Player Discussion The Slaf Thread - Parabolic Growth Edition

[Lafleurs Guy]

There you have it folks,

Slaf himself says he's playing badly.

I don't think he's playing badly.

I do think he can play a lot better.

 

[Kennerback]

Thing that is weird with Slaf is you get 5 posters and they’ll have a problem with 5 different aspects of his game.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Thing that is weird with Slaf is you get 5 posters they’ll have a problem with 5 different aspects of his game.

He's the new Kirby Dach.

22 in 37 isn't bad. But it's less than what we expected. Some of this may be due to injury but he's lacked intensity for a while now. I had higher hopes for him.

We still have a full 2nd half to play. Lots of time for him to redeem the season. I had a target of 60+ points for him. He can still get close if he has a better half.

 

[LaP]

I think that if it were that simple he would have already shortened his stick.

Kind of hard to do. Email spam can't help you with that either.

 

[Deleted member 257557]

Thing that is weird with Slaf is you get 5 posters and they’ll have a problem with 5 different aspects of his game.

I think when he’s static and overthinking like he admitted he was doing he’s not using his crazy tools and his entire game takes a downturn. He just needs xp and find what type of game works for him. He’s so valuable when he’s on.

 

[sampollock]

Slaf you can do this. get going

 

[Jurivan Demidovsky]

Nobody is harder on Slaf then Slaf. The haters have set themselves up to eat some delicious crow. He's gonna become an absolute force in this league. There's even higher gears than what we've seen last season. Still just scratching the surface.

 

[Jurivan Demidovsky]

He's the new Kirby Dach.

22 in 37 isn't bad. But it's less than what we expected. Some of this may be due to injury but he's lacked intensity for a while now. I had higher hopes for him.

We still have a full 2nd half to play. Lots of time for him to redeem the season. I had a target of 60+ points for him. He can still get close if he has a better half.

I dont think it was a lack of intensity as much as a lack of confidence that leads to the game going too fast at times, and hence making him seem less intense. But I believe he's the type of player who prides himself in giving it what he's got.

 

[HabzSauce]

Nobody is harder on Slaf then Slaf. The haters have set themselves up to eat some delicious crow. He's gonna become an absolute force in this league. There's even higher gears than what we've seen last season. Still just scratching the surface.

Honestly not worried about him one bit. He could finish the year at the same pace he's played first half of the year and still wouldn't be worried.

Over next couple years I want to see him get more mean. And more confident and assertive. That will come with time. I'm willing to be patient with Slaf. But once he pops off oh man we are so set. The Slaf we saw last year was just a prelude to what's to come

 

[River Meadow]

Sure, but there is a huge difference between playing badly and being bad player. What you and bunch of others have been saying is that he is not a good player.

I wouldn't say he's a bad player, but he's not uber-skilled either like you would expect a true #1 OA would be.

He has good passing and good vision, but aside from that he needs to do a lot of work in other areas, like skating, shooting, etc, etc.

The big one: he needs to use his body and size to his advantage.

 

[CHwest]

Nobody is harder on Slaf then Slaf. The haters have set themselves up to eat some delicious crow. He's gonna become an absolute force in this league. There's even higher gears than what we've seen last season. Still just scratching the surface.

Meh, he seems pretty comfortable where he is at.

 

[Jurivan Demidovsky]

Meh, he seems pretty comfortable where he is at.

Are you watching him right now he's having a strong game

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Really good game from him tonight. I’d like to see him shoot more though.

 

[ahmedou]

SLAF'S BEST GAME OF THE SEASON 24/25!

WE WERE BLESSED BY THIS PASSES!

PLEASE BLESS US WITH YOUR SNIPER SHOTS!

 

[Artaud]

I see a guy who is still putting it together. Today he flashed hands and vision. Some days he's dominating physically. In a few weeks he'll snipe a couple goals.

The talent is evident and from all accounts he has the fire needed to figure it out. I understand the uncertainty and questions because he regressed, but development isn't always linear and I think Slaf is a guy who might take some time before reaching his final form.

