Player Discussion The Slaf Thread - Parabolic Growth Edition

[SlafySZN]

No brainer. In a slump, put the puck on net and good things will happen.

He had an awesome sequence in the Oilers game where he broke 2 plays in the defensive zone and it helped go up the ice and his forecheck behind the Oilers’ net resulted in a Gallagher goal. Didn’t get a point on it but would’ve been well deserved. Something he was constantly doing last season, hope he gets his confidence back soon enough.

 

[morhilane]

He had an awesome sequence in the Oilers game where he broke 2 plays in the defensive zone and it helped go up the ice and his forecheck behind the Oilers’ net resulted in a Gallagher goal. Didn’t get a point on it but would’ve been well deserved. Something he was constantly doing last season, hope he gets his confidence back soon enough.

He was actually playing well until the 5 days break and the Vegas game. I think too much free time is bad for him (probably watch the wrong tapes or something).

 

[HuGo Sham]

St Louis pulling him off of the Suzuki / Caufield line when it was one of the most dominant lines in the league last year is a perfect example of how this coach tends to galaxy brain way too much, imo

 

[SlafySZN]

St Louis pulling him off of the Suzuki / Caufield line when it was one of the most dominant lines in the league last year is a perfect example of how this coach tends to galaxy brain way too much, imo

They’ll be back together soon enough, I think.

 

[HuGo Sham]

They’ll be back together soon enough, I think.

i hope so. I know they may have struggled as the only line getting keyed on, but they should've just been kept together. Dach is still not in game shape and Evans is playing above his head

 

[ReimanSum1908]

St Louis pulling him off of the Suzuki / Caufield line when it was one of the most dominant lines in the league last year is a perfect example of how this coach tends to galaxy brain way too much, imo

Unfortunately, at the outset of the season, he looked just as atrocious as he does now.

 

[HuGo Sham]

Unfortunately, at the outset of the season, he looked just as atrocious as he does now.

i agree, I just would've left him there to figure it out.

 

[1909]

What’s wrong with the kid ?

His head doesn’t pass anymore in the dressing room door ?
He is just thinking about the big $$$ is gonna make over the next 8 seasons ?
Is he in shape ?
Is he thinking too much on the ice ?
Is he all mixed up because he was taken off the Caufield-Suzuki line ?

He has proven over the last 50 games last season that he could be a dominating player. What the f*** happened to him ?

 

[KevSkillz4]

What’s wrong with the kid ?

His head doesn’t pass anymore in the dressing room door ?
He is just thinking about the big $$$ is gonna make over the next 8 seasons ?
Is he in shape ?
Is he thinking too much on the ice ?
Is he all mixed up because he was taken off the Caufield-Suzuki line ?

He has proven over the last 50 games last season that he could be a dominating player. What the f*** happened to him ?

He just want to play with Michael Misa as a center, that's why!

 

[overlords]

What’s wrong with the kid ?

His head doesn’t pass anymore in the dressing room door ?
He is just thinking about the big $$$ is gonna make over the next 8 seasons ?
Is he in shape ?
Is he thinking too much on the ice ?
Is he all mixed up because he was taken off the Caufield-Suzuki line ?

He has proven over the last 50 games last season that he could be a dominating player. What the f*** happened to him ?

He decided he was too good for the oxygen goggles. Shouldn't have messed with a winning formula

 

[WeThreeKings]

What’s wrong with the kid ?

His head doesn’t pass anymore in the dressing room door ?
He is just thinking about the big $$$ is gonna make over the next 8 seasons ?
Is he in shape ?
Is he thinking too much on the ice ?
Is he all mixed up because he was taken off the Caufield-Suzuki line ?

He has proven over the last 50 games last season that he could be a dominating player. What the f*** happened to him ?

He lost his confidence and got into his head too much. He's said it himself.

 

[Egresch]

He lost his confidence and got into his head too much. He's said it himself.

It is crazy that his coach does not understand it. Demoting him to 4th line and keeping him with Dach who is struggling even more is just stupid. Slaf is ready & in shape, he just has a mental block. All he needs is few games back with Suzuki and CC and they will click back.

 

[WeThreeKings]

It is crazy that his coach does not understand it. Demoting him to 4th line and keeping him with Dach who is struggling even more is just stupid. Slaf is ready & in shape, he just has a mental block. All he needs is few games back with Suzuki and CC and they will click back.

I think Marty understands it, the communication piece has been pretty strong but I don't know if his measures to address these issues for either play is the right approach.

I've said the same thing you are saying, I'm not sure how putting the two guys struggling with the same issues together is going to help either one of them. At least with Dach on the wing on top line, you could see him trying to create some confidence by getting points with those guys.

 

[sampollock]

How much better will slaf be? Is he going to be a #1 line player??

 

[WeThreeKings]

How much better will slaf be? Is he going to be a #1 line player??

He was already for a long stretch last year.

But we have to think about him as an elite complementary player vs a play driver.

Demidov is the play driver, we probably need another one, could be Hage, could be Dach, could be someone we draft this year.

 

[sampollock]

He was already for a long stretch last year.

But we have to think about him as an elite complementary player vs a play driver.

Demidov is the play driver, we probably need another one, could be Hage, could be Dach, could be someone we draft this year.

yes
the point I worry about is Slaf not controlling the puck at his size and his ability to win board battles
is he terrible? no but.....

 

[WeThreeKings]

yes
the point I worry about is Slaf not controlling the puck at his size and his ability to win board battles
is he terrible? no but.....

He's very, very young.. those things are gonna be more consistent as he ages, I'm not concerned about that so much.

 

[sampollock]

He's very, very young.. those things are gonna be more consistent as he ages, I'm not concerned about that so much.

ok I agree
then it is time for KH to find some vets to ease the pain of making these kids be the #1 and 2 lines
wait till his big paycheck comes in next year. fans will be yelling then

 

[Egresch]

ok I agree
then it is time for KH to find some vets to ease the pain of making these kids be the #1 and 2 lines
wait till his big paycheck comes in next year. fans will be yelling then

If he plays with Dach and Armia, this would be 6th line combo in 18th game. Do we really expect 20y old kid to be consistent in these circumstances?

 

[morhilane]

If he plays with Dach and Armia, this would be 6th line combo in 18th game. Do we really expect 20y old kid to be consistent in these circumstances?

I don't think changing linemates every 3 games is really impacting him that much negatively, he stayed quite a bit with Dach over all that actually.

And that's probably because their xGF% and Corsi is excellent (even without Suzuki and they actually started more in the ozone with Suzuki then without him).

But their sh% is abysmal, so even if they shot 2-3 times per game on goal, they don't score (especially Dach, he's 4th on the team for shots).

 

[Tyson]

Slaf looks a step slower this year.

 

[sampollock]

If he plays with Dach and Armia, this would be 6th line combo in 18th game. Do we really expect 20y old kid to be consistent in these circumstances?

still effort should always be there regardless