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

[Apotheosis]

No idea why the Habs fans are so split on him. He easily has the highest ceiling in the draft. Insane physical tools and skill to boot. Going to be in the Bedard sweepstakes as well which could be insane. Bedard-Suzuki down the middle and Suzuki getting Caufield and Slaf to absolutely grind it out and score is going to be huge. The new Habs management timed this rebuild perfectly with the top contenders in the Atlantic (Tampa, Florida, Toronto) already in the middle or tail end of their competitive window whereas they're just starting to rebuild so perfect cycle.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Well, Slaf did score only 4 points in his first 20 Liiga games. Better production after that, but still not "great".

Thats true, but that argument doesn’t hold for my liking when talking about the #1 Overall Pick. You need to not have any of those types of concerns because you can make an argument in small samples for the production of almost any player and you can make an argument based on potential for almost any player. You can’t be picking all on potential and small samples with that pick.

 

[HabbyGuy]

No idea why the Habs fans are so split on him. He easily has the highest ceiling in the draft. Insane physical tools and skill to boot. Going to be in the Bedard sweepstakes as well which could be insane. Bedard-Suzuki down the middle and Suzuki getting Caufield and Slaf to absolutely grind it out and score is going to be huge. The new Habs management timed this rebuild perfectly with the top contenders in the Atlantic (Tampa, Florida, Toronto) already in the middle or tail end of their competitive window whereas they're just starting to rebuild so perfect cycle.

It's not so much about Slafkovsky as it is the habs void at center they have had for decades. Wright just seemed to make the most sense. Slaf is a great prospect no doubt, and we're stoked to have him, we've just been pining for a center forever. Hopefully Dach finds his potential, if he does we will definitely be sitting pretty, and both moves will look like a stroke of genius.

As you said there's next years draft as well.

 

[Apotheosis]

It's not so much about Slafkovsky as it is the habs void at center they have had for decades. Wright just seemed to make the most sense. Slaf is a great prospect no doubt, and we're stoked to have him, we've just been pining for a center forever. Hopefully Dach finds his potential, if he does we will definitely be sitting pretty, and both moves will look like a stroke of genius.

As you said there's next years draft as well.

I am not sold on Wright. Don't think he has the ceiling some others think he has.

 

[TT1]

His SM-liga production does worry me a bit too but then i looked at Rantanen production in his first 2 years in Liga and it's about on par with Slaf production in his first year. So ultimately it may not mean much when it come to potential projection in the NHL, Does it means that it should be discounted ? No but in the end it may end up being not that important of a factor.

That said i still think Slaf is a high risk/high reward kinda player. The guy has a huge upside but also many unknowns.

look at Aho's draft year too

 

[Jukurit]

look at Aho's draft year too

Aho had a much better Points/60 than Slaf. (2.00 something vs. 1.36)

 

[V13]

look at Aho's draft year too

Sure he was PPG but that was also in his 4th year. The first 3 his stats weren't that great

That said Slaf lack of Liga production is indeed a bit concerning but ultimately i don't think it's gonna be the main factor on how he project into the NHL. The dude is a f***ing horse. Good skating , good hands great protection skills. He is a project but it could pay off in the end. I'm more confident in Slaf than i was in KK or Galchenyuk for the simple fact that Slaf has a better all around package of size , speed and skills.

 

[dukeofjive]

Good luck to the kid, i hope he has a great career in mtl.

 

[Tetragrammaton]

we drafted jagr

Radulov / Ovechkin hybrid

 

[lomiller1]

Sure he was PPG but that was also in his 4th year. The first 3 his stats weren't that great

Are you sure you are looking at the right year? Aho had 13 points in 30 games in his draft year.

 

[TT1]

Sure he was PPG but that was also in his 4th year. The first 3 his stats weren't that great

That said Slaf lack of Liga production is indeed a bit concerning but ultimately i don't think it's gonna be the main factor on how he project into the NHL. The dude is a f***ing horse. Good skating , good hands great protection skills. He is a project but it could pay off in the end. I'm more confident in Slaf than i was in KK or Galchenyuk for the simple fact that Slaf has a better all around package of size , speed and skills.

that's his draft +1 year, 2014-15 is his draft year

 

[V13]

Are you sure you are looking at the right year? Aho had 13 points in 30 games in his draft year.

