Player Discussion The Slaf Thread - Parabolic Growth Edition

[Frankenheimer]

Where would Wright rank if he had been drafted 1OA?

 

[ReHabs]

It's not just unreasonable, it's idiotic.

Nail Yakupov has *never* had a 50 point season as a professional. Not in the NHL or the KHL.

Patrik Stefan has *never* had a 50 point season as a professional. Not in the NHL, the IHL, the AHL or the Swiss League.

Slafkovsky scored 50 points in the only complete NHL season he has played. Anybody "comparing" these players is completely clueless or has an obvious (and idiotic) agenda.

Don't feed the trolls.

PPG means Points Per Game.

 

[EtLeBut2]

Lecavlier was widely criticized in his 3rd season but he still scored 23 goals in 68 games - that's 28 over 82. Slaf is on pace to score 9 goals in 82 games and I'm honestly not sure he will hit that mark with how little he's shooting. Maybe if teams stop trying against us at the end of the season like they did last year, or if the Kazakh national team joins the NHL.

Vinny never lived up to the new Beliveau hype but there's no evidence right now that Slafkovsky belongs in the same conversation as him.

 

[KevSkillz4]

Keep calm and be patient guys.

He is not KK
He is not Galchenyuk

He is Juraj FREAKING Slafkovsky.

He will show you why Habs picked him at #1, we will enjoy his game when he is going to be on.

 

[ReHabs]

Where would Wright rank if he had been drafted 1OA?

All but one of the players in that list happened to start their NHL careers in their D+1 (first season after being drafted). So it made for a pretty easy apples-to-apples comparison. Wright is in his D+3 but this is his rookie season, so he doesn't fit in. Cooley is in his sophomore season.

 

[Frankenheimer]

You could be a much better poster than you are.

I agree! Even posters can develop. He's only in his D+2 posting season.

 

[ReHabs]

Lecavlier was widely criticized in his 3rd season but he still scored 23 goals in 68 games - that's 28 over 82. Slaf is on pace to score 9 goals in 82 games and I'm honestly not sure he will hit that mark with how little he's shooting. Maybe if teams stop trying against us at the end of the season like they did last year, or if the Kazakh national team joins the NHL.

Vinny never lived up to the new Beliveau hype but there's no evidence right now that Slafkovsky belongs in the same conversation as him.

Lecavalier started his career at the peak of the dead puck era too.

 

[EtLeBut2]

He's better than all of those players.

Can we say objectively he's better than Alexis Lafrenière? His projection was better for one half a season on an eliminated team, but Lafrenière, even if he's a disappointment, had a more straightforward evolution - I guess we will see if Slaf's fourth season in the league will compare.

At this rate he's having a season that could be considered more Stefan-esque.

Lecavalier started his career at the peak of the dead puck era too.

Yeah, important too - scoring is relatively higher these days, which is not a good sign.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Lecavlier was widely criticized in his 3rd season but he still scored 23 goals in 68 games - that's 28 over 82. Slaf is on pace to score 9 goals in 82 games and I'm honestly not sure he will hit that mark with how little he's shooting. Maybe if teams stop trying against us at the end of the season like they did last year, or if the Kazakh national team joins the NHL.

Fair enough.

But, he's on pace for about the same number of points that Vinny had. He's nowhere near as touted as Lecavalier was. We were the worst team in the league to start the year and he had injury issues.

Vinny never lived up to the new Beliveau hype but there's no evidence right now that Slafkovsky belongs in the same conversation as him.

He's pacing for the same number of points and is more physical than Vinny was. He won't score as many goals over his career... I think everyone will agree. But it won't surprise me at all if he produces points at a similar pace and plays a tougher style of game. I think that's an achievable goal.

 

[Andy]

It's not just unreasonable, it's idiotic.

Nail Yakupov has *never* had a 50 point season as a professional. Not in the NHL or the KHL.

Patrik Stefan has *never* had a 50 point season as a professional. Not in the NHL, the IHL, the AHL or the Swiss League.

Slafkovsky scored 50 points in the only complete NHL season he has played. Anybody "comparing" these players is completely clueless or has an obvious (and idiotic) agenda.

Don't feed the trolls.

• Lafreniere attained 50+ points and 20 goals in his fourth nhl season.
• RNH was a 50 point player for 6 seasons. Only broke the 60pt plateau in year 7. Scored 20 goals only in his 4th season.
• Hischier came in the league as a 50 point player. Remained at that pace (because he was often injured + COVID season). Only got out of the 50 point range in year 5.

It's a silly game to play. Slaf produced 50 points in year 2 and is effectively at a 50 point pace WHILE slumping.

He's played 157 games over three seasons, which amounts to 50 games a year. His nhl career is still so green. Compiling statistics this earlier in his career to make an argument that he is bottom 5 at something is just reaching for a negative argument.

 

[Team_Spirit]

*The critics got quiet when he started to play well last year*
What did you expect? Most critics are not haters trolls.

 

[Naslundforever]

*The critics got quiet when he started to play well last year*
What did you expect? Most critics are not haters trolls.

cheers. There’s only so many times I can write Evans is rocking it in his thread for example… Also the reasons why are easy to identify as his game has not changed much he just added production and is at his prime at all he does.

