Player Discussion The Slaf Thread - Parabolic Growth Edition

[Rapala]

The only Slaf debate now is "How High Can He Fly?"
I don't see regression being a real possibility in his case because he's starting to do so many things well.
He's a fun goofball and I don't see him getting a Fat Head which is one of the few thing that can derail him.

 

[Kosseca]

I have to say that he's impressing me more and more each time I see him play. such a strong board presence and good hockey sense. you can see that he's now playing with some confidence. I hope he keep this up and does not fall into the "over confident" mode.

 

[SlafySZN]

There is a new thread on him on the main boards. Started by a Sens fan if you can believe that.

@waitin425 don't miss it!

Me to them

 

[Jaaanosik]

And at the end of the day, Cooley may in fact turn out to be the better player. Hell, Wright might turn out to be the best player from that draft.

It’s far too early to know.

Better player? What are the UoM (Units of Measure)?
Evaluations, comparisons, ... are useless without UoM.

 

[nhlfan9191]

There’s another guy who might wind up being the best.

It’s hard to get a reading on young defenseman because they have a much longer development curve. But Nemec looks good given his age. But the more I watch Slafkovsky, the more I understand the pick. And funny, the more I watch Cooley who was my guy when Wright started falling off, the more I understand why they passed on him as a center. But these guys are still in their D-2 so lots of time to get a virdict. Not that it matters as long as Slaf becomes an effective NHLer.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

It’s hard to get a reading on young defenseman because they have a much longer development curve. But Nemec looks good given his age. But the more I watch Slafkovsky, the more I understand the pick. And funny, the more I watch Cooley who was my guy when Wright started falling off, the more I understand why they passed on him as a center. But these guys are still in their D-2 so lots of time to get a virdict. Not that it matters as long as Slaf becomes an effective NHLer.

I am very happy with Slaf. I’m also ecstatic about Hutson. Especially considering we traded Kulak for that pick and got him late in the second round.

With Beck, Engstrom and Mesar… that has the potential to be as good or better than the 2007 draft.

 

[le_sean]

The only Slaf debate now is "How High Can He Fly?"
I don't see regression being a real possibility in his case because he's starting to do so many things well.
He's a fun goofball and I don't see him getting a Fat Head which is one of the few thing that can derail him.

He seems to respect and understand the status he’s been given in Slovakia. He wasn’t phased when there was a strong reaction by the Habs fanbase on his selection at 1. He was fully aware that his early struggles were normal for a player his age. He’s quite mature and emotionally intelligent.

 

[cphabs]

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.

f***ing fantastic post!

 

[1909]

It would be great if Slaf would reach 50 points mark.

 

[morhilane]

It would be great if Slaf would reach 50 points mark.

He has a shot at it, but no room for injury or production lapses.

 

[Kennerback]

Better player? What are the UoM (Units of Measure)?
Evaluations, comparisons, ... are useless without UoM.

Speaks better English? Better hair? Slaf probably wins that one too.

 

[stastny12]

Just want to remind that some people were comparing Slaf´s production to Kotkaniemi´s one in the early part of the season. If Slaf can keep up, he´s projected to finish the season with 45 points. It´s more than Kotkaniemi ever had.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

I might have to buy my first jersey since Kovalev.... But I'll wait i ain't jinxing it , but I think this kid is HIM

 

[SlafySZN]

 

[PavelBrendl]

Slaf's production by age group in his 19yo season:

U20: 2nd
U21: 4th
U22: 10th
U23: 16th
U24: 21st
U25: 32nd

Not bad for the worst 1st overall ever.

 

[Deebs]

Doesn't Pasta use this stick?

 

[Leto]

I might have to buy my first jersey since Kovalev.... But I'll wait i ain't jinxing it , but I think this kid is HIM

I bought a blank away jersey made it into a Slaf jersey mid-November, no regrets from my end. I am keeping a blank home jersey for my next Russian savior Ivan Demidov .

Doesn't Pasta use this stick?

If GearGeek is to be believed, Pastrnak did test it in training camp but didn't use it in-season. Caufield does use the same stick, but in black-red coloring.

 

[vokiel]

I might have to buy my first jersey since Kovalev.... But I'll wait i ain't jinxing it , but I think this kid is HIM

Just buy a nameless jersey and stick a name and number using white tape. A lot less expensive to be a fan eh?

 

[Skip Bayless]

 

[le_sean]

While the stick looks cool, it might make it a little harder for his teammates to pass it to him

 

[Gally11]

Debatable IMO...production is often circumstantial and depends on many factors which aren't in an individual player's control.

Perfect example, Slafkovsky isn't playing all that much different than he was earlier in the season, it's just alot of what he's doing now is ending up in production, he's also playing with consistent linemates, he's got more PP time, better deployment all together.

The sign of high IQ, IMO, is not the consistency in production...the sign of the high IQ is consistently doing all of the things on the ice that lead to production or not (aka the "process"). That part, he's in full control of and kudos to him because he's been as consistent a player on this team for the last 40ish games as anyone not named Nick Suzuki.

Process > results...

Yep there was a group of people who said the points would start coming when he was playing like that because he had a lot of bad luck during a stretch where beautiful passes weren’t being converted etc

 

[Naslundforever]

While the stick looks cool, it might make it a little harder for his teammates to pass it to him

I was thinking the same Matheson never passing again. Might be better for sneaky defence though. And fewer calls.

 

[Toene]

Slaf's production by age group in his 19yo season:

U20: 2nd
U21: 4th
U22: 10th
U23: 16th
U24: 21st
U25: 32nd

Not bad for the worst 1st overall ever.

Total points or ppg?

 

[Habs]

He's been amazing, thank god they didn't draft Wright.

 

[vlady]

Just want to remind that some people were comparing Slaf´s production to Kotkaniemi´s one in the early part of the season. If Slaf can keep up, he´s projected to finish the season with 45 points. It´s more than Kotkaniemi ever had.

I remember some people saying he is gonna be like Puljujarvi

Not necessarily on the Habs board.