance and nothing to conclude with a player D+1 playing in the NHL.

And

2)the big majority of top prospect shows massive improvement in their D+2.

So evaluating Slafkovsky through neutral lense, and not through our KK/Galchenyuk trauma, we can expect Slafkovsky to have massive growth this year and so far, although its pre-season and just an early taste, its becoming quite the bet to go against this player and his upside.

 

[Andy]

I think we have a modest season/season growth with Slaf. At this stage, I'm not expecting break out type seasons. Not that worried about it because he has the tools. I think he is the type that will take a while to reach his ceiling.

Size and Skill is there. Not sure about the hockey IQ area. I do expect him to play a full season and gain slight momentum as the season moves along. Does that mean 10-15 goals and 40 pts. Not sure. Could be more or less. It's very difficult to project.

10-15 goals and 30-35 points is good growth

 

[Habs Halifax]

10-15 goals and 30-35 points is good growth

Agreed. I think MSL is going to work on the areas other than points. Where he positions himself in the offensive end and how he manages the puck in transition. If he plays the right way, the goals and assists will come.

 

[waitin425]

Have to post it again

View attachment 746919

 

[BaseballCoach]

Disingenuous drivel.

It's satire and meant to be drivel of sorts.

 

[tooji]

I think Dach Slaf and Newhook could be a good line. 2 shooting options in Slaf and Newhook. 2 center options with Newhook and Dach. Dach is the play driver and him and slaf can make space for newhook to break free. All three have wheels

 

[morhilane]

This kid is eager to show people wrong.

Doesn’t look like the external pressure gets to him. Getting better at his own pace.

I think he is mostly eager to show himself wrong going by what he's been saying.

His confidence grew the last two games. He still "feeling" things out too, he might have some setback since he's not yet into his "man strength", but if he can keep it up despite the setbacks, he's going to look good most nights.

 

[Jaynki]

Im telling you, people are stuck with their biased narrative.

"I wanted Wright"
"Hes more of a 5-10OV pick"
"No hockey IQ"
"Weak 1st season, we ruined him."
" No elite tools" (like those tools were not f***ing obvious)

A f***ing superstar is emerging in front of our eyes. He is a true 1st overall talent and i am all in for it.

 

[ReHabs]

ROTFLMFAO.

If the semi-NHL Senators last night were rubbish, how is sending Slaf to play against the full and true Belleville Senators preferable?

The perspective and that argument has been explained many times.

 

[Guy Larose]

Slaf must’ve had a good game last night. Beforehand the poll was pretty close, now it’s solidly in favour of him being in the NHL.

It's always the same little group of guys that bash him. You can find the same group bashing the team in the tank thread. Not sure why that thread even exists this year, as it's not a tank year per say. That thread is an embarrassment and not sure why it's even allowed.

 

[waitin425]

It's always the same little group of guys that bash him. You can find the same group bashing the team in the tank thread. Not sure why that thread even exists this year, as it's not a tank year per say. That thread is an embarrassment and not sure why it's even allowed.

Yeah, its the obsessive ones that bash him. Spend countless hours on this thread trying to hammer home their point. They all voted first and made it look like it was close. The majority of us have faith in the management and in Slaf's abilities.

 

[Tyson]

Im telling you, people are stuck with their biased narrative.

"I wanted Wright"
"Hes more of a 5-10OV pick"
"No hockey IQ"
"Weak 1st season, we ruined him."
" No elite tools" (like those tools were not f***ing obvious)

A f***ing superstar is emerging in front of our eyes. He is a true 1st overall talent and i am all in for it.

I have said many times to wait until he turns 21 and fully matured physically and more able mentally. The kid is a freak of nature. My only issue has been that he has been rushed in the most insane fishbowl.

 

[417]

The perspective and that argument has been explained many times.

I'd be curious to read it....because it is very ironic.

 

[ReHabs]

Slaf must’ve had a good game last night. Beforehand the poll was pretty close, now it’s solidly in favour of him being in the NHL.

