Player Discussion The Slaf Thread - Parabolic Growth Edition

[Heffyhoof]

Points don't matter, I want to see objective improvement in his skating stride

He isn't the fastest and his initial strides could use improvement. Why don't points matter though? A new goalpost because he's nearly doubled the production in his first 32 games from last year?

 

[ReHabs]

He isn't the fastest and his initial strides could use improvement. Why don't points matter though? A new goalpost because he's nearly doubled the production in his first 32 games from last year?

Well when he wasn’t producing I recall many insisted that he was playing well despite the lack of production. Seems fair to use the same standard.

I think he’s been better recently than earlier this season. Playing with a behind-the-play Dach did not help his case. When he matures a bit and cuts out the ill-decisions he will be a force.

 

[Pat Riot]

Slaf is not a very elegant skater. He lose his balance often and look weak on his skate which is weird for such a big body. He need to work a lot on his skating to take a next step

 

[Heffyhoof]

Well when he wasn’t producing I recall many insisted that he was playing well despite the lack of production. Seems fair to use the same standard.

I think he’s been better recently than earlier this season. Playing with a behind-the-play Dach did not help his case. When he matures a bit and cuts out the ill-decisions he will be a force.

That's the hope. Along with Demidov, Slaf is a major piece of the rebuild and needs to hit. My opinion on that is obvious.

 

[JianYang]

I think slaf's bread and butter will be his ability to disrupt the defense along with his playmaking.

He will get his goals but I don't see a natural ability to make scoring goals look easy.

 

[SlafySZN]

I think slaf's bread and butter will be his ability to disrupt the defense along with his playmaking.

He will get his goals but I don't see a natural ability to make scoring goals look easy.

He’s a playmaker for sure.

But he has a good one timer and shot which he doesn’t use often, especially on the PP since he isn’t on the right half wall anymore. I think he’s gonna develop his way of scoring and perfect it and he’ll be able to bury a bunch while getting more assists.

 

[Victoire HuGo]

He's more combative than he was earlier this season. It was a simple play but he won a board battle by using his full reach to poke check a puck and keep a cycle alive in the offensive zone. He wasn't doing plays like that earlier this year

 

[austin316]

I still just don’t see “it” with Slaf. He takes way too long to get his shot off and when he does it’s often weak.

I think he’s likely to turn out to a 40-60 point support winger who can win puck battles but will never drive a line or be a difference maker. I hope I’m wrong.

 

[Victoire HuGo]

I still just don’t see “it” with Slaf. He takes way too long to get his shot off and when he does it’s often weak.

I think he’s likely to turn out to a 40-60 point support winger who can win puck battles but will never drive a line or be a difference maker. I hope I’m wrong.

He had the same issue in the first half last year and then it clicked. Not worried for him

 

[morhilane]

He's more combative than he was earlier this season. It was a simple play but he won a board battle by using his full reach to poke check a puck and keep a cycle alive in the offensive zone. He wasn't doing plays like that earlier this year

He's been playing way better (better positioning/anticipating, better little actions like that poke check, moving his feet more even if it's not at full speed) without looking to be going at 100% like he was in the 2nd half last year.

 

[Lshap]

I wonder if Slafkovsky has stalled because teams are playing him differently. Last season he was given more space. This year he's being crowded physically, which he has no response to. He's strong, but not shifty. Teams recognize they can check him and he won't skate around them. Instead, he'll pass the puck immediately or lose it.

He doesn't yet have the ability to loop around you or protect the puck long enough to make the perfect pass.

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

I wonder if Slafkovsky has stalled because teams are playing him differently. Last season he was given more space. This year he's being crowded physically, which he has no response to. He's strong, but not shifty. Teams recognize they can check him and he won't skate around them. Instead, he'll pass the puck immediately or lose it.

He doesn't yet have the ability to loop around you or protect the puck long enough to make the perfect pass.

Defenses are definitely attacking him a lot quicker, he's getting ( and losing, sadly) in a lot more one on one battles entering the offensive zone. Puck handling in movement is a bit of a weakness for him and teams figured that out.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

I still just don’t see “it” with Slaf. He takes way too long to get his shot off and when he does it’s often weak.

