Player Discussion The Slaf Thread - Parabolic Growth Edition

[Lafleurs Guy]

It’s a mute point now. I think it would’ve been a much smoother transition had he spent last year in the the AHL. He did get a taste of adversity early tho and that’s something that’s probably a big positive playing in a market like Montreal long term.

Handled it like a champ.

 

[jrom]

Even with his crazy production as of late, it's his 200 foot game that impresses me the most. I don't recall ever seeing an <20 yo forward being that good defensively against top opposition

I swear he's is going to break the streak of centers winning the Selke, he's just so damn dominant on the ice. Who was the last winger to win it, Brind'amour? Lehtinen? Slaf can do it

It's what I love the most with him. His points are not empty points where he's a nuisance at even strength like a lot of Sens and Sabres forwards. I can see Slaf snuff the other teams top line offence in a Bo7 while still producing

21 shots for vs 1 against

 

[JoelWarlord]

One thing I want to push back on a little bit is the idea this was some wild and unforeseeable development. He got picked 1st overall because in broad strokes this version of Slafkovsky was the player on the ice most of the time from Feb through May in his draft year, not because the scouts got a twinkle in their eye watching him struggle early in the year with his club team and predicted some magic random dice roll growth.

After his first 21 Liiga games in his draft year (September through December!), he had 29P in 43 combined competitive Olympic, Liiga, and World Championships games. Those results got handwaved away and a lot of the discussion around this player was hyperfocus on the 10 point total in 31 regular season games when 21 of those games took place early in the season when he was 17 and adjusting to pro hockey. His overall talent level got massively undersold because 31GP and 10P is what shows up on his hockeydb page.

 

[McGuires Corndog]

Our 1st overall pick is showing a lot of great things...why shouldn't it be that way?

Why is that wrong?

Seems a lot more weird to me to see a bunch of grown men/women fist pumping and air-humping when he's not playing well.

That's the real problem.

I didn’t mean there was anything wrong with it.

It’s just one big party and I’m here for it. Lol

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

One thing I want to push back on a little bit is the idea this was some wild and unforeseeable development. He got picked 1st overall because in broad strokes this version of Slafkovsky was the player on the ice most of the time from Feb through May in his draft year, not because the scouts got a twinkle in their eye watching him struggle early in the year with his club team and predicted some magic random dice roll growth.

After his first 21 Liiga games in his draft year (September through December!), he had 29P in 43 combined competitive Olympic, Liiga, and World Championships games. Those results got handwaved away and a lot of the discussion around this player was hyperfocus on the 10 point total in 31 regular season games when 21 of those games took place early in the season when he was 17 and adjusting to pro hockey. His overall talent level got massively undersold because 31GP and 10P is what shows up on his hockeydb page.

I think if you went back to game nine of this year, it would be fair to say that this kind of improvement would be unforeseeable within this season.

It’s not just the growth, it’s how quickly he’s improved .

 

[Redux91]

I'm just happy I don't have to see the words "toxic positivity" anymore

Still one of the absolute most ridiculous and miserable things I've ever read in my entire life lmao

Imagine losing the arguments so bad to the point of attacking people's positive mindsets lmao
Pathetic.

 

[Kennerback]

I may get shit for this but.....Slaf is looking better now than Leclair in his first full season in the NHL.

And the beauty of this ? Leclair was 21 and Slaf is 19. I'm not saying Slaf will end up as better than multiple 50 goals seasons Leclair but man.....it is looking good right now and sky is the limit. I don't remember watching a player improve that much in such a small period of time. It's crazy

You are right. Leclair just looked like a big guy that would sit around the net and pick up the thrash. He became more dynamic when he left. He didn’t look as special as Slaf when still in Montreal. That’s why they traded him.

 

[Tyson]

You are right. Leclair just looked like a big guy that would sit around the net and pick up the thrash. He became more dynamic when he left.

Lindros opened up the ice immediately for LeClair. John had the talent, he just needed a legitimate chance.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Lindros opened up the ice immediately for LeClair. John had the talent, he just needed a legitimate chance.

Playing with superstars does so much for a player’s development. It’s what we’ve been missing for so long.

 

[le_sean]

You are right. Leclair just looked like a big guy that would sit around the net and pick up the thrash. He became more dynamic when he left. He didn’t look as special as Slaf when still in Montreal. That’s why they traded him.