Well, that’s what preseason is meant to determine. If he earns his spot, that’ll be terrific. He didn’t earn a spot last year, hence the strife and uncertainty and distrust in management and the player.

Jaynki said it correctly: if he had come off a good season in Europe and played well in this year’s preseason the context would be entirely different.

 

[Mrb1p]

This thread is completely unhinged. All the finger pointing and posturing is ridiculous.

He played a good game, had moments where he was really dangerous. I hope he keeps this up as competition gets better and better towards the end of pre-season. Its good to see him get many puck touches and gain confidence though.

 

[Deebs]

I have said many times to wait until he turns 21 and fully matured physically and more able mentally. The kid is a freak of nature. My only issue has been that he has been rushed in the most insane fishbowl.

This is what most of us are saying the issue is Jaynki keeps blowing it out of context saying we all want him to fail, we think he sucks, this and that. We all want him to succeed and want what's best for him and the team.

 

[Paddyjack]

I was skeptical during the scrimmages, but the last two games I'm starting to see it. I think people were right saying that playing with Newhook and Anderson was not a good fit for his style and it put him in a bad light.

 

[Jaynki]

I have said many times to wait until he turns 21 and fully matured physically and more able mentally. The kid is a freak of nature. My only issue has been that he has been rushed in the most insane fishbowl.

Statiscally speaking, waiting till 21 is too long for a prospect of his caliber. Its happening now.

Also, he has been rushed in an insane fishbowl. He had invaluable, irreplaceable experience. And he also looks like someone who has NHL experience.

Dont be surprised by his surge. Nothing is new for him now. There is major upside to develop a prospect in the NHL.

 

[Tyson]

Statiscally speaking, waiting till 21 is too long for a prospect of his caliber. Its happening now.

Also, he has been rushed in an insane fishbowl. He had invaluable, irreplaceable experience. And he also looks like someone who has NHL experience.

Dont be surprised by his surge. Nothing is new for him now. There is major upside to develop a prospect in the NHL.

He will be a force earlier than 21 but once he matures he will be dominant and become a top 10 player in this league. I wouldn't bet against him.

 

[Jaynki]

This thread is completely unhinged. All the finger pointing and posturing is ridiculous.

He played a good game, had moments where he was really dangerous. I hope he keeps this up as competition gets better and better towards the end of pre-season. Its good to see him get many puck touches and gain confidence though.

Its for the best of all of us. Also, let us have a 24H of glory.

Everyone here have a plethora of bad takes in his history.

He will be a force earlier than 21 but once he matures he will be dominant and become a top 10 player in this league. I wouldn't bet against him.

He will be a monster no doubt. Top 10 in the league might be a stretch but yeah, i would not bet against his skillset also. There is just too much here.

 

[Tyson]

Its for the best of all of us. Also, let us have a 24H of glory.

Everyone here have a plethora of bad takes in his history.


He will be a monster no doubt. Top 10 in the league might be a stretch but yeah, i would not bet against his skillset also. There is just too much here.

A kid that big, that skilled...I don't think top 10 is a stretch.

 

[417]

Well, that’s what preseason is meant to determine. If he earns his spot, that’ll be terrific. He didn’t earn a spot last year, hence the strife and uncertainty and distrust in management and the player.

Jaynki said it correctly: if he had come off a good season in Europe and played well in this year’s preseason the context would be entirely different.

The context wouldn't be different...just our perception of it would be.

The "feels" would be better, that's all.

 

[DAChampion]

Statiscally speaking, waiting till 21 is too long for a prospect of his caliber. Its happening now.

Also, he has been rushed in an insane fishbowl. He had invaluable, irreplaceable experience. And he also looks like someone who has NHL experience.

Dont be surprised by his surge. Nothing is new for him now. There is major upside to develop a prospect in the NHL.

The fishbowl aspect is in and of itself a good reason for the Habs to not rush prospects. Montreal is a unique market so players in general might need more time to mature to play here.