Player Discussion The Slaf Thread - Parabolic Growth Edition

[Lafleurs Guy]

That poster highlighted a key thing that we have seen before practice and its Slaf's dedication to improving. His shot and using it was a key area of improvement and he's been tackling that with his time with the shooting coach Taylor. On draft day there was no doubt legitimate questions and concerns with the pick. Slaf had the physical and skill tools to be an impactful player, the question was can he get there and from day 1 he's shown a deep commitment to doing so. Its something that seperates him from Galchenyuk and KK, other top picks for us with a good skill set but couldn't get there (although Chucky did give us a short glimpse).

To be fair to those previous players - they didn’t have a shooting coach. They didn’t have a skills coach. They were screamed at to “grind!”

It’s a testament to Slaf that he’s taken full advantage of what’s been offered. But at least he had resources available. The culture is completely different.

 

[Hannibal]

To be fair to those previous players - they didn’t have a shooting coach. They didn’t have a skills coach. They were screamed at to “grind!”

I agree. But Slaf has the fire inside of himself to do everything he can to be the best. The same fire we hear about every superstar in every professional sport. Been a long time since we drafted a player with that kind of fire.

 

[Apfel Struble]

It's difficult for me to accept the notion that it would. The NHL is the best league in the world with the best players in the world, there is no better developmental league.

The issue is that not all players have the capacity to skip prior development levels and jump right into the NHL.

Exactly! Also I think there is this assumption by a lot of fans that a player needs to dominate a league in order to develop like a student needs to ace a class in order to learn. Except the latter is kinda false. I have very limited experience in advanced sports but as for taking and teaching classes, I do. The very harsh classes are always the one where you learn the most. There is a balance to strike as to not cause a burnout or anxiety (or both) in the student, but there's a reason the most important classes are the most challenging ones. Of course the physicality is the big difference here and physical readiness is the determining factor

The hockey IQ essentialism is also so very dated. Intelligence is a highly dynamic, constructive and environment-dependent trait. Hockey IQ would definitely fall under spatial intelligence and a bit of bodily-kinesthetic intelligence which can both be developed. The fact that coaching staffs would struggle or refuse to teach it in the past doesn't mean it can't be learned and is a static attribute, especially in an era where everyone can get access to game footage and a top camera to analyze their movement and correct them

 

[BaseballCoach]

We have been to war this summer and we doubled down despite the adversity and a rough first 10 games.

I remember you, @BaseballCoach and @SuzukiSZN and supported by @Pomee.

We were the de Gaulleist of this thread !

A point-starved first ten games, mostly playing with 0-goal Anderson.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I agree. But Slaf has the fire inside of himself to do everything he can to be the best. The same fire we hear about every superstar in every professional sport. Been a long time since we drafted a player with that kind of fire.

I completely agree. Full marks and credit to Slaf.

But credit to mgmt for providing a culture that helps players like him to maximize their abilities. That simply didn’t exist under the old regime.

How demoralizing is it for a skilled player to be misused, screamed at and put out of position while watching vastly inferior players take your spot? It’s going to make you angry and maybe rebellious.

That shit is over now. Praise the Lord.

 

[Andy]

I will forever defend Galchenyuk, even if he was flawed. But I’ll do it in another thread.

Try this on for size: what if our coach right now was Therrien? What if we had drafted Slaf back when MB ran the show?

He would De La Rose on the first line and healthy scratch Slaf

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

He would De La Rose on the first line and healthy scratch Slaf

Exactly.

And knowing Slaf he’d take in what Therrien had to offer - grind.

He’d be the best Brandon Prust in the league.

 

[teamfirst]

Everything is fair to wonder. But nobody has the answer. As it's been done times and times again by tons of different players, he could have played a junior year at 18 or in thie AHL, come in at 19 and flourish just as much. Or...instead of seeing it at 19, we would have seeing it a year later. We don't know.

One thing is SURE. It was NOT a mistake to have him in the NHL at his age. It can't be...he's just great. What we will NEVER know if it would have been a mistake to have him in the AHL at 18.

Obviously, we will only know if it's mistake or not for every decision AFTER the fact. Was it a mistake to have Reinbacher play in Europe this year? Strangely, nobody has an opinion right now....I guess until he comes in and does great or not....

So so true, and yet people continue to act like they knew al along

 

[Tuggy]

Obviously, we will only know if it's mistake or not for every decision AFTER the fact. Was it a mistake to have Reinbacher play in Europe this year? Strangely, nobody has an opinion right now....I guess until he comes in and does great or not....

Mistake or not, I'm ready for Reinbacher in the AHL...

But I don't want to derail this thread.

 

[sampollock]

getting him the shooting coach and all those drills are paying off, he has gained confidence

 

[Antiillafire]

That poster highlighted a key thing that we have seen before practice and its Slaf's dedication to improving. His shot and using it was a key area of improvement and he's been tackling that with his time with the shooting coach Taylor. On draft day there was no doubt legitimate questions and concerns with the pick. Slaf had the physical and skill tools to be an impactful player, the question was can he get there and from day 1 he's shown a deep commitment to doing so. Its something that seperates him from Galchenyuk and KK, other top picks for us with a good skill set but couldn't get there (although Chucky did give us a short glimpse).

Agreed. Also that poster was me

 

[417]

Everything is fair to wonder. But nobody has the answer. As it's been done times and times again by tons of different players, he could have played a junior year at 18 or in thie AHL, come in at 19 and flourish just as much. Or...instead of seeing it at 19, we would have seeing it a year later. We don't know.