Ah yes my mistake you are correcr.

I actually like that since its a positive comparison for Slaf haha

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

Both Slaf and Mesar were drafted in the 1st round by the habs, and they will likely play together on a line for Slovakia in August.
Should be real fun to watch

 

[lawrence]

Being in a time zone 1 hour Beijing I caught as many of hockey events as possible. After game 2 for the Slovaks, slaf was upgraded to top line minutes and didn’t look back. On every game I watched, he was the best player in the ice for both teams. He’s going to be a very hard player to contain down the road. I’m glad he’s not in the west.

 

[Jukurit]

Just posting this comparison of Slaf's P/60 compared to other Liiga prospects on their draft years again (regular season):

Kakko 2.79
Laine 2.49
Lundell 2.41
Puljujärvi 2.23
Kemell 2.18
Aho 2.12
Kotkaniemi 1.96
Rantanen 1.85
Kupari 1.78
Slafkovsky 1.36
Lambert 0.86

 

[xyzed]

Just posting this comparison of Slaf's P/60 compared to other Liiga prospects on their draft years again (regular season):

Kakko 2.79
Laine 2.49
Lundell 2.41
Puljujärvi 2.23
Kemell 2.18
Aho 2.12
Kotkaniemi 1.96
Rantanen 1.85
Kupari 1.78
Slafkovsky 1.36
Lambert 0.86

I think these numbers will soon be pointless as we will see what he can do in NA. The draft is over, so now it is time for him to prove he is the guy Montreal needed. If he can do that, nobody will care about Liiga numbers. The only thing I'm concerned is consistency, since he already proved he can play against NHLers/former NHLers. He has improved a lot during the last season. We will see

 

[Hannibal]

So happy we have him! A beast in the making!

 

[Jukurit]

I think these numbers will soon be pointless as we will see what he can do in NA. The draft is over, so now it is time for him to prove he is the guy Montreal needed. If he can do that, nobody will care about Liiga numbers. The only thing I'm concerned is consistency, since he already proved he can play against NHLers/former NHLers. He has improved a lot during the last season. We will see

Yeah, I know. But people were talking about comparisons to Rantanen's and Aho's production and these numbers show it's clearly worse.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

Aho had a much better Points/60 than Slaf. (2.00 something vs. 1.36)

At least Slafkovsky has shown up in big games pre draft. Aho so far hasn't or they would have beaten the Rangers.

 

[MardyBum]

Just posting this comparison of Slaf's P/60 compared to other Liiga prospects on their draft years again (regular season):

Kakko 2.79
Laine 2.49
Lundell 2.41
Puljujärvi 2.23
Kemell 2.18
Aho 2.12
Kotkaniemi 1.96
Rantanen 1.85
Kupari 1.78
Slafkovsky 1.36
Lambert 0.86

Obviously nothing to do with this thread but just curious what was Lambert's D-1 P/60?

 

[Jukurit]

At least Slafkovsky has shown up in big games pre draft. Aho so far hasn't or they would have beaten the Rangers.

 

[Jukurit]

Obviously nothing to do with this thread but just curious what was Lambert's D-1 P/60?

Seems to be 1.43

 

[ijuka]

At least Slafkovsky has shown up in big games pre draft. Aho so far hasn't or they would have beaten the Rangers.

Slafkovsky was a disappearing act in the finals, while Aho scored the championship goal. But ok.

 

[Wats]

Yeah, I know. But people were talking about comparisons to Rantanen's and Aho's production and these numbers show it's clearly worse.

This is what bothers me the most about this pick. The production is just not there, especially for a 1st overall pick. Hope he comes to AHL and can put up closer to point/game before reaching NHL.

 

[le_sean]

Yeah, I know. But people were talking about comparisons to Rantanen's and Aho's production and these numbers show it's clearly worse.

We also have the benefit of watching him excel against tough competition when given more responsibilities.