Juraj Slafkovsky - Year Two

[SlafySZN]

Slaf probably has the weakest drive to get to the slot and score for a top-6 In the NHL. Tell me who has less. I know none in the 200 or so. He’s completely aloof and nonchalant when he has the puck. For an outsider, it seems easy to just switch it on. Just skate the puck to the slot, one leg in front of the other. But it might be some psychological blockage he’s had since he was a kid.

However, digging the puck and skating with it, he does assertively. He also doesn’t mind contact. He works hard. He has a long reach. It tells me he might be a good defensive forward and a good penalty killer one day.

He knows how to do it, just not doing it in the NHL yet most of the time.

 

[Kennerback]

He knows how to do it, just not doing it in the NHL yet most of the time.

On an Offensive Appetite scale of 1 to 10 , Cory Perry and Bedard are 10s and Kotkaniemi is a 3. Slaf is a 0. He’s luckewarm and detached to finish plays. It’s especially glaring when he plays with Gallagher who I’m not a fan of at all but is also a 10.

Jagr also had that hunger in droves. Slaf’s brain doesn’t seem to be wired to push the play offensively. It’s not that he’s soft. He doesn’t flee physical contact. But he cancels out whatever physical advantage he has when he carries the puck because of this lack.

I really really hope he succeeds. I was hoping this could improved, but I don’t know anymore. It’s a mindset not a skill. I don’t know that Laval or Montreal makes a difference.

 

[Jaynki]

On an Offensive Appetite scale of 1 to 10 , Cory Perry and Bedard are 10s and Kotkaniemi is a 3. Slaf is a 0. He’s luckewarm and detached to finish plays. It’s especially glaring when he plays with Gallagher who I’m not a fan of at all but is also a 10.

Jagr also had that hunger in droves. Slaf’s brain doesn’t seem to be wired to push the play offensively. It’s not that he’s soft. He doesn’t flee physical contact. But he cancels out whatever physical advantage he has when he carries the puck because of this lack.

I really really hope he succeeds. I was hoping this could improved, but I don’t know anymore. It’s a mindset not a skill. I don’t know that Laval or Montreal makes a difference.

Bobrov said the exact opposite. His appetite to be a game changer, to take the bull by the horns, be the decivisive factor on the biggest stage was one of the reason they choosed him. Remember his used car dealer speech?

I do agree to a point and see your point tho but i would frame it another way.

Slafkovsky is good when he plays "active", so creating turnover, skating with the puck, agressively forechecking.

I also think sometimes he plays "passive. So waiting for the play to develop, tendency for a too generous pass, non chalant on contact, etc. He is sometimes frustrating.

I agree with you that its more a matter of mindset. Hopefully the mind switch with experience and confidence.

 

[admiralcadillac]

Well anyways, does anyone see something special when Slaf has the puck? He really does have a set of hands that seems quite interesting in terms of how he protects the puck, a bit like Hossa. I don’t think every player looks like him with the puck.

 

[Jaynki]

Well anyways, does anyone see something special when Slaf has the puck? He really does have a set of hands that seems quite interesting in terms of how he protects the puck, a bit like Hossa. I don’t think every player looks like him with the puck.

I do. I see like you.

I think he is a menace with the puck on his stick. His hands are slicks and he keeps the puck more and more. He has the potential to be that play driving, all over the ice, physically dominant player.

Hossa is a very interesting comparative and i am impressed by Slaf two way game.

We just need constant production now.

 

[Kennerback]

Bobrov said the exact opposite. His appetite to be a game changer, to take the bull by the horns, be the decivisive factor on the biggest stage was one of the reason they choosed him. Remember his used car dealer speech?

I do agree to a point and see your point tho but i would frame it another way.

Slafkovsky is good when he plays "active", so creating turnover, skating with the puck, agressively forechecking.

I also think sometimes he plays "passive". So waiting for the play to develop, tendency for a too generous pass.

I agree with you that its more a matter of mindset. Hopefully the mind switch with experience and confidence.

I agree that Slaf is intense when it comes to creating turnovers and agressive forechecking. But give him the puck, especially in the offensive zone… He becomes selfless, he’s happy to skate around and make one or two passes. Sure he’ll be celebrate if he scores a goal. But being the catalyst to put the puck in the net is not him.

I dislike Gallagher, I think he’s close to finished. He’s worse than Slaf in every individual skill. He’s old and broken down… However if I need a goal tonight and it comes down to him or Slaf, I want Gallagher.

His coach Ramsey had to repeat and repeat, to drill it in to his brain because he didn’t get it, that he needed to think goal. It’s not him. He reverts back to the Slaf that’s just happy to be there for the ride.

 

[Svart]

What is amazing about this helpful thread is we don't even need to wait until his career is over because the experts have painted a clear picture of what we should expect after only 45 games. Thanks guys.

 

[Capitano]

Not writing him off by any means but it really depends what the expectations are I suppose. You always want to see positives to cling to when evaluating a player and then try to put them in a position to create even more positives.

The positives I see in Slaf are his passing. He tends to see good passing lanes out there, very noticeable for me that it's one of his strengths. Another good thing is his shot, when he uses it.

The negatives are his decision making and not letting his instinct take over, I find him a step behind mentally a lot of the time. I also find he doesn't hold onto the puck as much as I would like for a man of his size with his reach and puck shielding potential. All this is workable though.

