Player Discussion Will Slafkovsky better last years stats

[FerrisRox]

Wow.

There's some really dumb shit in this thread.

Some people just can't help themselves. It's like they are incapable of feeling shame.

 

[SlafySZN]

Slafkovsky himself has criticised his own season. “Your true nature” What the heck are you talking about?

There’s no need to bring additional data: Slafkovsky is not having a good season so far. There’s almost half of the season left so who knows, maybe he’ll turn it around.


Of course it’s fun to poke at the nonsense said to excuse his performances. Like LaP bragged about his 17 year old performance in international play but said as a 20 year old he can’t play the same way because he’s too young. That’s just funny!

He was talking about his eventual playoffs performances because he already experienced a similar atmosphere in the olympics in helping his country winning a medal while being the best player in the tournament at 17.

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

He compliments them well

I mean pretty much everyone fed into Suzuki and Caufield tbh

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

I mean pretty much everyone fed into Suzuki and Caufield tbh

Anderson? Newhook?

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

Anderson? Newhook?

what about it

 

[Bobby Holik agent]

Those type of thread are build to be a doomposting festival.

Also i remember the hivemind having Suzuki plateau as a 60points poor 1st line center before playing with Juraj.
But now Slafkovsky just tab his own stats out of his ppg production how convenient.

 

[ReHabs]

You said he's having a shit season. Now it's not a good season. If people stopped with using hyperboles to make a point, exchanges wouldn't be as hostile on this board.

For a first overall he’s having a shit season.

For a Slafkovsky who had seemingly turned the corner last year, he’s having a shit season.

For a wee little lad small sensitive tiny little boy with a big heart and who tries so hard but it’s so difficult because he’s so young and sensitive and oh gosh I dunno I just don’t want him to feel under pressure because he’s just so young and his spark is so bright I don’t want him hurt, etc, he’s having a not good season.

Take your pick

He was talking about his eventual playoffs performances because he already experienced a similar atmosphere in the olympics in helping his country winning a medal while being the best player in the tournament at 17.

This is perfect, air-tight logic.

 

[Benstheman]

Same day last season, Slaf had 20 pts in 49 games.

he now has 28 pts in 46 games.

Imo he just needs to find consistency.

 

[LaP]

I mean pretty much everyone fed into Suzuki and Caufield tbh

Nope last year MSL tried Anderson for about 20ish games at the beginning of the season and it was a disaster.

 

[Revansky]

Was and still am a big fan of Cooley but still feel Slafkovsky is on track with what was expected from him. I think what people find frustrating is when is thinking a bit too much and seems a bit less impactful on the play. He's a playmaker first and foremost and until he can develop his shot more and gain a bit of speed he'll need to keep his play simple to be disruptive and effective, which he's doing a lot more in the last 10 games. I wasn't sure at first with his hockey IQ but i really like the play he's making most of the time so I think it isn't a potential issue in his play. The game will slow down at some point and at his physical peak he should be able to win more board battle and maybe gain a bit of speed. I'm still expecting a great complementary first line player that produces between 70-80 points in his prime/peak years. He'll need to show more in transition to be a driving force but it's possible he develops this part of his game in the upcoming years. With the makeup of our team i think it's the right fit.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Was and still am a big fan of Cooley but still feel Slafkovsky is on track with what was expected from him. I think what people find frustrating is when is thinking a bit too much and seems a bit less impactful on the play. He's a playmaker first and foremost and until he can develop his shot more and gain a bit of speed he'll need to keep his play simple to be disruptive and effective, which he's doing a lot more in the last 10 games. I wasn't sure at first with his hockey IQ but i really like the play he's making most of the time so I think it isn't a potential issue in his play. The game will slow down at some point and at his physical peak he should be able to win more board battle and maybe gain a bit of speed. I'm still expecting a great complementary first line player that produces between 70-80 points in his prime/peak years. He'll need to show more in transition to be a driving force but it's possible he develops this part of his game in the upcoming years. With the makeup of our team i think it's the right fit.

This roster needs a Slaf more than a Cooley. I don't think there is going to be massive value difference between these two so the position of need (big winger who can play physical in the trenches) was a good pick.

Take Slaf out and insert Cooley and you have a very soft top 6. Nice on paper but you loose in the playoffs. We need Slaf to be a physical force freeing up space for Suzuki and Caufield. And when I say physical force, it doesn't have to be a monster type, he just needs to be strong along the walls and in front of the net. Wins more puck battles than he looses and that long stick/reach is an asset on the forecheck and closing gaps

 

[Bombshell11]

Same day last season, Slaf had 20 pts in 49 games.

he now has 28 pts in 46 games.

Imo he just needs to find consistency.

Very misleading....

He wasn't playing top minutes for a good part of the first half last year.

 

[Revansky]

This roster needs a Slaf more than a Cooley. I don't think there is going to be massive value difference between these two so the position of need (big winger who can play physical in the trenches) was a good pick.

