Slafkovski reminds me of Pulju

[OKR]

It sure does mean that! You win HFboards today! Congrats! Can you guess who both of these scrubs out produced in the early stages of their career? Joe Thornton. He must have been the be all and end all of scrubs in the NHL.

..........

back to reality. Points are but one measure of predicting a prospects future in the NHL. I can't wait for everyone to eat crow on Slaf. He will be a very good NHL power forward. It just won't be obvious until the end of his third season.

Puljujärvi was better in every aspect at every level before NHL, you Habs fans are literally only ones talking about points alone. Outside of one international tournament Slafkovski has done absolutely nothing to warrant being predicted to be a top-player in the NHL, he has not been that in any level for any of his teams, only ”measure” that warrants him to be projected as a top forward in the NHL is the fact he was picked 1st overall and has a big body.

Habs fans were disgusted when they picked Kotkaniemi, who was amongst the best players on his team in Liiga, Slafkovski wasn’t even close to that when he was picked, and that’s even without taking points in to consideration at all, Habs fans of all people should know better lmao

 

[Guttersniped]

Maybe they just asked to move up to give Montreal a false sense of urgency and demand to draft this guy.

Did this for sure actually happen? I’m actually skeptical, I assumed it was just a bs rumor and it basically made no sense.

 

[waitin425]

Puljujärvi was better in every aspect at every level before NHL, you Habs fans are literally only ones talking about points alone. Outside of one international tournament Slafkovski has done absolutely nothing to warrant being predicted to be a top-player in the NHL, he has not been that in any level for any of his teams, only ”measure” that warrants him to be projected as a top forward in the NHL is the fact he was picked 1st overall and has a big body.

Habs fans were disgusted when they picked Kotkaniemi, who was amongst the best players on his team in Liiga, Slafkovski wasn’t even close to that when he was picked, and that’s even without taking points in to consideration at all, Habs fans of all people should know better lmao

"My prediction is right!"

"No, mine is!"

Who the f*** cares? This thread is an obvious attempt to troll Habs fans.

See you at the end of the 2024/25 season. We can have a discussion then.

 

[Lshap]

Well, except i never did.

Yes, you did. Here's what I said:

You cited a .03 difference between two teenagers who played ~33 games. Do you believe this adds vital information to the debate?

The above is precisely what you did. You referenced a .03 difference in points over ~33 games between the two players. I asked what it adds to the debate.

 

[OKR]

Yes, you did. Here's what I said:


The above is precisely what you did. You referenced a .03 difference in points over ~33 games between the two players. I asked what it adds to the debate.

How can you seriously read that and miss the point entirely?

I literally referenced how Puljujärvi played much better in Liiga, U20 Sm-Liiga, U18 Sm-Liiga and Junior national teams, you’re literally the only one constantly banging on about the ~33 games and 0.3 point difference like nothing they’ve done before entering the NHL matters.

 

[bert]

Slowness isn't the issue with Puljujärvi, it's that he has bad positioning and hockey IQ, as well as stone hands.

And how, exactly, is Slafkovsky's release better? Haven't seen anything to support that.

All of those attributes impact speed. So yes him being slow is all a part of it. He has slow hockey iq so he can't process quickly and he has slow unskilled hands.

Slaf gets his shot off way faster and has better/faster hands.

This likely ends up being very similar to the Byfield thread. I had the same discussions and conversations I'd be surprised if it isn't with the same posters.

 

[bert]

I’m willing to bet good money you haven’t seen either play outside of Olympics and the NHL.

Slaf could have the best puck skills in the world and shot out of this world, but he hasn’t been able to turn it to a production anywhere besides Olympics and World Championships when he was on a hot streak, he came back to Liiga and was once again the same no-impact player he always was there. They’re both heavily dependant on their physical tools, nothing else about them is NHL level. Puljujärvi was clearly better in every aspect of hockey in Liiga, U20’s, U18 Sm-Liiga and U20 Sm-Liiga.

