Player Discussion The Slaf Thread - Parabolic Growth Edition

[SlafySZN]

Slaf needs to find more consistency and focus more on keeping his feet moving and when he does the points will accumulate. He was projected to be a good second-liner and that's fine, not all drafts are equal. It would have been cool to get a Matthews or a Mackinnon but that wasn't our luck.

He is not Mackinnon or Matthews but he isn’t a 2nd liner either. We will see how well he will complete a guy like Demidov in the next few years.

 

[OldCraig71]

He is not Mackinnon or Matthews but he isn’t a 2nd liner either. We will see how well he will complete a guy like Demidov in the next few years.

That isn't my assessment of him but rather what I heard from the draft broadcast.

 

[SlafySZN]

That isn't my assessment of him but rather what I heard from the draft broadcast.

Oh I know. All 3 of Slaf, Wright and Cooley were described as that. But I think we can comfortably say Slaf will be a legit first liner.

 

[ReHabs]

Turns out that the random labels are irrelevant.

The term used first to excuse his initial low production. I didn't expect him to be a project abut now I actually agree and understand it since I've gotten to see the player's growth and tendencies. Not a random but a specific label.

18 year olds almost always take a few years to develop consistent top line caliber impact. Very few players are established stars out the gate or within 1-2 yrs of draft.

Most of those who jump out of the gate are 1OAs, which explains the expectations some of us had. There were many sneering Habs fans mocking Lafrenière as well, mind you.

I bet Rangers fans are much more happy with Lafrenière right now. I'm looking forward to when Slafkovsky turns the corner and puts his project together.

 

[schwang26]

His 1 goal is really ticking me off. I know he’s looked good at times, but his lack of consistency has been noticeable. The guy needs to be scoring.

 

[Miller Time]

The term used first to excuse his initial low production. I didn't expect him to be a project abut now I actually agree and understand it since I've gotten to see the player's growth and tendencies. Not a random but a specific label.

Randomly applied label to fit current assessment.

Labels are irrelevant, quality of assessment is what matters... And the assessments now continues to be poor even as they has evolved from last year's garbage ones.

Most of those who jump out of the gate are 1OAs, which explains the expectations some of us had. There were many sneering Habs fans mocking Lafrenière as well, mind you.

Nope. Simply not true. Quite often a player drafted later than 1OA produces better at the NHL level before the 1OA. Go look it up.

The expectations you had were misplaced from the start... Despite the team and player making it abundantly clear what the plan and expected progress would look like... Misplaced expectations based on poor assessments is the common theme in many of your posts

I bet Rangers fans are much more happy with Lafrenière right now. I'm looking forward to when Slafkovsky turns the corner and puts his project together.

Slaf, who leads his draft class in NHL production and ice time, is providing via his current play much to be "happy with"... At least for fans with realistic expectations.

Better assessments might help you enjoy the current state a bit more, but if complaining and doom & gloom is your preference, enjoy! Just don't get so upset when the poorly grounded takes are called out as such...

 

[SlafySZN]

Randomly applied label to fit current assessment.

Labels are irrelevant, quality of assessment is what matters... And the assessments now continues to be poor even as they has evolved from last year's garbage ones.


Nope. Simply not true. Quite often a player drafted later than 1OA produces better at the NHL level before the 1OA. Go look it up.

The expectations you had were misplaced from the start... Despite the team and player making it abundantly clear what the plan and expected progress would look like... Misplaced expectations based on poor assessments is the common theme in many of your posts



Slaf, who leads his draft class in NHL production and ice time, is providing via his current play much to be "happy with"... At least for fans with realistic expectations.

Better assessments might help you enjoy the current state a bit more, but if complaining and doom & gloom is your preference, enjoy! Just don't get so upset when the poorly grounded takes are called out as such...

Also, Slaf finished with 7 less points than Lafreniere last season at 19. He has right now similar production as Lafreniere while being a little less than 3 years younger. And he isn’t playing with Panarin.

If this is Lafreniere ‘’putting it together’’ and Slaf not having turned the corner…

 

[Mrb1p]

Also, Slaf finished with 7 less points than Lafreniere last season at 19. He has right now similar production as Lafreniere while being a little less than 3 years younger. And he isn’t playing with Panarin.

If this is Lafreniere ‘’putting it together’’ and Slaf not having turned the corner…

He's playing with Suzuki who's just as good.

We know Slaf is young, we know Slaf has potential. Unlike Laf, he doesn't have the PP excuse for his lack of production though.

Its okay, you can admit he's disappointing, yet again. He might become good, right now he's a mid 6 tweeter.

 

[Artaud]

He's playing with Suzuki who's just as good.

This is like my mom telling me the store brand ice cream was just as good as the Haagen Dasz I wanted.

 

[Heffyhoof]

He's playing with Suzuki who's just as good.

We know Slaf is young, we know Slaf has potential. Unlike Laf, he doesn't have the PP excuse for his lack of production though.

Its okay, you can admit he's disappointing, yet again. He might become good, right now he's a mid 6 tweeter.

I wasn't at all disappointed by 50 points in 82 games last year, in fact that's about what I wanted assuming he was stapled to the 1st line all year, he wasn't. This year I'm expecting 60-70 so 65 is nice.

He's pacing under that right now, but even accounting for the 3 games lost so far, he's fourth tied with Hutson in pace (47) and point total.

3 points in 16 games last year, 11 points in 16 this year though, so I'll hold my worry and you your mini-celebrations for a bit maybe.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

This is like my mom telling me the store brand ice cream was just as good as the Haagen Dasz I wanted.

