Player Discussion The Slaf Thread - Parabolic Growth Edition

[KevSkillz4]

Slaf has both. Next year will be considered his breakout to the rest of the NHL fanbase, even though us Habs fans are seeing it this year. PPG is not out of the question at the age of 20.

I agree. His skillset is too good to don't put 30g, 50a type of season.

 

[vlady]

It bugs me that he doesn't get too many opportunities in 4-on-4 situations. I believe he would benefit from the extra space. Same thing with OT. Yesterday the OT was over before he could even get on the ice.

 

[Rapala]

It bugs me that he doesn't get too many opportunities in 4-on-4 situations. I believe he would benefit from the extra space. Same thing with OT. Yesterday the OT was over before he could even get on the ice.

The coach doesn't use him in these situations but I'm hoping he starts pairing him with Suzuki.
The sooner the better. 4-on-4 and 3v3. I'm finding the Suzuki Caufield duo is getting a bit stale.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

The coach doesn't use him in these situations but I'm hoping he starts pairing him with Suzuki.
The sooner the better. 4-on-4 and 3v3. I'm finding the Suzuki Caufield duo is getting a bit stale.

Its not stale its that Matheson has been going for the highlights reel goal all alone everytime he gets the puck in overtime

 

[ReimanSum1908]

I get it from an existing hockey fan standpoint, Matthews is a legendary goal scorer already.

But from a marketing standpoint and increasing your fanbase, clearly you need to market the sexy 6’3 Slovakian vs the balding pedophile looking guy.

Look, if he just shaved off the mustache, this entire conversation would be moot.

 

[Kennerback]

35 points was what I wanted from him in the off-season.

Then he started the year with an abysmal 2 points in 15 games.

Yet here we are, with 16 games left he already reached the 35 points mark. He's pulling his weight and and making high level plays, showing off great tools and contributing to the best PP I've seen in years in Montreal.

He really progressed more quickly than I anticipated, it's been great to see. I don't remember the last prospect that showed that much progression in like half a season. Lets hope it keeps trending this way but I'm not worried, kid seems like a hard worker.

I’ll be very happy with Joe Thornton’s 41 points in season 2 with the Bruins. He’s almost there.

 

[Goldthorpe]

The coach doesn't use him in these situations but I'm hoping he starts pairing him with Suzuki.
The sooner the better. 4-on-4 and 3v3. I'm finding the Suzuki Caufield duo is getting a bit stale.

Agree, and IMHO we should spread the love next year. Caufield-Dach is something that feels natural, and Roy is someone I could see being the third wheel to Suzuki and Slaf.

 

[Rapala]

Its not stale its that Matheson has been going for the highlights reel goal all alone everytime he gets the puck in overtime

It's stale in my eyes. I haven't liked it for quite some time now. But I don't disagree with Matheson's play selection.

 

[Runner77]

 

[BaseballCoach]

Worst #1 pick ever

 

[Runner77]

Worst #1 pick ever

Yeah but, his Liiga stats!!!

 

[BaseballCoach]

Yeah but, his Liiga stats!!!

Can't make plays, no vision, no IQ. Extremely concerning especially considering we missed the Wright choice.

Besides, he is just leeching off Caufield now. How do his numbers compare to Anderson when he was on the first line, huh? Huh? I'm sure they are nowhere near as good considering Anderson's superior vision, IQ and playmaking ability.

 

[SlafySZN]

Worst #1 pick ever

But Rantanen is a 10th overall pick, Slaf can’t be compared to him

 

[overlords]

Yeah but, his Liiga stats!!!

something something Kazakhstan

 

[LaP]

But Rantanen is a 10th overall pick, Slaf can’t be compared to him

I'll bite even if i know you're joking but some people might read that and be like right .... right ...

