Player Discussion The Slaf Thread - Parabolic Growth Edition

[Twisted Sinister]

Ah. Slaf sucks again now?

It all goes back to having a lack of awareness out there. He's not surveying his surroundings and making good decisions. He's fallen back into bad habits and his hockey sense has always been suspect.

That said, not to be full doomer, but he's young and big and those guys sometimes take longer to develop and become consistent.

Y'all better hope it's less of a parabola and more of a rising sine curve.

 

[ReHabs]

20 year old don't always develop the way we want. Give it 2 more years. After 4 years he will be ready.

Kotkaniemi’s at-times stagnant development comes to mind. People were so impatient.

Look at him now!

 

[Heffyhoof]

Kotkaniemi’s at-times stagnant development comes to mind. People were so impatient.

Look at him now!

Look at you now, tickled pink that Slaf is playing poorly lately! Oh wait, what's that? Slafkovsky in his 2nd season had more goal/assists/points than Kotkaniemi ever has? Slafkovsky currently has more points this season as well, despite the talent gap between teams?

Wow, Slaf really does bring to mind KK only if you squint really hard and have a bias.

 

[OneSharpMarble]

If Slaf doesn't figure it out the rebuild is dead, his cap hit will hurt real bad if he keeps up this play.

 

[Jack Spider]

The guy Slaf has to basically fit in this perfect mold of complimenting Demidov and Suzuki on the first line. That spot is heavily susceptible to a grinder taking it.

We have to try Demidov as sheltered offensive 2/3c.

 

[ReHabs]

Look at you now, tickled pink that Slaf is playing poorly lately! Oh wait, what's that? Slafkovsky in his 2nd season had more goal/assists/points than Kotkaniemi ever has? Slafkovsky currently has more points this season as well, despite the talent gap between teams?

Wow, Slaf really does bring to mind KK only if you squint really hard and have a bias.

Not tickled pink at all. He was really engaged last year and is now not so engaged, so I don’t feel like this is a good development. I hope it’s not controversial to think so.

Pleas toward patience basically are meaningless — because a majority of the “negative” comments are basically saying the same thing: it’s concerning to see how he’s been playing (low effort, disengaged, confused). It seems like that’s causing a lot of frustration among a portion of fans who insist that our lying eyes are not to be trusted, that patience is the only thing we should talk about.

Patience patience patience. Don’t discuss and evaluate hockey on a hockey forum, just be quiet and be patient

 

[nhlfan9191]

The guy Slaf has to basically fit in this perfect mold of complimenting Demidov and Suzuki on the first line. That spot is heavily susceptible to a grinder taking it.

We have to try Demidov as sheltered offensive 2/3c.

Demidov is not a center and should not be played there at all. Nobody should even be suggesting it.

 

[Jack Spider]

Demidov is not a center and should not be played there at all. Nobody should even be suggesting it.

It's just based around playing your best player at center. I have to try it. It's not that deep. Doesn't have to last.

 

[Skip Bayless]

I have to try it. It's not that deep. Doesn't have to last.

 

[Jack Spider]

You got me. I have to delete my entire existence.

 

[cave troll]

The guy Slaf has to basically fit in this perfect mold of complimenting Demidov and Suzuki on the first line. That spot is heavily susceptible to a grinder taking it.

We have to try Demidov as sheltered offensive 2/3c.

1st line in the future will be filled with the guy we pick this season. The longer we pick high, the biggest chance for Slaf to become expandable. Hi biggest fault is his lack of will to compete and to impose his game. Not a heart of a champion.

 

[Jack Spider]

1st line in the future will be filled with the guy we pick this season. The longer we pick high, the biggest chance for Slaf to become expandable. Hi biggest fault is his lack of will to compete and to impose his game. Not a heart of a champion.

His biggest fault is that he doesn't believe he's the best in the world.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

1st line in the future will be filled with the guy we pick this season. The longer we pick high, the biggest chance for Slaf to become expandable. Hi biggest fault is his lack of will to compete and to impose his game. Not a heart of a champion.

Doesn't seem like the sharpest tool in the shed either.

 

[SlafySZN]

Doesn't seem like the sharpest tool in the shed either.

Do you guys feel better saying sh* like this?

It’s embarrassing.

 

[SlafySZN]

1st line in the future will be filled with the guy we pick this season. The longer we pick high, the biggest chance for Slaf to become expandable. Hi biggest fault is his lack of will to compete and to impose his game. Not a heart of a champion.

Until the kid drafted this year isn’t dominating enough for you guys at 20 yrs old and you start thinking they’re ‘’expandable’’.

Just because kids nowhere near their peak and in development aren’t dominating and imposing their games yet doesn’t mean they don’t have heart.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Do you guys feel better saying sh* like this?

It’s embarrassing.

Just stating an opinion I held even before we drafted him. Looks like a typical jock to me. Always has.