Ah the good old Coaticook in the Haagen Daz box trick , never fails

 

[1909]

Slaf, like any other 20 y old players has to understand that he has room to improve and must accept to stay on the bench or in the stands once in a while.

 

[Mrb1p]

I wasn't at all disappointed by 50 points in 82 games last year, in fact that's about what I wanted assuming he was stapled to the 1st line all year, he wasn't. This year I'm expecting 60-70 so 65 is nice.

He's pacing under that right now, but even accounting for the 3 games lost so far, he's fourth tied with Hutson in pace (47) and point total.

3 points in 16 games last year, 11 points in 16 this year though, so I'll hold my worry and you your mini-celebrations for a bit maybe.

What celebration? I want Slaf to be good what the hell.

I was fine with his half season last year, but the start of the season was fully disappointing. Overall it was fine. If he ends the season like last season I'll be happy again..

The fun part is that our opinions in the present cannot be dictated by the future. He sucks now, he might not suck later.

 

[junyab]

What celebration? I want Slaf to be good what the hell.

I was fine with his half season last year, but the start of the season was fully disappointing. Overall it was fine. If he ends the season like last season I'll be happy again..

The fun part is that our opinions in the present cannot be dictated by the future. He sucks now, he might not suck later.

The issue people have with your comments is if he in fact, "sucks", he won't "not suck" later. Not many players can overcome not having skill or talent. Now, there's a big difference between sucking and not producing offensively. Those two terms shouldn't be used interchangeably. You know this. But I venture to guess that maybe you like arguing and welcome the replies, despite knowing better.

 

[Mrb1p]

The issue people have with your comments is if he in fact, "sucks", he won't "not suck" later. Not many players can overcome not having skill or talent. Now, there's a big difference between sucking and not producing offensively. Those two terms shouldn't be used interchangeably. You know this. But I venture to guess that maybe you like arguing and welcome the replies, despite knowing better.

Jesus, "Slafkovsky hasn't been good" and "Slafkovsky sucks right now" are literally the same sentence. That's so lame lol.

Am I the one th!at likes to argue, or is it the people that take exception because I say a player that isn't good, isn't good?

Slaf can be good, he has very clear strengths that make him a dangerous forward. He hasn't been using them and reverted back to his bad habits of playing like he's Nikita Kucherov. It is entirely normal for him to get called out.


This thread, and your reply, is so funny because fans of teams like the Avs are ripping Rantanen to shreds every other months because he goes through colder spells. Here we are do kissing lil' Slafy on the forehead because the bad monsters out there are going to hurt his feelings (it's your feelings that are hurt, not his.)

 

[LaP]

A sophomore slump in his 3rd season

Which is not rare. A sophomore slump usually refer to a slump after a first good season when the expectation are higher than the previous season.

 

[LaP]

Jesus, "Slafkovsky hasn't been good" and "Slafkovsky sucks right now" are literally the same sentence. That's so lame lol.

Am I the one th!at likes to argue, or is it the people that take exception because I say a player that isn't good, isn't good?

Slaf can be good, he has very clear strengths that make him a dangerous forward. He hasn't been using them and reverted back to his bad habits of playing like he's Nikita Kucherov. It is entirely normal for him to get called out.


This thread, and your reply, is so funny because fans of teams like the Avs are ripping Rantanen to shreds every other months because he goes through colder spells. Here we are do kissing lil' Slafy on the forehead because the bad monsters out there are going to hurt his feelings (it's your feelings that are hurt, not his.)

Dunno not being good means you can be average. Sucking means you suck i.e. you're the worst out there. I feel suck is an exaggeration to discribe Slaf plays this season. "Not good" would be more accurate.

 

[Apoplectic Habs Fan]

Its a different season, teams are adjusting to him and its up to him to continue to evolve his game

Plus adding man strength is different too. Yes he is big but at that age, its a different type of big.

The other thing is he is being used as less of shooter on the PP. He is he net presence whereas last year you saw him in more shooting positions. The PP with Dach up high hasnt benefited Slaf as he is more just a distraction for Coles one timer

My frustration is he is getting hit more this year. His awareness seems lower for whatever reason, focus? intensity?

 

[Mrb1p]

Dunno not being good means you can be average. Sucking means you suck i.e. you're the worst out there. I feel suck is an exaggeration to discribe Slaf plays this season. "Not good" would be more accurate.

Lmao that's so crazy

Who f***ing cares about semantics like that. Absolutely insane.

 

[Team_Spirit]

Don't think he got an assist on our first goal last night, but it was worthy of one.

Grant is on it

https://x.com/i/web/status/1858928978842505305

 

[ReHabs]

Lmao that's so crazy

Who f***ing cares about semantics like that. Absolutely insane.

Notice how easy it is to get bogged down in arguments of definition and semantics instead of talking about hockey? There’s a reason people who want to talk hockey more or less seem aligned on various topics even if they have different flavours and tastes.

An optimist fan and a pessimist doubter would agree on 80% of Slafkovsky takes between them.

Instead we have quibbles and quibbles over the implications of the word “sucks” or “project”. Very serious wastes of time.

 

[Mrb1p]

Notice how easy it is to get bogged down in arguments of definition and semantics instead of talking about hockey? There’s a reason people who want to talk hockey more or less seem aligned on various topics even if they have different flavours and tastes.

An optimist fan and a pessimist doubter would agree on 80% of Slafkovsky takes between them.

Instead we have quibbles and quibbles over the implications of the word “sucks” or “project”. Very serious wastes of time.

Insane waste of time.

It's the same thing when I mentioned that IQ is not Slafs strength. I am met with a wall of text telling me how awful i am as a person instead of actually being rational and realizing he's just not a hockey genius, and he doesn't have to be.