Here's the top 10 the year Rantanen was drafted

1	1	Edmonton	Connor McDavid	C	Erie Otters [OHL]	632	328	628	956	249	2023-24
1	2	Buffalo	Jack Eichel	C	Boston University [H-East]	523	200	296	496	168	2023-24
1	3	Arizona	Dylan Strome	C	Erie Otters [OHL]	420	112	174	286	130	2023-24
1	4	Toronto	Mitch Marner	R	London Knights [OHL]	569	193	437	630	182	2023-24
1	5	Carolina	Noah Hanifin	D	Boston College [H-East]	663	60	216	276	185	2023-24
1	6	New Jersey	Pavel Zacha	C	Sarnia Sting [OHL]	533	107	175	282	142	2023-24
1	7	Philadelphia	Ivan Provorov	D	Brandon Wheat Kings [WHL]	599	70	176	246	214	2023-24
1	8	Columbus	Zach Werenski	D	U. of Michigan [Big-10]	471	83	202	285	113	2023-24
1	9	San Jose	Timo Meier	R	Halifax Mooseheads [QMJHL]	526	182	184	366	297	2023-24c

Now obviously Rantanen is better than most of those guys but man what an impressive top 10. You don't see that every year.

 

[the valiant effort]

Feels like Provorov is in his mid 30s

 

[BaseballCoach]

But Rantanen is a 10th overall pick, Slaf can’t be compared to him

Yes, but in a 2015 re-draft, Rantanen is probably 2nd behind McDavid 1st.

Rantanen has more goals and a better ppg than both Aho and Eichel, and way more goals and playoff prowess than Marner.

 

[SlafySZN]

Yes, but in a 2015 re-draft, Rantanen is probably 2nd behind McDavid 1st.

Rantanen has more goals and a better ppg than both Aho and Eichel, and way more goals and playoff prowess than Marner.

I agree with you.

I was sarcastic. I was refferring to people who said for a year that Slaf couldn't be compared to any other player other than other 1st overall lol.

 

[Shred]

I agree with you.

I was sarcastic. I was refferring to people who said for a year that Slaf couldn't be compared to any other player other than other 1st overall lol.

Big mistake from the Habs, clearly they should have picked #1 overall the year Rantanen was picked instead.

 

[Bouboumaster]

Too bad he's the worst #1 draft pick, according to some genius on the main board

 

[BaseballCoach]

Too bad he's the worst #1 draft pick, according to some genius on the main board

To be fair, the posters on the main board got their cue from several posters here.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

I'd be lying if i didn't admit he's the only reason I've watched the team since Dach went down , there's really no point in tuning in aside from watching this kid develop

 

[Tyson]

I'd be lying if i didn't admit he's the only reason I've watched the team since Dach went down , there's really no point in tuning in aside from watching this kid develop

I was just thinking the same thing...he is the only reason I tune in.

 

[Rapala]

I'd be lying if i didn't admit he's the only reason I've watched the team since Dach went down , there's really no point in tuning in aside from watching this kid develop

I think most of us are fascinated by just how much of a difference he makes on a first line at his age.
I've actually enjoyed watching Roy Newhook and Armia as well along with Xhekaj and Guhle.
We've been competitive with some very good teams with these two lines.

It all falls apart with the lack of NHL caliber 3rd and 4th line role players.
With Dach coming back it puts a bullseye on that group of 7 or 8 players.
I think we can become a far better team quicker than some think if Hughes finds a way to address this.
Then and only then would I look to move some of our better assets and aim fixes higher up the roster.

 

[Tyson]

I think most of us are fascinated by just how much of a difference he makes on a first line at his age.
I've actually enjoyed watching Roy Newhook and Armia as well along with Xhekaj and Guhle.
We've been competitive with some very good teams with these two lines.

It all falls apart with the lack of NHL caliber 3rd and 4th line role players.
With Dach coming back it puts a bullseye on that group of 7 or 8 players.
I think we can become a far better team quicker than some think if Hughes finds a way to address this.
Then and only then would I look to move some of our better assets and aim fixes higher up the roster.

As long as the Habs carry this deadweight they will have substandard 3rd and 4th lines. Hard to fathom how many useless vets a team can have at the same time.