Juraj Slafkovsky - Year Two

[Tyson]

The problem is that we are not with the kid day in day out. Patch was saying I am an offensive guy, if you are going to play me in a defensive role send me back in the AHL and that was a good thing for him. For Slaf its different, the fact he is a 1OA does not help him. Sending him in the AHL may affect his confidence even more. As long as he is progressing keep him in the NHL. Independant of of the stats.

I see progression in his play and the fans in mtl need to remember that you can progress while not be at your best every game. You will have bad games, it does not mean he will not progress. I would have started him in the AHL last year, now keep him up until he hits a plateau in his progression.


3 games, coming in from NCAA without any training camp.

He was sent down twice, the 2nd time was when Ducharme had started to mishandled him. Cole was not happy at being Sent down.
It looks like we will see if the strategy of keeping him in the NHL at all costs works...

 

[nhlfan9191]

Hab fans eat their young.

To be fair, the managers love feeding the young to the media and fans as appetizers. If our fanbase really is as toxic for players as we all think, maybe that should factor in too the decision making of putting non NHL ready prospects in the NHL.

 

[Scriptor]

Go look at the footage from 2020 playoffs series of KK (D1) and his 2021 playoffs (D2).

KK > Slafkowsky at the same age, not only in terms of perceived skill, etc but KK could also hit quite hard and didn't shy away from that.

I never really understood the 'Bambi' reference tbh, is it because he fell a lot?

is it because he fell a lot?

Yes. KK was easily knocked off the puck and off his skates in his first couple of years. I thought that, as a playmaker, KK was better than the scoresheet suggested, but a lot of his game was about putting the puck forward in open ice for team mates to pounce on. They just didn't take advantage of that very often.

My point isn't that Slafkovsky is better than KK in his D+1 or, so far, in his D+2 (although Slafkovsky is greatly improved in his reads on the ice, this year, IMO).

My point is that every player develops at a different pace, especially when they get different TOI and usage in games, as did KK and Slafkovsky in their D+1 and D+2 seasons. Maybe less in his D+2 season now that Slafkovsky is playing on a second line and sees second PP time but still.

How KK plays as a 23-yr-old, because he had better results in his D+1 season after better usage has zero bearing on how Slafkovsky snow doing as a 19-yr-old.

Let's revisit when Slafkovsky is 23. Even if I'm not sure he'll produce at a PPG pace, he'll definitely have a similar impact as KK, even if the latter is a C, IMO.

Only, if it were for a portion of the Montreal fan base on this site, it would be elsewhere.

 

[Forum93]

I voted a mix of NHL+AHL. At this stage I would send him down. He's lost out there, poor decisions and his confidence is waning.

 

[Scriptor]

To be fair, the managers love feeding the young to the media and fans as appetizers. If our fanbase really is as toxic for players as we all think, maybe that should factor in too the decision making of putting non NHL ready prospects in the NHL.

Please, justification is a poor excuse.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

The problem is that we are not with the kid day in day out. Patch was saying I am an offensive guy, if you are going to play me in a defensive role send me back in the AHL and that was a good thing for him. For Slaf its different, the fact he is a 1OA does not help him. Sending him in the AHL may affect his confidence even more. As long as he is progressing keep him in the NHL. Independant of of the stats.

I see progression in his play and the fans in mtl need to remember that you can progress while not be at your best every game. You will have bad games, it does not mean he will not progress. I would have started him in the AHL last year, now keep him up until he hits a plateau in his progression.


3 games, coming in from NCAA without any training camp.

I think that’s a good point about his confidence. But my assumption would probably be though his confidence may suffer initially, it could get a huge boost after a few games. he can stretch out a bit more and have that little more time with the puck where he can hold onto it a little longer.

What I’ve seen is that the hot potato thing he has with the puck is good and bad. I’ve seen him make many clever one touch passes. But sometimes he gets rid of it too quickly. He would’ve been better to hold onto it. I think that’s an easy fix

 

[Tyson]

I think that’s a good point about his confidence. But my assumption would probably be though his confidence may suffer initially, it could get a huge boost after a few games. he can stretch out a bit more and have that little more time with the puck where he can hold onto it a little longer.

What I’ve seen is that the hot potato thing he has with the puck is good and bad. I’ve seen him make many clever one touch passes. But sometimes he gets rid of it too quickly. He would’ve been better to hold onto it. I think that’s an easy fix

Having watched Cooley, Carlsson and Fantilli this season I see 3 players head and shoulders better than Slaf. Slaf simply isn't ready. I am his biggest fan but even the most basic hockey fan can see he isn't ready.
How confident will he be if he still has one assist after 12 games? That can't continue without repercussions to his confidence.

