LW Juraj Slafkovsky - TPS Turku, Liiga (2022, 1st, MTL) Part 2

[Peasy]

Both Dach and Slaf can pretty much put their regime as a fail right off the bat.


To be fair, they only eat crow if they're wrong. If Wright ends up better, it's not their fault the management is worse than fans.

Nah, the crow is saying that there is no chance the Habs pick anyone other than wright. I said since they won the lottery that wright isn't a lock to go one and constantly got harassed by hab fans saying I was trolling, I don't know anything, Shane wright is a franchise center etc etc. Of course these people didn't even bother to follow him during the year and just ate up what they heard before the start of the year.

They wouldn't even try and consider why wright wouldn't go number one. Constantly trashing slafs production while for some reason praising wright's mediocre production. It was hilarious to witness and watch them be in denial for weeks.

 

[Jukurit]

How does Slafkovsky compare to Kirby Dach? Both big guys with good hands and kind of "underwhelming" production relative to their draft position. Dach scoring 73 points in 62 games is obviously good, but his draft year production doesn't quite stack up to other highly drafted CHL forwards. Bit similarly how Slafkovsky's draft year production doesn't stack up to other highly drafted Liiga prospects. Though with Slafkovsky that difference in production is more obvious.

Now both guys on the same team.

 

[Russian_fanatic]

I’m not getting why the Habs are getting so much hate. Kid was rated #2 and I could see why someone would fall in love with his skill set.

I’ve probably seen Slaf play 10+ times this year not including tournament play. I think many of you are going to be surprised with just how good this kid is going to end up.

From a pure physical point of view, the kid is a freak and one of the most gifted players I’ve ever seen. At 6-4 220 lbs (I think he’s closer to 230, and the kid hasn’t filled out yet and I think he can potentially grow some more) the kid has a great set of wheels, some of the softest hands I’ve ever seen on a big fella. He also has a great shot on him, and a mean streak which you love to see with a guy that big. His best attributes by far has to be his ability to use his body to protect the puck, and his soft hands allowing him to make moves in tight spots.

If I had to compare his game to anyone it would be PEAK Todd Bertuzzi. IMO he has the highest ceiling of anyone in this draft. I think the Habs got a homerun.

 

[thomast]

I’m not getting why the Habs are getting so much hate. Kid was rated #2 and I could see why someone would fall in love with his skill set.

I’ve probably seen Slaf play 10+ times this year not including tournament play. I think many of you are going to be surprised with just how good this kid is going to end up.

From a pure physical point of view, the kid is a freak and one of the most gifted players I’ve ever seen. At 6-4 220 lbs (I think he’s closer to 230, and the kid hasn’t filled out yet and I think he can potentially grow some more) the kid has a great set of wheels, some of the softest hands I’ve ever seen on a big fella. He also has a great shot on him, and a mean streak which you love to see with a guy that big. His best attributes by far has to be his ability to use his body to protect the puck, and his soft hands allowing him to make moves in tight spots.

If I had to compare his game to anyone it would be PEAK Todd Bertuzzi. IMO he has the highest ceiling of anyone in this draft. I think the Habs got a homerun.

People just don’t realize how good of an skater he will be when he adds power to his legs. He has a lot of meat to move around the ice and if Barkov went from poor skater with no exploviseness to good skater with great accerelation, then Slafkovsky can go from average/good to great/excellent with explosive first steps. Slafkovsky have excellent skating technique and it’s obvious how he lacks leg strength to be called excellent skater. I would be really suprised if Slafkovsky isn’t considered a great skater in his prime.

His balance is generational especially for his age. He is closest thing to Jagr in that regard. I might slot his upside in that attribute ahead of Ovechkin and Crosby. Balance is one of the most underrated skating abilities, but it essential in almost all areas of the game.

 

[CupInSIX]

Apparently this former scout knew all along the Habs were leaning towards Slaf, & that Wright would fall a bit.

 

[GermanSpitfire]

Walls talking?
I just can’t see the Habs passing on Wright (the for sure centre) for Slafkovsky. That’s a lot of risk.

 

[Brownies]

but does he speak french?

Our province fell in love with Kovalev who did not speak french but had charisma, why are you asking ?

 

[CupInSIX]

Our province fell in love with Kovalev who did not speak french but had charisma, why are you asking ?

Some fans were angry with Keane, Koivu & Gionta for not learning French.

 

[NYSPORTS]

Nah, the crow is saying that there is no chance the Habs pick anyone other than wright. I said since they won the lottery that wright isn't a lock to go one and constantly got harassed by hab fans saying I was trolling, I don't know anything, Shane wright is a franchise center etc etc. Of course these people didn't even bother to follow him during the year and just ate up what they heard before the start of the year.

They wouldn't even try and consider why wright wouldn't go number one. Constantly trashing slafs production while for some reason praising wright's mediocre production. It was hilarious to witness and watch them be in denial for weeks.

Congrats - have not been following your take but your post doesn’t surprise me.

 

[Brownies]

Some fans were angry with Keane, Koivu & Gionta for not learning French.