In a way he is very lucky that the team has a lot of youngsters performing at a high level like Hutson, because I think it takes heat off of him. If he was our lone young star and had to carry the burden of franchise savior like Celebrini or Bedard, he would be eaten alive by the fanbase and media. The situation around him gives him precious time to work and improve.

 

[ahmedou]

You know Slaf did a great game when he's smilling! No smile, no party!

Slaf's smiley face!

 

[Doc5]

I see a guy who is still putting it together. Today he flashed hands and vision. Some days he's dominating physically. In a few weeks he'll snipe a couple goals.

The talent is evident and from all accounts he has the fire needed to figure it out. I understand the uncertainty and questions because he regressed, but development isn't always linear and I think Slaf is a guy who might take some time before reaching his final form.

In a way he is very lucky that the team has a lot of youngsters performing at a high level like Hutson, because I think it takes heat off of him. If he was our lone young star and had to carry the burden of franchise savior like Celebrini or Bedard, he would be eaten alive by the fanbase and media. The situation around him gives him precious time to work and improve.

Agreed, and I also think it’s the necessary motivation for him. Before he was drafted, he said something along the lines of I don’t care where I’m drafted but when my career is over, I wanted to be the best player from the 2022 draft. Now seeing how Hutson is performing is probably extra motivation for him to reach his potential as well.

 

[Andy]

Slafkovsky on pace for 40 assists - 10 more than last season.

If he kept his 20 goal pace like last year, he’d hit 60 points this year. He can still do it if he keeps up the intensity like he did last year.

He’s definitely a 70 point winger in my mind when all is done. May flirt with a PPG season.

His passing game and vision is very very high level. Even in a bad year he’s making insane, Kucherov-esque passes every game.

 

[Rapala]

Slaf's impact for me has more to do with the line playing well as a whole particularly 5v5.
The rest will take care of itself. Last night was very good example against a tough match up.
If Slaf is smiling it's because he knows he's contributing to W's and that is all that really matters.

 

[Erika]

I wouldn't say he's a bad player, but he's not uber-skilled either like you would expect a true #1 OA would be.

He has good passing and good vision, but aside from that he needs to do a lot of work in other areas, like skating, shooting, etc, etc.

The big one: he needs to use his body and size to his advantage.

But you have to compare to what was available at that time.
Things that the Habs could control in that draft year. They did the right thing picking him #1.

There was no sure elite superstar/generational talent, so stop trying to compare him to one. That draft year was weak and the Habs still got the best/second player in that draft. That's all we can hope for really. The rest, Hughes and Gorton had no control.

Just stop with the true #1 Overall narrative, because there was none, stop talking out of your assshh, it's so annoying

 

[Frankenheimer]

But you have to compare to what was available at that time.
Things that the Habs could control in that draft year. They did the right thing picking him #1.

There was no sure elite superstar/generational talent, so stop trying to compare him to one. That draft year was weak and the Habs still got the best/second player in that draft. That's all we can hope for really. The rest, Hughes and Gorton had no control.

Just stop with the true #1 Overall narrative, because there was none, stop talking out of your assshh, it's so annoying

The narrative will continue because people just cant let it go.

Slaf played great and showed amazing vision. When he breaks out, its going to be sweet.

 

[Walrus26]

Nice pass for CC's goal from the big guy.

 

[Tyson]

He resembled the Slaf of 2023-2024 last night

 

[No More Subban]

I wouldn't say he's a bad player, but he's not uber-skilled either like you would expect a true #1 OA would be.

He has good passing and good vision, but aside from that he needs to do a lot of work in other areas, like skating, shooting, etc, etc.

The big one: he needs to use his body and size to his advantage.

I think most of us here knew we weren't getting a generational talent from that weak draft. Instead, we went for a need (a power forward like Kreider/Wilson) and I'm honestly okay with that since we don't have that in the system.

Or maybe we're watching a different player. I see him use his big body to win puck battles all the time.

He definitely needs to shoot a lot more. I agree with that.

 

[ReHabs]

Instead, we went for a need (a power forward like Kreider/Wilson) and I'm honestly okay with that since we don't have that in the system.

That’s not at all what Slaf was, is, or ever will be. That’s not how he is, how he sees the game, or how he interprets his role.

That’s not how he has ever played for us either.