 

[Pazucha]

Kid is just not ready I bet he cant even tie up his skates. When was the last time he put someone into a scoring chance? Also his line must be like -15 at this point. If only we traded someone for Zegras this summer...

 

[NotProkofievian]

Kid is just not ready I bet he cant even tie up his skates. When was the last time he put someone into a scoring chance? Also his line must be like -15 at this point. If only we traded someone for Zegras this summer...

 

[Trabdy2]

I'm all for being patient with Slafkovksy, but the poor decision making is hard to watch at times. Some rotten giveaways yesterday, and still not really showing much confidence and willingness to take the puck to the inside. He had at least a couple pretty clear opportunities yesterday to challenge an opposing D and take the puck to the net with a body positioning advantage, but instead he opts for a softer perimeter play.

On the other hand, I do see some clear progress from last year. It's just not as much as I'd like as a fan of a team taking him with a #1 pick, and the slow progress makes it harder to be optimistic about him having a high ceiling. I'm still very unsure there's first line potential.

 

[DAChampion]

Yeah I don’t think I’ve ever seen it be quite THIS polarized on here.

I'd like to remind you of Kovalev, Price, Desharnais, Subban, Galchenyuk, Pacioretty, Kotkaniemi, etc.

 

[nhlfan9191]

Please, justification is a poor excuse.

In what way is that a justification? We are what we are as a fanbase. No single person is going to change that no matter how much they may think they’re fighting for the cause. If I’m a GM dealing with a first overall who doesn’t look NHL ready, one of the first things I’d be thinking about is what happens if the player doesn’t produce while being placed directly in the fishbowl.

 

[Tyson]

In what way is that a justification? We are what we are as a fanbase. No single person is going to change that no matter how much they may think they’re fighting for the cause. If I’m a GM dealing with a first overall who doesn’t look NHL ready, one of the first things I’d be thinking about is what happens if the player doesn’t produce while being placed directly in the fishbowl.

Yep and you are seeing it in real time!

 

[Scriptor]

In what way is that a justification? We are what we are as a fanbase. No single person is going to change that no matter how much they may think they’re fighting for the cause. If I’m a GM dealing with a first overall who doesn’t look NHL ready, one of the first things I’d be thinking about is what happens if the player doesn’t produce while being placed directly in the fishbowl.

First thing I'd consider is what is best for his development and, yes, as was done with Slafkovsky, evaluate how he will deabmwith the rabid fan base ans media who feed on the young.

Slafkovsky was considered strong enough, mentally, to play in Montreal.

Beyond that, it's communication between management, coaching, development staff and the kid, that helps counteract opinions from ignorant fans who actually take pleasure in denigrating a 19-year old for the fun of it (that does nutmeat that all criticism of Slafkovsky is of that nature, but it clearly exists).

 

[Aces on the road]

”So understand dont always waste your time searching for those wasted picks”
Iron Maiden

 

[nhlfan9191]

First thing I'd consider is what is best for his development and, yes, as was done with Slafkovsky, evaluate how he will deabmwith the rabid fan base ans media who feed on the young.

Slafkovsky was considered strong enough, mentally, to play in Montreal.

Beyond that, it's communication between management, coaching, development staff and the kid, that helps counteract opinions from ignorant fans who actually take pleasure in denigrating a 19-year old for the fun of it (that does nutmeat that all criticism of Slafkovsky is of that nature, but it clearly exists).

I have no doubts that Slafkovsky is a great human and mature in a lot of ways. But I really don’t think that matters. This market can break the strongest of men if it wants. The problem with Slafkovsky isn’t between the ears, at least that’s not a major concern as far as we know. It’s the talent level. He’s just not ready and that’s going to draw attention from any fanbase but especially ours. They may have really screwed him by keeping him up as long as they did because now the fanbase is going to be really focusing on him even if he does get sent down.

 

[Kennerback]

Slafkovsky probably wouldn’t even profuce in the ahl. He has abilities and hell be a nhler. But he wont ever become a 1st line forward.

I thought he turned over the puck a couple of time yesterday which I find uncharacteristic. Sign of a bad game.

His biggest offensive quality is to make long tape to tape passes like he did to Anderson. He’s done this repeatedly. He’s also good at forcing turnovers.