That's odd...because most people swore the answer was to send him to the AHL or back to Finland or even to the Eerie Otters, the Slovakian Nationial Junior Team for the WJCs.

Now it's "nobody really knows"?

We can't play both sides of that argument.

One thing is SURE. It was NOT a mistake to have him in the NHL at his age. It can't be...he's just great. What we will NEVER know if it would have been a mistake to have him in the AHL at 18.

I mean, we draft players to be NHL players...not AHL one's.

So really, and with all due respect, who cares.

Obviously, we will only know if it's mistake or not for every decision AFTER the fact. Was it a mistake to have Reinbacher play in Europe this year? Strangely, nobody has an opinion right now....I guess until he comes in and does great or not....

I was totally for keeping Reinbacher in Laval this season, I understood the decision because of the numbers game...but going back to the NLA never seemed like a very appealing option for me.

 

[teamfirst]

I will forever defend Galchenyuk, even if he was flawed. But I’ll do it in another thread.

Try this on for size: what if our coach right now was Therrien? What if we had drafted Slaf back when MB ran the show?

What if Galcheiniuk had Slaf heart and fire,

Defending Galcheiniuk is pretty dumb if you ask me, the guy couldn't even get it togheter under Crosby leadership for god sake

 

[Kennerback]

getting him the shooting coach and all those drills are paying off, he has gained confidence

He’s already scoring with the shorter windup. He never scored that way in the minors. He learned quick and well.

 

[417]

Exactly! Also I think there is this assumption by a lot of fans that a player needs to dominate a league in order to develop like a student needs to ace a class in order to learn. Except the latter is kinda false. I have very limited experience in advanced sports but as for taking and teaching classes, I do. The very harsh classes are always the one where you learn the most. There is a balance to strike as to not cause a burnout or anxiety (or both) in the student, but there's a reason the most important classes are the most challenging ones. Of course the physicality is the big difference here and physical readiness is the determining factor

The hockey IQ essentialism is also so very dated. Intelligence is a highly dynamic, constructive and environment-dependent trait. Hockey IQ would definitely fall under spatial intelligence and a bit of bodily-kinesthetic intelligence which can both be developed. The fact that coaching staffs would struggle or refuse to teach it in the past doesn't mean it can't be learned and is a static attribute, especially in an era where everyone can get access to game footage and a top camera to analyze their movement and correct them

100%...there's also a misconception that a player who graduates to the NHL at 18 or 19, needs to dominate or be a super productive NHL player, or else he's not ready.

 

[JoelWarlord]

That's odd...because most people swore the answer was to send him to the AHL.

Now it's "nobody really knows"?

We can't play both sides of that argument.

I've made this comparison a million times but it never stops being funny to me that every year some SHL forward with 8 points in 49 games on the 4th line goes in the first round and everyone understands that's a good prospect, that points in a pro league as a teenager aren't the be all end all, the player will develop with experience & age etc., but the same approach in the NHL is malpractice once a guy is drafted.

 

[Apfel Struble]

100%...there's also a misconception that a player who graduates to the NHL at 18 or 19, needs to dominate or be a super productive NHL player, or else he's not ready.

Yeah, like I don't think Owen Beck has drastically changed before and after his trade to Saginaw but he went from top 30ish to top 5ish in P/G. Some fans expectations of him have changed significantly though

 

[Tyson]

Damn that Slaf potential fires me up.

 

[Sorinth]

100%...there's also a misconception that a player who graduates to the NHL at 18 or 19, needs to dominate or be a super productive NHL player, or else he's not ready.

Yeah there's a difference between being ready to play your game and being ready to learn. Slaf wasn't the first but was most definitely the second.

 

[Seb]

The addition of Slaf on the first line makes me want to watch the games again.

It's been a while my friends.

 

[417]

Yeah, like I don't think Owen Beck has drastically changed before and after his trade to Saginaw but he went from top 30ish to top 5ish in P/G. Some fans expectations of him have changed significantly though

Yes, it's raised the expectations for him significantly...expectations I don't think he'll be able to meet.

And when he doesn't reach those expectations, we'll blame bad development.

 

[Kennerback]

Think about it though. Do you think a player like Slaf would have crippled his career if they buried him in the AHL? IMO Europe, AHL, CHL, he would have made it. He’s too skilled and driven. You can’t break someone like that.

 

[teamfirst]

Damn that Slaf potential fires me up.

Me too

 

[LaP]

Exactly! Also I think there is this assumption by a lot of fans that a player needs to dominate a league in order to develop like a student needs to ace a class in order to learn.

I can't speak for hockey as i played amateur all my life but when it comes to school i can tell you from my own experience that dominating can be very detrimental.

I spent my secondary (high?) school not being challenged. Was able to "ace" my way thru secondary school while not having to study once and still got 80+ average in all classes. It's not really that i was lazy i just did not need to study and it was easy so instead i was meddling with the family computer trying to learn assembly on my own etc ...

When i entered university reality hit me in the face. I now had to study and i never did it. I did not have the discipline nor the experience. I was able to survive but the first two years were hard and i had to mature fast. I wish secondary school would have been more challenging.

That's why i will always personally oppose the "a player must dominate". Sometime it can be good to be challenged if you are ready to be. Having an easy time can be a bad thing.

 

[waitin425]

"Studkovsky", "Passkovsky", "Slafgoalsky", "SlafGOATsky", "Luke Slafwalker", etc. – best name ever!

Unislafcornsky