And in true Montreal fashion, they traded for a 100+ point player who instantly became an 80 point player when he landed in Montreal

 

[le_sean]

Even with his crazy production as of late, it's his 200 foot game that impresses me the most. I don't recall ever seeing an <20 yo forward being that good defensively against top opposition

I swear he's is going to break the streak of centers winning the Selke, he's just so damn dominant on the ice. Who was the last winger to win it, Brind'amour? Lehtinen? Slaf can do it

It's what I love the most with him. His points are not empty points where he's a nuisance at even strength like a lot of Sens and Sabres forwards. I can see Slaf snuff the other teams top line offence in a Bo7 while still producing

He’s reminding me of fellow Slovakian Marian Hossa. I don’t expect him to become the Hossa of the Thrashers (100 points), but maybe the 70 point two-way monster Hossa of the Blackhawks.

Last night he could have had 5-6 points. But what got the team momentum was that first PP and Slaf was a completely disruptor on there, out-battling defenders and poking pucks away to keep the PP alive in the zone. It’s the little things like that which impress me the most. He’s always involved.

 

[Runner77]

Jesus. What a beast he’s turning out to be.

Marian Hossa’s clone. Slovakian Horses

Horses? Is there a pony (Mesar) not far behind Chadkovsky who may yet surprise?

One of the other big advancements for Slaf this season is how he’s using his size and strength more and a better awareness about how to protect himself against incoming hits.

 

[Twisted Sinister]

Still one of the absolute most ridiculous and miserable things I've ever read in my entire life lmao

Imagine losing the arguments so bad to the point of attacking people's positive mindsets lmao
Pathetic.

Because the people who insult and attack others for having differing opinions about a sports team are great human beings.

That's the "toxic" component of the toxic positivity for those purposely playing dumb with their reading comprehension.

As for Slaf, good that he seems to have gotten better with his hockey sense. Hope he maintains it.

 

[teamfirst]

I may get shit for this but.....Slaf is looking better now than Leclair in his first full season in the NHL.

And the beauty of this ? Leclair was 21 and Slaf is 19. I'm not saying Slaf will end up as better than multiple 50 goals seasons Leclair but man.....it is looking good right now and sky is the limit. I don't remember watching a player improve that much in such a small period of time. It's crazy

Dont know why you should, JL was very good but never had the vision Slaf has, but he did cut to the net more often and was stronger, again Slaf is only 19

 

[Redux91]

Because the people who insult and attack others for having differing opinions about a sports team are great human beings.

That's the "toxic" component of the toxic positivity for those purposely playing dumb with their reading comprehension.

As for Slaf, good that he seems to have gotten better with his hockey sense. Hope he maintains it.

Lol I'm sorry, are you lost?

 

[Uber Coca]

f*** me, this organization actually managed to develop a proper first line.

 

[Goalfield13]

Just a reminder that Slaf scored 3 points yesterday while KK has had 3 points in his last 30+.

 

[Captain Mountain]

Because the people who insult and attack others for having differing opinions about a sports team are great human beings.

That's the "toxic" component of the toxic positivity for those purposely playing dumb with their reading comprehension.

As for Slaf, good that he seems to have gotten better with his hockey sense. Hope he maintains it.

I don't disagree with the sentiment, but everyone is guilty of acting emotionally from time to time.

And making the bolded point with the tag line "Living in Your Head Rent Free" is a tad hypocritical.

Criticism and optimism are both allowed, but can be misplaced. Cynicism and... excessive... positivity can cause problems.

I'm also not sure what you're trying to say in that last sentence.

 

[KevSkillz4]

Early Mock Draft in 2022, I was always a big believer of Slaf!

 

[the valiant effort]

It’s difficult to not dream about him wreaking havoc in his prime. Snuffing out a rush on the backcheck, rocketing a backhand outlet pass, and just generally haunting souls on the counter attack.

(P.S. There are differing opinions and then there are thinly-veiled troll posts totalling 5000 words a day…)

 

[LesHabitants]

looking at his rate of improvement, it's not late yet to turn him into a bonafide #1D

Ideal size for a goalie too. Goaltending being so critical to championships, it's worth considering.

 

[SpeedyPotato]

SlafGodsky, SlafKavelli, NotoriousSlafKovSky, SlafGretzsky,

You forgot Goatkovsky or even Slafgoatsky if you prefer

 

[SpeedyPotato]

I was looking at Wright's numbers this morning, and, if anything, he seems to be slowing down even in the AHL. He is now 32 pts in 42, while I seem to recall he was close to ppg much of the season. To be honest I find this a little sad for the kid, I hope he can turn this around.

That’s still pretty solid for a 19yo in the ahl, just not 1st overall material

 

[Jabba11]

Dunno if this was suggested. Could we bring back the old thread title: Year Two?

Like, am I to only one who doesn't want to jinx this? We still have about 29 games to go. Could we not jinx this kid. He's doing amazing.

 

[Whitesnake]

Agree with this. And I still think he’d have been well served by a year in the minors. But ultimately… who cares?

At this point, nobody should. We've got a great player in our hands. We should just be happy.