Just because two people are watching the same thing doesn't mean the ability to evaluate is equal.

I'll stick with my 40 years of watching and playing at a decently high level. Still skate with pros. Over someone that just constantly references Stats. Cherry picking small sample sizes and claims they have seen more when in reality you haven't referenced one thing other than production. Slaf wasn't riding shot gun to aho and Laine. When he did come back to liiga after Olympics he was much better. We can all have our opinions. I'll be back in this thread in 3 years time if I was wrong. I hope you come back too.

 

[OKR]

Just because two people are watching the same thing doesn't mean the ability to evaluate is equal.

I'll stick with my 40 years of watching and playing at a decently high level. Still skate with pros. Over someone that just constantly references Stats. Cherry picking small sample sizes and claims they have seen more when in reality you haven't referenced one thing other than production. Slaf wasn't riding shot gun to aho and Laine. When he did come back to liiga after Olympics he was much better. We can all have our opinions. I'll be back in this thread in 3 years time if I was wrong. I hope you come back too.

Lmao, honestly can’t even wait. ”Cherry picking” when discussing their whole careers since they’ve been 16.

You likely haven’t seen one Liiga game in your life, and you for sure have not even seen a hour of U20 Sm-Liiga clips in your whole life.

Joke of a post.

 

[Lshap]

How can you seriously read that and miss the point entirely?

I literally referenced how Puljujärvi played much better in Liiga, U20 Sm-Liiga, U18 Sm-Liiga and Junior national teams, you’re literally the only one constantly banging on about the ~33 games and 0.3 point difference like nothing they’ve done before entering the NHL matters.

Who cares about what Puljujärvi or Slafkovsky did pre-draft? This thread (and others) about Slafkovsky only exists because of his performance in the NHL with the Habs. You're trying to drag Liiga numbers from years ago into this discussion. They're irrelevant.

Regarding his draft position, you claimed Slafkovsky did "absolutely nothing to warrant being predicted to be a top-player in the NHL", yet he was at or near the top of the most credible drafting lists. So your claim was clearly wrong.

You also claimed Puljujärvi's first NHL season was better than Slaf's, which was an odd point to make given the actual numbers.

 

[bert]

Lmao, honestly can’t even wait. ”Cherry picking” when discussing their whole careers since they’ve been 16.

You likely haven’t seen one Liiga game in your life, and you for sure have not even seen a hour of U20 Sm-Liiga clips in your whole life.

Joke of a post.

People turn to insults when they don't have a rebuttal.

 

[nbwingsfan]

Big and strong players with lot of athletic ability, but zero awareness of what do with the puck..

Will he be a big oof for the Habs or can he revamp his game?

He looks even worse this season somehow.

It’s still very early and a ton can change but when the concern is non existent IQ that’s a worry

 

[nbwingsfan]

Put me on record that this kid is going to be a beast by 25. He's a teenager and shows glimpses of his talent more and more often.

He likely never reaches the lofty point totals of other first overalls, but I think people need to get past that. Not all draft years have a superstar, it is what it is - but it doesn't mean that his only outcomes are superstar or bust.

Depends what you consider a beast? A guy who can pot 20 but be a menace down low? Sure

Expecting any more offence? I don’t see it

 

[Coffey]

I think Pulju is more talented than Slav tbh

Yikes!

 

[OKR]

People turn to insults when they don't have a rebuttal.

Rebuttal to what exactly? You were the one to claim you had superior eyes to the game due to your 40 years of experience, you had absolutely nothing of signifigance to say.

Also you said this about Puljujärvi on january 22 in 2019:
” He is huge, skates like the wind has a great motor and an awesome shot. He was phenomenal at 17 years old in his draft year, dominating the WJC and playing very well in pro in Finland.”

