Player Discussion The Slaf Thread - Parabolic Growth Edition

[EtLeBut2]

Compete and intensity weren't an issue last year.

I suspect that this is an issue now can be due to one of three things (or maybe a combo):
1. He's playing injured
2. His conditioning is not nhl level this year for whatever reason
3. Opponents are checking him tighter and he's still hasn't figured out how to adjust

I instantly laugh at anyone questioning his hockey IQ. You don't make repeated quick decision, accurate one-touch passes that consistently lead to scoring chances if you have bad hockey IQ.

His issue right now is intensity. I would be concerned if he hasn't shown an ability to be intense at any point in his career, but we know that is not true.

There's different elements to hockey IQ. Slafkovsky is a gifted playmaker - he has an instinct for making passes and it's the one area of the game where he's able to keep up with.

But he can't keep up with play anywhere else. It reminds me of, believe it or not, Drouin, in a sense. Hockey IQ isn't just about making plays in the offensive zone with the puck, but also your decision making without the puck, ability to adjust on the fly and so on. Both play the game like it's a skills competition and it only works when their lines are carrying them. At least Drouin knows when to shoot.

Slaf has no awareness out there except when he's in prime position to pass by the side of the net. That's not just a question of effort.

 

[Naslundforever]

I didn't play games nor did I say you were a "bad fan."

I said, based on what you have been saying in this thread, that you don't have a clue what you're talking about. I stand by that, and it has nothing to do with your quality as a fan, it has to do with your knowledge of the game.

These are not the same thing.



Did it occur to you that maybe people don't agree with you that he has "low play reading skills?"

If I don't agree with that, why on earth would I then discuss it with you? Why would anybody "want to talk about" something that is quite clearly not the case if you simply watch the player in question?

The suggestion that Slafkovsky has low hockey IQ is, in my opinion, idiotic. Why, based on that opinion, would entertain your theory with a discussion?

You seem completely incapable of accepting the idea that someone doesn't agree with your take.

I’ll stick to my explanation: I see him getting caught from behind, turning over the puck with blind passes and getting rocked on the boards by guys he did not see coming much more often than I see him make pretty passes.

What’s yours (we both watch the games, move on maybe from that one)?

 

[EtLeBut2]

If Slaf is traded it will be in a package deal for a bona fide first line talent.

At this point KH should trade him there's no coming back from the fefans doghouse. Slaf is done in Montreal no matter what he does.

No team is taking that contract for a first line player. Maybe another reclamation project.

 

[ReHabs]

I didn't play games nor did I say you were a "bad fan."

I said, based on what you have been saying in this thread, that you don't have a clue what you're talking about. I stand by that, and it has nothing to do with your quality as a fan, it has to do with your knowledge of the game.

These are not the same thing.

I'm not going to pass any judgement on your hockey knowledge -- I've rarely seen you comment about hockey, in fact. But you have a chance now to tell us what you think about Slaf's performance this year. There are many interesting ways to interpret these stats, take your time.

 

[LaP]

No team is taking that contract for a first line player. Maybe another reclamation project.

That's the most ridiculous thing i've read here. A reclamation project at 20 okaayyyyy

 

[ReHabs]

Slaf has no awareness out there except when he's in prime position to pass by the side of the net. That's not just a question of effort.

He absolutely eats hits and anyone who denies or ignores it simply isn't being honest about what we're seeing. Maybe it's because he's so big but I'm not sure. Kotkaniemi fell a lot, we all saw it. Maybe it doesn't show in the stats but we all felt he wasn't stable on his legs. This is the same thing: Slaf eats hits like it's my uncle at a continental breakfast. The question is why does he still put himself in such positions? Is it an awareness thing (hockey IQ?) or a complacency thing.

Every time I tune into a match at any time, when he's on the ice I see him take a painful knock while he's admiring an incoming or outgoing pass or he's standing stationary. It's going to be devasting if he doesn't get this sorted before games become intense (ie playoff games). Someone will try to take his head clean off.

At this point KH should trade him there's no coming back from the fefans doghouse. Slaf is done in Montreal no matter what he does.

Incredible comment! You know what a player can do to win over fans and "fefans"? Play good hockey.

 

[FerrisRox]

At this point KH should trade him there's no coming back from the fefans doghouse. Slaf is done in Montreal no matter what he does.

I can't with this thread.

This is just ridiculous.

 

[Habs Halifax]

This is a case of a young player listening to assignments and team structure. He's not the selfish type and you can clearly see it. I think we will be fine with Slaf but don't expect break out numbers.

What we need from Slaf is more shots/goals and for him to continue his forecheck where he disrupts things for the other teams D and how they transition out of their zone. If he can do this, he will be a very solid top 6F who is tough to play against and frees up space for his linemates.

 

[Naslundforever]

I can't with this thread.

This is just ridiculous.

I think Lap’s intervention is just out of empathy so the rest of us come off as moderate

 

[ReHabs]

Thank you for providing data. So you're only looking at forwards then?

I used a very simple paradigm to evaluate Slaf's PPG vs the highest picked forward of the last however-many drafts. This is an old file I used to see what was the deal with Slafkovsky's rookie season production.

 

[SlafySZN]

If Slaf is traded it will be in a package deal for a bona fide first line talent.

At this point KH should trade him there's no coming back from the fefans doghouse. Slaf is done in Montreal no matter what he does.

The fefans will crawl back in a few weeks/months. Some are girouettes who change their opinion constantly.