This kid is 20, super inconsistent still with mountainous highs and ravenous lows and a big investment for the team so there’s obviously more to talk about and a spotlight. Also I think many are ready for a playoff push moreso than tank talk so immediate performance has weight.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Yeah, important too - scoring is relatively higher these days, which is not a good sign.

The dead puck years were more in the mid 90s. It may not have been what it is today but in 2001 you had guys getting 120 points. So no, not really that important.

Slaf ain't gonna win a Richard. And I don't think he'll reach Vinny's peak of being in the top ten scoring but he only did that twice. Overall, Vinny was pretty consistently in the top 40. Sometimes he'd get into the top 20 but usually top 30. That's around where I think Slaf will be in a few years.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I've merged the two Slaf threads together as they've morphed into the same discussion about the player.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

cheers. There’s only so many times I can write Evans is rocking it in his thread for example… Also the reasons why are easy to identify as his game has not changed much he just added production and is at his prime at all he does.

This kid is 20, super inconsistent still with mountainous highs and ravenous lows and a big investment for the team so there’s obviously more to talk about and a spotlight. Also I think many are ready for a playoff push moreso than tank talk so immediate performance has weight.

What 'ravenous lows'?

I mean seriously man, he's a 20 year old developing player who's pacing for around 50 points. That's not horrible.

He needs to improve his game and pick up his intensity. Cool. Fair criticism. But people enjoy using words like 'catostrophic' when 'needs some improvement' will do.

 

[MasterD]

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.

Interesting guy to bring up. Everybody loves to love Lecavalier, but Lecavalier actually only hit PPG twice is his long career! He's a 0.78ppg guy. (And I'm a strong believer that St-Louis was the play driver on that live for a long time - Lecavalier's stats would be way lower without him).

Salfkovsky can do that if well surrounded.

 

[Victoire HuGo]

I've merged the two Slaf threads together as they've morphed into the same discussion about the player.

 

[Andy]

What 'ravenous lows'?

I mean seriously man, he's a 20 year old developing player who's pacing for around 50 points. That's not horrible.

He needs to improve his game and pick up his intensity. Cool. Fair criticism. But people enjoy using words like 'catostrophic' when 'needs some improvement' will do.

You are right in that the criticisms are so hyperbolic.

Is Slaf a little frustrating now with his lack of intensity? Yes. Are there moments where I wish he was doing more? Absolutely.

But to say his play is catastrophic is so f***ing exaggerated. No, he isn't playing like a top line player, but he's no slouch. He's still generating chances every game, playing responsible defensively and not actively hurting the team while playing at a 50 point pace. Yes, there is a lot to improve. But f***ing hell, some of the comments are insane.

At 20, he's already a reliable top 6 player. He's still learning.

 

[Naslundforever]

What 'ravenous lows'?

I mean seriously man, he's a 20 year old developing player who's pacing for around 50 points. That's not horrible.

He needs to improve his game and pick up his intensity. Cool. Fair criticism. But people enjoy using words like 'catostrophic' when 'needs some improvement' will do.

I think getting repeatedly stripped of the puck from behind, turning over pucks and not scoring as a 1st liner and 1st wave pp is a very low low. Ravenous. His floor is obviously much higher than this.

If anything Guy it is a positive comment I just made.

 

[MasterD]

At 20, he's already a reliable top 6 player. He's still learning.

I don't know about reliable, but I'd say complimentary top 6, yes.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I think getting repeatedly stripped of the puck from behind, turning over pucks and not scoring as a 1st liner and 1st wave pp is a very low low. Ravenous. His floor is obviously much higher than this.

I think you’re being hyperbolic. He’s nowhere near that bad.

If anything Guy it is a positive comment I just made.

Nah.

 

[Andy]

I don't know about reliable, but I'd say complimentary top 6, yes.

Given his play this year, I would say that is fair.

Last year he was an active contributor to the line and on most nights I found he was superior to Cole (this year is a different story as Cole is legit the best forward). That is why I am NOT too concerned at this point as Slaf has shown he can have the intensity to be a line driver.

He's still so young. I think at this point in his career he is a top 6 player on most clubs in the league (I say most because I don't have every team's lineup in my head and am just hedging my bets lol)

 

[MasterD]

I think getting repeatedly stripped of the puck from behind, turning over pucks and not scoring as a 1st liner and 1st wave pp is a very low low. Ravenous. His floor is obviously much higher than this.

How can his floor be higher than how he's playing? Makes no sense.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Interesting guy to bring up. Everybody loves to love Lecavalier, but Lecavalier actually only hit PPG twice is his long career! He's a 0.78ppg guy. (And I'm a strong believer that St-Louis was the play driver on that live for a long time - Lecavalier's stats would be way lower without him).

Salfkovsky can do that if well surrounded.

Yeah, Slaf won’t hit Vinny’s peak. Forget the Richard and the top tens. Vinny spent most of his career in the top 30 and that’s where I think Slaf will be for much of his career.

 

[Naslundforever]

How can his floor be higher than how he's playing? Makes no sense.

Christ I mean his average game. You are saying a guy’s floor is his worst games as a 20 year old?

Sacrament les gars vous faites expres là.

I guess Laine’s floor is his bed with the flu.