I think he’s likely to turn out to a 40-60 point support winger who can win puck battles but will never drive a line or be a difference maker. I hope I’m wrong.

He’s a 40-60 point winger now

 

[Goalfield13]

He isn't the fastest and his initial strides could use improvement. Why don't points matter though? A new goalpost because he's nearly doubled the production in his first 32 games from last year?

It was a shot at the pro-Dach people.

 

[Victoire HuGo]

It was a shot at the pro-Dach people.

The pro Dach people are not ready yet to throw in the towel and tell him to work for Door Dach

 

[Goalfield13]

I still just don’t see “it” with Slaf. He takes way too long to get his shot off and when he does it’s often weak.

I think he’s likely to turn out to a 40-60 point support winger who can win puck battles but will never drive a line or be a difference maker. I hope I’m wrong.

40 points seems a bit low for a guy who hit 50 as a 19 year old. He's on a 50 pt pace after starting slow as a 20 y/o.

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

40 points seems a bit low for a guy who hit 50 as a 19 year old. He's on a 50 pt pace after starting slow as a 20 y/o.

He's a 50 to 60 point guy pretty easy, he just needs to make the necessary adjustments. He's 19 as you said, he's still figuring a lot of things out. Defenses are having the advantage ATM, now he needs to take it back.

 

[Gally11]

I think he has an injured shoulder, his shot is obviously not elite but it was better last year than what we’re seeing right now, and he seems hesitant at times to initiate contact which he was not for the better part of the season last year. Could be wrong but would explain some of the things we’re seeing

 

[Goalfield13]

I think he has an injured shoulder, his shot is obviously not elite but it was better last year than what we’re seeing right now, and he seems hesitant at times to initiate contact which he was not for the better part of the season last year. Could be wrong but would explain some of the things we’re seeing

His offseason focus was to get slimmer and faster, which, IMO, probably wasn't the best thing for him. He isn't able to use his size like he was able to last year.

 

[Tyson]

Slaf is the least of our concerns. At 20 he still has some developing to do both physically and emotionally. Let him be.

 

[Goalfield13]

Slaf is the least of our concerns. At 20 he still has some developing to do both physically and emotionally. Let him be.

It's funny how Slaf and Newhook get so much ire from posters on this board with little to no support to counterbalance it, but other players (not going to name names) get all the leeway in the world.

 

[le_sean]

A lot of things went right for him to end last season with 20 goals and 50 points. People thought he was going to explode from there. It’s not always the case, he’s a project.

And don’t forget that even though he’s on PP1, his only role is to stand in front of the net. He’s not given anything close to the amount of touches he had last year.

 

[Goalfield13]

A lot of things went right for him to end last season with 20 goals and 50 points. People thought he was going to explode from there. It’s not always the case, he’s a project.

And don’t forget that even though he’s on PP1, his only role is to stand in front of the net. He’s not given anything close to the amount of touches he had last year.

He's working through it for sure, but he is being productive in the meantime. 20 points with only 6 on the PP. 4 goals, but his playmaking has been great. When the puck is on his stick 5on5, he's a threat. I am not worried about him one bit.

 

[KevSkillz4]

He is already a player who can easily put 50-60 points. Even if he start low this year, he is on pace to put 50 points. That's really not bad.

This guy can explode anytime.

I'm 100% sure that with Demidov next year, Slaf will put more points.

Slaf can be a difference maker and a game changer. His abilities are too good to don't be that.

 

[JianYang]

It's funny how Slaf and Newhook get so much ire from posters on this board with little to no support to counterbalance it, but other players (not going to name names) get all the leeway in the world.

You don't need to name names. The first thing that comes to my mind when I see your username is Kirby dach's struggles this year.

It's not like he's gotten away Scott free either as Slaf's criticism has been more tame in comparison. The level of criticism towards dach this year is more comparable to slaf's first half last year before he really got it going where you had one group preaching patience and another louder group with a different outlook.