 

[Kennerback]

If Slaf is traded it will be in a package deal for a bona fide first line talent.

At this point KH should trade him there's no coming back from the fefans doghouse. Slaf is done in Montreal no matter what he does.

Are you just trying to do your best Gaston Therrien impersonation? It’s so good, I’m starting to think it’s really you.

 

[Naslundforever]

He's not. He and ReHab need to relax and understand that we all have our opinions, and it's ok that others don't see things their way. It's OK, guys.

I am still genuinely interested in what you and @FerrisRox here believe explains why the blind side hits, turnovers and general sense he is reacting to plays.

This is a case of a young player listening to assignments and team structure. He's not the selfish type and you can clearly see it. I think we will be fine with Slaf but don't expect break out numbers.

What we need from Slaf is more shots/goals and for him to continue his forecheck where he disrupts things for the other teams D and how they transition out of their zone. If he can do this, he will be a very solid top 6F who is tough to play against and frees up space for his linemates.

Cheers, this is an actual thing I can wrap my mind around, if his mental load is high with new learning and trying to apply it it can explain he looks like he needs to think/see it before acting.

 

[sampollock]

I can't with this thread.

This is just ridiculous.

agreed
that is just crazy talk

 

[LaP]

Are you just trying to do your best Gaston Therrien impersonation? It’s so good, I’m starting to think it’s really you.

Not sure why it's so hard to realize i'm being sarcastic here, I mean how do you reply to people saying we should trade Slaf for JK or another 24 years old reclamation project?

 

[Andy]

Here is what will really happen:

Slaf is 20, so will no doubt go through ups and downs because that is just normal. During the downs, the detractors will bombard this thread. They will blame Hughes for making a bad pick, say its a fireable offense, etc, etc.

During the ups, they will either go away (like the did last year), or come back half-apologetic, write some back-handed compliments, and still try to subtly argue that he isn't as good as he is (like they did last year).

 

[LaP]

The fefans will crawl back in a few weeks/months. Some are girouettes who change their opinion constantly.

They wont. They never did for Subban. They never did for Kovalev. They never did for Brisebois. Now obviously i don't think we should trade Slaf because of that i was obviously being sarcastic but KH will need to make sure Slaf underatand what is going on and shield himself from it. This can get very nasty i mean at one point Gainey had to call out the fans in the case of Brisebois.

 

[sampollock]

just start working Slaf
starts there

 

[Kennerback]

They wont. They never did for Subban. They never did for Kovalev. They never did for Brisebois. Now obviously i don't think we should trade because of that i was obviously being sarcastic but KH will need to make sure Slaf underatand what is going on and shield himself from it. This can get very nasty i mean at one point Gainey had to call out the fans in the case of Brisebois.

Sane fans will hopefully push Slaf talk to a happy medium. I think a lot of people have fallen on their head recently. To criticize his flaws is fine but everything needs to be judged with the whole picture in mind.

 

[sampollock]

Sane fans will hopefully push Slaf talk to a happy medium. I think a lot of people have fallen on their head recently. To criticize his flaws is fine but everything needs to be judged with the whole picture in mind.

yup....
he is 20
that being said the habs need to give him that BIG push right now

 

[Victoire HuGo]

All this crazy talk is making Trudeau step down

 

[SlafySZN]

They wont. They never did for Subban. They never did for Kovalev. They never did for Brisebois. Now obviously i don't think we should trade Slaf because of that i was obviously being sarcastic but KH will need to make sure Slaf underatand what is going on and shield himself from it. This can get very nasty i mean at one point Gainey had to call out the fans in the case of Brisebois.

I know you were sarcastic, don’t worry.

I just think many are hypocrites and switch up as fast as they were to bash on a player. But you’re not wrong in general.

 

[Habs Halifax]

I am still genuinely interested in what you and @FerrisRox here believe explains why the blind side hits, turnovers and general sense he is reacting to plays.

Cheers, this is an actual thing I can wrap my mind around, if his mental load is high with new learning and trying to apply it it can explain he looks like he needs to think/see it before acting.

Bob M said it best (pre draft). Lots of guys who are secondary parts with some having the chance at being a top line talent. Slaf is falling right in that mix. He will be fine but maturity comes once he is 23+ IMO. Going to take a while for him to be who we think he can be.

 

[Goalfield13]

I know you were sarcastic, don’t worry.

I just think many are hypocrites and switch up as fast as they were to bash on a player. But you’re not wrong in general.

Some people aren't stubborn, though, and can admit when they are wrong. That doesn't make them hypocrites. I was wrong about Hutson needing AHL time, and I am happy I was wrong. We are all Habs fans at the end of the day.

 

[LaP]

Had to dust off an old file, sorry for the delay.

I was wrong, he's not the worst producing 1OA (or 2OA, first picked forward) of the last quarter century since his draft. I was totally wrong so thanks of the stat check.

He's in the bottom5 in PPG with: Patrik Stefan, Jordan Staal, Nail Yakupov, Alexis Lafreniere, and Juraj Slafkovsky.

My honest to God feeling is that I still do not understand why someone with his size, reach, horsepower, and bravado cannot produce more. When he tore the league up last year it felt like a revelation. I don't know why he's not doing it again. He has all the tools. Something is missing.

View attachment 957030

Slaf career path so far looks like a less skilled Lecavalier. Lecavalier had a rough 1st season and then did very well in his 2nd season before stuggling for part of his 3rd and even more so his 4th season (specially defensively). His 5th season this is where he spread its wings.