Debatable, but I understand how someone could question why a guy who was captain of the team for years never took the time to learn to say a few sentences here and there. Subban doesn’t speak french but from the beginning he’d shout as many Comment ça va ? to fans who’d go crazy. If I was going to play in Sweden for 10 years, I’d try to learn Swedish even if I could probably be OK with English. I was the biggest Koivu fan when I was young and honestly yeah I felt disappointed he never learned it, to me it showed a lack of interest for our province and sure enough we barely hear from him anymore.

A very little extra effort goes a long way. Russians needing an interpret in interviews after a few years in the NHL have been also been questioned around the league.

 

[Frank Drebin]

They wouldn't even try and consider why wright wouldn't go number one. Constantly trashing slafs production while for some reason praising wright's mediocre production. It was hilarious to witness and watch them be in denial for weeks

Wright's production was good after his first 20 games. Something like 71 pts in his final 42 games which is like a 110 point pace over 68 games.

That said, production obviously isn't everything

 

[cave troll]

we drafted jagr

There is a thin dividing line between Jagr and Armia.

 

[sennysensen]

I felt sorry for McCagg when Habsfan went after him for weeks all unhinged and all. And other people on Twitter were getting harassing direct messages for daring to say Wright won't go #1. Well now McCagg et al are vindicated, and Habsfan looks foolish. Of course, Habsfan won't see that, lack of self awareness and all. They'll just shift their stories.

 

[Colorado Avalanche]

Montreal's management problem in the past 20 years + was not who they drafted (most of the time), but how terribly bad at developing players they were. I'm hoping this is changing with this new group.

Welcome Slaf!

They should leave him to TPS one more season then

 

[cave troll]

They should leave him to TPS one more season then

Nah. This juggernaut who played vs men and destroyed Olympics should prove himself as real 1OA. Not some wannabe talent that needs to be sheltered. What kind of message to 1OA is: Look kid, we drafted you 1OA , we'll maybe look up to you in the future, but you're not ready to play in big league. Go learn a bit more in Finland.????
I don't think Slafkofsky will take it easy being the first 1OA forward not deemed NHL ready in decades.

 

[Agalloch]

They should leave him to TPS one more season then

Look at Rantanen.

Slaf will at least play his 9 games and if not ready, he will play in Laval.

 

[Fatass]

The statistical worst #1 in NHL draft history. Underwhelming is an understatement

Could this be another Doug Wickinheiser level of pick? Wright isn’t Dennis Savard, but this whole scenario sure has similarities.

 

[Fatass]

Not particularly happy about the pick but the fact Wright dropped to 4 makes me think maybe his ceilling is not as high as everyone think

Im more pissed at the Romanov and Dach trade. We just got rid of KK, we don’t need another potential bust, I would rather have Nazar or Lekkerimaki

Agreed. I don’t get giving up on Romanov. Guy was great, and still very young. Dach was a recent top five pick, but has struggled.
The comparisons of Wright and ?Dach will be interesting to follow.
Slafkovsky is kind of a wild card.

 

[Colorado Avalanche]

Nah. This juggernaut who played vs men and destroyed Olympics should prove himself as real 1OA. Not some wannabe talent that needs to be sheltered. What kind of message to 1OA is: Look kid, we drafted you 1OA , we'll maybe look up to you in the future, but you're not ready to play in big league. Go learn a bit more in Finland.????
I don't think Slafkofsky will take it easy being the first 1OA forward not deemed NHL ready in decades.

He didn't set Finnish league in fire.. The kid has a lot to learn, even if he is a #1 overall.

Good luck then

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

I felt sorry for McCagg when Habsfan went after him for weeks all unhinged and all. And other people on Twitter were getting harassing direct messages for daring to say Wright won't go #1. Well now McCagg et al are vindicated, and Habsfan looks foolish. Of course, Habsfan won't see that, lack of self awareness and all. They'll just shift their stories.

Stay mad, Habs fans don't give a f we just drafted first overall lmaooo

 

[DaPhazz]

Some fans were angry with Keane, Koivu & Gionta for not learning French.

I learned more spanish in a 1 week vacation in Mexico than these guy learned french during their years in Montreal

 

[SergeConstantin74]

I felt sorry for McCagg when Habsfan went after him for weeks all unhinged and all. And other people on Twitter were getting harassing direct messages for daring to say Wright won't go #1. Well now McCagg et al are vindicated, and Habsfan looks foolish. Of course, Habsfan won't see that, lack of self awareness and all. They'll just shift their stories.

The problem isn't about McCagg being right, it's more about him being an asshole while trying to prove his point.

 

[CupInSIX]

The problem isn't about McCagg being right, it's more about him being an asshole while trying to prove his point.

2 wrongs don't make a Wright.

 

[Colezuki]

They should leave him to TPS one more season then

Sounds like its laval or Montreal

 

[vildurson]

I still don't like him being first overall. He got way picked too high only because of his physical attributes. Even Nemec would have been more believable for me as a first pick.

In order for him to live up to his hype, he needs to end up as a Rantanen type player. I am still not sure about him being able to reach this level. Nichuskin is probably more realistic one and I am not sure if that is a first pick level player.

That being said, I hope this kid proves me wrong.