But again it depends what the expectations are. I don't see a PPG player in Slaf at any point, will gladly eat crow if I'm wrong. I see 60-70 points at best right now and 70 is being hopeful. Not saying he is a bust if he is a 50-60 point man either, but some might say that's not good enough for a first overall player.

 

[Wats]

He's definitely behind Kotkaniemi at the same points of development. Hopefully he brings more later but offensively, KK to me seemed more talented.

 

[Final Baton]

Not writing him off by any means but it really depends what the expectations are I suppose. You always want to see positives to cling to when evaluating a player and then try to put them in a position to create even more positives.

The positives I see in Slaf are his passing. He tends to see good passing lanes out there, very noticeable for me that it's one of his strengths. Another good thing is his shot, when he uses it.

The negatives are his decision making and not letting his instinct take over, I find him a step behind mentally a lot of the time. I also find he doesn't hold onto the puck as much as I would like for a man of his size with his reach and puck shielding potential. All this is workable though.

But again it depends what the expectations are. I don't see a PPG player in Slaf at any point, will gladly eat crow if I'm wrong. I see 60-70 points at best right now and 70 is being hopeful. Not saying he is a bust if he is a 50-60 point man either, but some might say that's not good enough for a first overall player.

Pretty much how I see him also.

He hasn't ajusted to the lesser time/space available on the NHL ice yet.

 

[ReimanSum1908]

He's definitely behind Kotkaniemi at the same points of development. Hopefully he brings more later but offensively, KK to me seemed more talented.

That's because Kotkaniemi was a superior prospect before and after he was drafted, and had a better career through his first season - which, obviously, is the only thing against which we have to compare Slaf.

Largely because he was more talented in every fundamental area of the game, save strength (something an eighteen year old usually has to grow into), size, and puck protection.

 

[BenchBrawl]

If he keeps stagnating, send him down asap.

Management will look silly in 2 years when Michkov dominates the NHL and we're still looking for offense.

 

[Jaynki]

Honestly, pathetic 1st period tonight

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

If he keeps stagnating, send him down asap.

Management will look silly in 2 years when Michkov dominates the NHL and we're still looking for offense.

This management sucks just like the previous one in the grand scheme of things, so they won't.


There, I said it.

 

[BenchBrawl]

This management sucks just like the previous one in the grand scheme of things, so they won't.


There, I said it.

Woah, hit the brakes there bud.

Bergevin was a shrewd general manager.

 

[DAChampion]

Slaf deniers : the international play means nothing, we should not based our opinion on such a small sample size.

Fact : Slaf post og in liiga + og + wc + playoffs -> 29 points in 43 games.

Versus 4 points in 21 games pre OG.

So, which sample size is twice bigger than the others? Which sample size should we base our opinion on?

The truth is that all of the games matter.

 

[Guess]

Slaf probably has the weakest drive to get to the slot and score for a top-6 In the NHL. Tell me who has less. I know none in the 200 or so. He’s completely aloof and nonchalant when he has the puck. For an outsider, it seems easy to just switch it on. Just skate the puck to the slot, one leg in front of the other. But it might be some psychological blockage he’s had since he was a kid.

However, digging the puck and skating with it, he does assertively. He also doesn’t mind contact. He works hard. He has a long reach. It tells me he might be a good defensive forward and a good penalty killer one day.

We didn't draft #1 overall to get a defensive penalty killing forward. Unless it's Patrice Bergeron.

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

A
H
L
Please

 

[Skip Bayless]

He's not doing much out there.

I was on board in him staying in the NHL with the condition of being hip-tied to Dach, but that is no longer possible this season.

Like another poster said, the kid has scored like 4 goals in the last year +

He needs to produce, to have his efforts rewarded. At this moment, it doesn't seem to be in the NHL.

 

[Toene]

His possessions never last enough for him to do something. Curious to see his giveaways total.

 

[River Meadow]

He's not doing much out there.

I was on board in him staying in the NHL with the condition of being hip-tied to Dach, but that is no longer possible this season.

Like another poster said, the kid has scored like 4 goals in the last year +

He needs to produce, to have his efforts rewarded. At this moment, it doesn't seem to be in the NHL.

He's learning to grind deez guys, basically.

 

[Andrei79]

He started with a strong first game, but I hope they don't let him go through multiple games without getting a point. Put him with Roy and Andersson and let them dominate the AHL.

 

[Hacketts]

in his head toooo much tonight.

 

[Habs 4 Life]

Tournaments don't matter as far as knowing the greatness or lack thereof of a prospect/player. There's just no other conclusion than that.

Simon Gagné was awesome at the WJC! True. So was Gabriel Bourque.....


My assessment at the time was this:
Safe: Wright
Needs: Slaf
Best ratio skills/player: Cooley

I saw a reason for going with all 3. Though the guy I had most trouble with was Wright seeing how uncommitted he was at playoffs time. Hated his game. At the end, my pick was Cooley. But I was fine with Slaf. Yet, being fine with Slaf did NOT meet making him play in the NHl at 18...ESPECIALLY when I'm told by my GM that was important is not now, but who will be great in 4-5 years.

My pick was Cooley as well, and I don't want to be an ass but he is still my pick today. I'd swap them instantly

 

[One]

Would have a couple more points if Anderson could finish plays