 

[cave troll]

Until the kid drafted this year isn’t dominating enough for you guys at 20 yrs old and you start thinking they’re ‘’expandable’’.

Just because kids nowhere near their peak and in development aren’t dominating and imposing their games yet doesn’t mean they don’t have heart.

Things would have been different it we were a playoff team now, but we're one of the weakest teams in the league who will probably draft high in Top 5 for next 2-3 years.
Let's all hope we draft much better prospects than we have now.

 

[nhlfan9191]

Just stating an opinion I held even before we drafted him. Looks like a typical jock to me. Always has.

To be fair, he can’t really help that. Lol he is a jock. A very successful one that was able to secure life changing money because of it before he would’ve been old enough to graduate college or even drink legally in the US. I think what you’re trying to call him is a Chad, and he definitely does come across that way but that’s honestly unrelated to his IQ as a hockey player. There’s a lot of hockey players who come across as having rock for brains off the ice who have a lot of success in the NHL.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

To be fair, he can’t really help that. Lol he is a jock. A very successful one that was able to secure life changing money because of it before he would’ve been old enough to graduate college or even drink legally in the US. I think what you’re trying to call him is a Chad, and he definitely does come across that way but that’s honestly unrelated to his IQ as a hockey player. There’s a lot of hockey players who come across as having rock for brains off the ice who have a lot of success in the NHL.

Never said the opposite, but they usually don't end-up in the 1% of players. 10-20% max, which is still success in relative terms. It's this shortcoming which imo will limit him to that latter category.

 

[ReHabs]

To be fair, he can’t really help that. Lol he is a jock. A very successful one that was able to secure life changing money because of it before he would’ve been old enough to graduate college or even drink legally in the US. I think what you’re trying to call him is a Chad, and he definitely does come across that way but that’s honestly unrelated to his IQ as a hockey player. There’s a lot of hockey players who come across as having rock for brains off the ice who have a lot of success in the NHL.

Never said the opposite, but they usually don't end-up in the 1% of players. 10-20% max, which is still success in relative terms. It's this shortcoming which imo will limit him to that latter category.

He seems like a nice kid with enthusiasm. I feel like the game on the ice was always easy for him... and his physical gifts made off-ice dry training a breeze too. It's just the fact he has to get used to the speed of the NHL and impose himself on the ice. Hopefully the synapses click into place but it's not something that comes easy for him. Some people see the play before it happens, some don't. It's only one aspect of sport but as Oz says, usually those players don't turn out to be top 1% of the sport's highest division.

For the record, there are about 750 or so players in the NHL every season. Top 1% would be 7 players. No chance at that for Slaf. Top 10% is 75 players, the 75th ranked played in last year's pts totals was none other than John Tavares and his 65pts/80gp. I think Slaf can be a 65pt player. Or if go by PPG (filter: 20gp minimum) you have Joel Eriksson Ek's 0.83 PPG. I think Slaf can do that.

 

[The Real Timo]

Slaf needs power skating lessons... badly. He is so awkward. And they need to teach him how to hit. And not swing his stick with one hand but use his legs and body. I hope they are focusing on his shortcomings, but I can't recall hearing any mentions of Slaf working one on one with this or that before or after practice.

Hell, even if can be made into an aggressive, strong, hard to play against third liner, if that will be ok. Hope they can figure it out and get him straight.

 

[nhlfan9191]

He seems like a nice kid with enthusiasm. I feel like the game on the ice was always easy for him... and his physical gifts made off-ice dry training a breeze too. It's just the fact he has to get used to the speed of the NHL and impose himself on the ice. Hopefully the synapses click into place but it's not something that comes easy for him. Some people see the play before it happens, some don't. It's only one aspect of sport but as Oz says, usually those players don't turn out to be top 1% of the sport's highest division.

For the record, there are about 750 or so players in the NHL every season. Top 1% would be 7 players. No chance at that for Slaf. Top 10% is 75 players, the 75th ranked played in last year's pts totals was none other than John Tavares and his 65pts/80gp. I think Slaf can be a 65pt player. Or if go by PPG (filter: 20gp minimum) you have Joel Eriksson Ek's 0.83 PPG. I think Slaf can do that.

This is just looking at point production. Suzuki for example hasn’t hit PPG yet but there are players at all forward positions that produce more points I would take him over to build a championship team because he can play an elite two way game while contributing offensively as a center. There’s a lot of things to factor in. If Slafkovsky hits his potential, he’s going to be one of those players that brings more then just his raw point production stats.

 

[Apoplectic Habs Fan]

Slaf hasnt been good but not as bad as some have made either. Just expectations are sky high, for me as well

I think he is caught in between right now. He isnt playing naturally at all. Some time to aggressive or fast to make plays others very slow.

Not letting Slaf off the hook but is time for Nick and Cole to put him completely under their wing and have him on their line the rest of the year and guide him. Its the leadership thats needed right now.