Player Discussion The Slaf Thread - Parabolic Growth Edition

[Essenege]

Yeah let’s not do a Laffy 2.0 with Slaf. He was a beast for 50 games last year, he’s just a bit more in his head this year and late on a lot of plays - this is why a good camp / preseason is important, a few bad games to start the season can snowball into a bigger problem.

 

[morhilane]

The points production is fine but the big guy doesnt skate. He watch and let him self glide on the ice. I hope he will figure it out and become faster to process the play. He has a big body but he play a very soft game. He could be a force on the ice but he act as a spectator.

Slaf was moving his feets in the game last night. The only time he was "floating" is when he was taking his screen/near the net position in the ozone and when playing higher up in the dzone like every other Habs players thanks to the "system" the Habs are using.

 

[Pat Riot]

Slaf was moving his feets in the game last night. The only time he was "floating" is when he was taking his screen/near the net position in the ozone and when playing higher up in the dzone like every other Habs players thanks to the "system" the Habs are using.

I saw him glide many times last game in all 3 zones of the ice. He could be a bruiser out there but he play like a kitty

 

[sampollock]

he needs power skating. get those huge legs working better

 

[CheldishGamibno]

Still has a lot to learn, still extremely young, incredibly rare that a big dude like him dominates at a young age in the NHL.

 

[Guy Larose]

The summer after his first year we heard of him doing all kinds of training, even breathing ones which got laughed at. This summer I'm not sure I heard a peep except him acting like a superstar, making commercials. Might be that he slacked off a bit thinking he was all that, because of the great end of season and the fan adoration, and got a "big head". Same happened with X for a while after all this attention and doing commercials and stuff. These are kids afterall. I'm sure all will be fine.

 

[sampollock]

The summer after his first year we heard of him doing all kinds of training, even breathing ones which got laughed at. This summer I'm not sure I heard a peep except him acting like a superstar, making commercials. Might be that he slacked off a bit thinking he was all that, because of the great end of season and the fan adoration, and got a "big head". Same happened with X for a while after all this attention and doing commercials and stuff. These are kids afterall. I'm sure all will be fine.

needs to keep learning and working on skating

 

[Pat Riot]

The summer after his first year we heard of him doing all kinds of training, even breathing ones which got laughed at. This summer I'm not sure I heard a peep except him acting like a superstar, making commercials. Might be that he slacked off a bit thinking he was all that, because of the great end of season and the fan adoration, and got a "big head". Same happened with X for a while after all this attention and doing commercials and stuff. These are kids afterall. I'm sure all will be fine.

I start worrying about Slaf when I watched him play the world championship. He was gliding all over the ice and played like he was too strong for the tournament. He brought that same play in the NHL this season. I was glad when I heard Hughes got tough on him. Hes way too complacent out there. He need to light a fire under his ass and start moving his feet

 

[Egresch]

The summer after his first year we heard of him doing all kinds of training, even breathing ones which got laughed at. This summer I'm not sure I heard a peep except him acting like a superstar, making commercials. Might be that he slacked off a bit thinking he was all that, because of the great end of season and the fan adoration, and got a "big head". Same happened with X for a while after all this attention and doing commercials and stuff. These are kids afterall. I'm sure all will be fine.

He was working whole summer with Erik Cernak, I am sure 2 time Stanley cup champion is a good role model. He was even able to drop 10 pounds, unlike Savard
He is over-thinking and then he stops moving his feet. He tends to do this when he feels the pressure to be a play driver on his line. It sounds weird, but this is not the first time I see him in this situation.

 

[Guy Larose]

He was working whole summer with Erik Cernak, I am sure 2 time Stanley cup champion is a good role model. He was even able to drop 10 pounds, unlike Savard
He is over-thinking and then he stops moving his feet. He tends to do this when he feels the pressure to be a play driver on his line. It sounds weird, but this is not the first time I see him in this situation.

Most players work with other players every summer, so it doesn't mean much. Barron worked with Crosby.