You also called him better prospect than Norris and Batherson. Did your eyes macigally get better at evaluating talent once you had 40 years of experience, or were 36 years just not enough for you to make a full 180 on him?

 

[RickyLafleur]

Yup, everyone had written off Laf, and he’s starting to put it together, and he was drafted 2 years prior. Still plenty of time for Slaf

Helps that he's on a line with someone on pace for 140+ points

 

[bert]

Rebuttal to what exactly? You were the one to claim you had superior eyes to the game due to your 40 years of experience, you had absolutely nothing of signifigance to say.

Also you said this about Puljujärvi on january 22 in 2019:
” He is huge, skates like the wind has a great motor and an awesome shot. He was phenomenal at 17 years old in his draft year, dominating the WJC and playing very well in pro in Finland.”

You also called him better prospect than Norris and Batherson. Did your eyes macigally get better at evaluating talent once you had 40 years of experience, or were 36 years just not enough for you to make a full 180 on him?

Ive been breaking down the players skillsets. You havent done a thing but claim I havent watched him and you have. But you have provided no proof other than pulling statistics which anyone can do.

Puljujarvi didnt progress, his raw tools elevated him over his piers his age. Most people shared the same opinion at that time. Are you suggesting that you didnt either?

 

[SlafySZN]

He looks even worse this season somehow.

It’s still very early and a ton can change but when the concern is non existent IQ that’s a worry

All of that is false.

He looks much better than last season and is improving every game he’s playing.

 

[Twisted Sinister]

All of that is false.

 

[GMR]

We will trade Petry and Chiarot for him!

 

[SlafySZN]

You have to be biased or just not very good at watching hockey if you think he ‘’looks even worse this season’’

He is definitely improving at a pretty fast pace.

 

[OKR]

Ive been breaking down the players skillsets. You havent done a thing but claim I havent watched him and you have. But you have provided no proof other than pulling statistics which anyone can do.

Puljujarvi didnt progress, his raw tools elevated him over his piers his age. Most people shared the same opinion at that time. Are you suggesting that you didnt either?

Your idea of breaking down players skillsets is claiming one is better, based on absolutely nothing.

You claimed Puljujärvi has a great motor, skates like a wind and an awesome shot, now you’re claiming Slaf has a ”way superior shot” and it’s not even close and way way better motor than ”great motor” while Pulju is slow etc.

If he had way superior shot than ”awesome shot” and way way better motor than he would also be noticeably better player, but he is not.

You claimed Puljujärvi dominated WJC and now you’re claiming he rode shotgun to Aho and Laine.

On may 14th 2020 you claimed Puljujärvi ”Absolutely does have” upside to be a top line player”

This is why nobody should take your claims of ”40 years of experince” and ”superior eye for talent” seriously, because you’ve been wrong way more times than you’ve been right.

 

[golgoXIII]

another day on hfboard another day of Montreal bashing ...

 

[Andy]

He looks even worse this season somehow.

This is factually not true and tells me you aren't watching any games. He's far, far better than he was last season.

 

[FerrisRox]

It is way too early to write him off but idk how anyone can act like his play isn’t concerning at this point lol

Interesting take.

At this point, I don't have any concerns about his play. What are you concerned about that is apparently so self evident you think that everyone should be concerned by it?

 

[ijuka]

This is factually not true and tells me you aren't watching any games. He's far, far better than he was last season.

"Factually not true" cannot be used on subjective evaluation, especially as Slafkovsky's stats are hardly impressive in any category.

Also, he massively is driving the play towards his own defensive zone. 60.71% offensive zone starts and 47.27% offensive zone faceoffs means that more often than not, after starting in the offensive zone, he ends up in the defensive zone. In comparison to the starts, offensive zone faceoffs are at +18 and defensive at +36, which is a terrible number. On the habs, only Christian Dvorak has worse stats on that front.

Most advanced stats are more or less in line with his play last season. Somewhat worse corsi, somewhat better xGF%, etc.