Without the puck in the Offensive zone, he has trouble getting himself open which makes him easy to check. With the puck, he’s only thinking of making a pass to keep puck possession. He doesn’t think of carrying the puck to the slot or to the net.

And then his shot is a whole different issue. He rarely shoots which tells me he won’t be much of a goal scorer. He doesn’t look for a shooting lane when he does. I can’t tell if he has a good or bad shot as he seldom takes his shooting opportunities.

I love the guy but he’s really spinning his wheels right now.

 

[Artaud]

He is getting playing time, so hopefully he progresses, but the road to stardom is looking bumpy.

I try to tell myself he's not quite sophomore since his rookie year was halved by injury, because sometimes he's embarrassing to watch. I've noticed him improving in terms of throwing his body, which might seem a stupid thing to celebrate for a 'power forward', but relative to where he was before it's a huge step. Next step is learning to use his body with the puck, so that the puck doesn't look like a hot potato on his stick.

The work to be done is huge and it's an act of faith to believe he'll figure all of it out one day. In the meantime as long as he's playing significant minutes the NHL, with the coaching and training that comes with it, is probably as good an option as any to develop.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Kid is just not ready I bet he cant even tie up his skates. When was the last time he put someone into a scoring chance? Also his line must be like -15 at this point. If only we traded someone for Zegras this summer...

He literally sent Anderson on a breakaway last night.

Btw Zegras also has 1 pt this season.

 

[Sorinth]

He is getting playing time, so hopefully he progresses, but the road to stardom is looking bumpy.

I try to tell myself he's not quite sophomore since his rookie year was halved by injury, because sometimes he's embarrassing to watch. I've noticed him improving in terms of throwing his body, which might seem a stupid thing to celebrate for a 'power forward', but relative to where he was before it's a huge step. Next step is learning to use his body with the puck, so that the puck doesn't look like a hot potato on his stick.

The work to be done is huge and it's an act of faith to believe he'll figure all of it out one day. In the meantime as long as he's playing significant minutes the NHL, with the coaching and training that comes with it, is probably as good an option as any to develop.

The road to stardom is bumpy for most. Look at Caufield, he had a pretty big bump in the road with his 1 goal in 30 something games. Price had a very bumpy road, before my time but Lafleur also supposedly had a bumpy start (Relatively speaking). I think it's just been so rare for us to have stars that we forget/don't realize how normal it is for that road to be bumpy. Not that Slaf is guaranteed to become a star, but bumps are normal and it's how the player learns from them that is important.

For Slaf, my feeling is his game is still somewhere between the European conservative sit back and trap style of game and the NA forecheck/pressure the puck all the time style of game. He's made progress compared to last year, but there's still a ways to go.

 

[nhlfan9191]

He literally sent Anderson on a breakaway last night.

Btw Zegras also has 1 pt this season.

I could probably find a way to send Anderson on a breakaway if I ever got a chance. That’s not saying much. We really are leaping on tiny things when it comes to Slaf.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I could probably find a way to send Anderson on a breakaway if I ever got a chance. That’s not saying much. We really are leaping on tiny things when it comes to Slaf.

You definitely couldn't and we aren't leaping on tiny things - we are correcting stupid bullshit takes like "when was the last time he set someone up on a scoring chance" when he did it multiple times just last night.

 

[NotProkofievian]

Someone shoop Slafkovsky onto bad luck Brian.

''Set someone up for a scoring chance.

It's Josh Anderson.''

 

[Pazucha]

I was being sarcastic.. this thread has so many dumb takes that my super dumb sarcastic comment looked like a legit post..

That's how bad this place is

 

[cave troll]

The road to stardom is bumpy for most. Look at Caufield, he had a pretty big bump in the road with his 1 goal in 30 something games. Price had a very bumpy road, before my time but Lafleur also supposedly had a bumpy start (Relatively speaking). I think it's just been so rare for us to have stars that we forget/don't realize how normal it is for that road to be bumpy. Not that Slaf is guaranteed to become a star, but bumps are normal and it's how the player learns from them that is important.

For Slaf, my feeling is his game is still somewhere between the European conservative sit back and trap style of game and the NA forecheck/pressure the puck all the time style of game. He's made progress compared to last year, but there's still a ways to go.

Sad thing is..Slaf is in a big bump since he joined the NHL.
But hey, let's admire those 2-3 good passes he makes from time to time.