 

[habbubba]

Is he still injured? he looks slow and sluggish out there.

Still injured or has he been replaced by an imposter because he looks nothing like he should. Don't recall any player forget doing something they have been doing since they were a child.

 

[nhlfan9191]

I start worrying about Slaf when I watched him play the world championship. He was gliding all over the ice and played like he was too strong for the tournament. He brought that same play in the NHL this season. I was glad when I heard Hughes got tough on him. Hes way too complacent out there. He need to light a fire under his ass and start moving his feet

I don’t get it. The past few years we’ve heard about how he’s he works and what a positive attitude he is on the ice and after one offseason he’s now a floater? It doesn’t make any sense. Is it the contract that’s made him complacent?

 

[le_sean]

I don’t get it. The past few years we’ve heard about how he’s he works and what a positive attitude he is on the ice and after one offseason he’s now a floater? It doesn’t make any sense. Is it the contract that’s made him complacent?

He’s not complacent. He’s just a Robertson/Rantanen type of big body. Just because he’s 6’4 doesn’t mean he needs to kill someone every shift.

Do I want him to be better? Of course. But he’s also stuck playing with the worst centre on the team. Just put him back with Nick and Cole.

 

[habbubba]

Most players work with other players every summer, so it doesn't mean much. Barron worked with Crosby.

Playing some shinny prior to camp is meaningless,players have been doing that for decades,even rivals.

 

[sampollock]

all scouts and such wetted their pants that Slaf played with men overseas.
so he is now playing with men in the best league in the world
so it's up to him to grow and mature

 

[Egresch]

Most players work with other players every summer, so it doesn't mean much. Barron worked with Crosby.

I am talking about gym training in the off season. He came ready and in shape destroying machine again. His problem is between the ears.

 

[Guy Larose]

Playing some shinny prior to camp is meaningless,players have been doing that for decades,even rivals.

Isn't that what I said in response to the other post?

 

[habbubba]

Isn't that what I said in response to the other post?

Nope! and I expanded on what you did say.

 

[Guy Larose]

Nope! and I expanded on what you did say.

No. And here's your shinny...clearly says trained with him and others Canadiens Justin Barron On Development In Laval, Finding Identity

 

[LaP]

He’s not complacent. He’s just a Robertson/Rantanen type of big body. Just because he’s 6’4 doesn’t mean he needs to kill someone every shift.

Do I want him to be better? Of course. But he’s also stuck playing with the worst centre on the team. Just put him back with Nick and Cole.

Probably the worst top 6 center in the NHL if we are fully honest. Slaf could and should do better but he's not the main problem on the line.

 

[Heffyhoof]

The points production is fine but the big guy doesnt skate. He watch and let him self glide on the ice. I hope he will figure it out and become faster to process the play. He has a big body but he play a very soft game. He could be a force on the ice but he act as a spectator.

Anderson = 70 hits
Slafkovsky and Xhekaj = 67 hits
Heineman = 66 hits
Oddly enough Dach is fifth with 53 hits and Evans sixth with 41 hits.

"Soft game" Sounds more like you've got a bias and aren't watching properly.

 

[KevSkillz4]

Everything will be fine. He is a 20 years old player, that's totally normal.

15 pts in 25 games isn't that bad, if he can wake up like last season in his 50 last game, Slaf will finish with over 60 pts, good for his 3rd year.

We can all expect more for his 4th year and become the player we all see last year. This guy have all tools, he just need to be more consistent and everything will be fine with him.

He play better since Laine comeback, so I'm not worried!

 

[Benstheman]

I think i'd put him back with Susy and Coco on the 1st line.

Newhook could bring speed to the 2nd line. i wouldn't be against putting Armia there also.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I think i'd put him back with Susy and Coco on the 1st line.

Newhook could bring speed to the 2nd line. i wouldn't be against putting Armia there also.

Put Heineman with Dach Laine

 

[Benstheman]

Put Heineman with Dach Laine

Yeah i like it