Take Slaf out and insert Cooley and you have a very soft top 6. Nice on paper but you loose in the playoffs. We need Slaf to be a physical force freeing up space for Suzuki and Caufield. And when I say physical force, it doesn't have to be a monster type, he just needs to be strong along the walls and in front of the net. Wins more puck battles than he looses and that long stick/reach is an asset on the forecheck and closing gaps

Completely agree for our team Slaf fills a bigger need even if most of the time a C holds a bit more value than a comparable W.

 

[Andy]

He 100% can be a 70 point winger. I expect him to be.

He's currently pacing for 36 assists. I think he probably gets to 40 assists by end of the year - which would be 10 more than last year. 40 assists is no easy feat. Suzuki only attained that feat in his 3rd season at the age of 22 for example.

He's down on his goal scoring compared to last year, which is the biggest consequence on his total production thus far. It's not suprising, Slaf just doesn't shoot. He prefers to pass. Alex Tanguay used to be the same way.

Slaf is pacing for a 50 point total, like last year, and hasn't really hit a hot streak yet this season. Like a real heater.

It was quite clear, and explicitly stated by the team, that they didn't expect Slaf to be the best player out of the gate. And that it was a longer term process. He's progressing well, and he's still growing into the giant frame. We've seen how useful that frame can be, and I still think it will take time for him to be able to leverage that consistently.

There is an incredible lack of patience on this board, not just for Slaf, but just across the entire team. Too much micro, shift-by-shift, game-by-game analysis. Too many people want to make quick predictions, and too little people are willing to deviate from early, low-informed predictions. They just want to be right.

Back-to-back 50 point seasons before the age of 21 is great.

 

[nhlfan9191]

He 100% can be a 70 point winger. I expect him to be.

He's currently pacing for 36 assists. I think he probably gets to 40 assists by end of the year - which would be 10 more than last year.

He's down on his goal scoring compared to last year, which is the biggest consequence on his total production thus far. It's not suprising, Slaf just doesn't shoot. He prefers to pass. Alex Tanguay used to be the same way.

Slaf is pacing for a 50 point total, like last year, and hasn't really hit a hot streak yet this season. Like a real heater.

It was quite clear, and explicitly stated by the team, that they didn't expect Slaf to be the best player out of the gate. And that it was a longer term process. He's progressing well, and he's still growing into the giant frame. We've seen how useful that frame can be, and I still think it will take time for him to be able to leverage that consistently.

There is an incredible lack of patience on this board, not just for Slaf, but just across the entire team. Too much micro, shift-by-shift, game-by-game analysis. Too many people want to make quick predictions, and too little people are willing to deviate from early, low-informed predictions. They just want to be right.

Back-to-back 50 point seasons before the age of 21 is great.

If he’s putting up 50 points in a bad season at 20, id say he’s still very much on the right track, especially when you consider his offensive ceiling at the draft really isn’t that far off what he’s producing right now. I see a 70 point player as well in his prime and I’m happy with that if he starts using his body again the way he did the second half of last season.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Completely agree for our team Slaf fills a bigger need even if most of the time a C holds a bit more value than a comparable W.

Basically, it might end up a 2C vs a 1W but we will see. It's too early to know where both players top out at. I really like Slaf in our mix and we need Dach to reach his ceiling as well. Two big boys that can skate in our top 6. Add Laine as well. It's important.

 

[Victoire HuGo]

Very misleading....

He wasn't playing top minutes for a good part of the first half last year.

I'd say the minutes are about the same considering stretches where he was off the first line. Keep in mind the change in PP role, games missed due to injury and less TOI as well

 

[Habs Halifax]

He 100% can be a 70 point winger. I expect him to be.

He's currently pacing for 36 assists. I think he probably gets to 40 assists by end of the year - which would be 10 more than last year. 40 assists is no easy feat. Suzuki only attained that feat in his 3rd season at the age of 22 for example.

He's down on his goal scoring compared to last year, which is the biggest consequence on his total production thus far. It's not suprising, Slaf just doesn't shoot. He prefers to pass. Alex Tanguay used to be the same way.

Slaf is pacing for a 50 point total, like last year, and hasn't really hit a hot streak yet this season. Like a real heater.

It was quite clear, and explicitly stated by the team, that they didn't expect Slaf to be the best player out of the gate. And that it was a longer term process. He's progressing well, and he's still growing into the giant frame. We've seen how useful that frame can be, and I still think it will take time for him to be able to leverage that consistently.

There is an incredible lack of patience on this board, not just for Slaf, but just across the entire team. Too much micro, shift-by-shift, game-by-game analysis. Too many people want to make quick predictions, and too little people are willing to deviate from early, low-informed predictions. They just want to be right.

Back-to-back 50 point seasons before the age of 21 is great.

I agree. I think got a 60-80 pts winger with a physical edge. All he is missing is maturity and we have to remember, eh started at age 18 where guys like Caufield and Hutson started at 20/21.

The real Slaf will show at age 23 IMO. Maybe before. The kid clearly wants to improve and is putting the work in. There is no complacency in his energy

 

[Andy]

Basically, it might end up a 2C vs a 1W but we will see. It's too early to know where both players top out at. I really like Slaf in our mix and we need Dach to reach his ceiling as well. Two big boys that can skate in our top 6. Add Laine as well. It's important.

I don't think Cooley is a 2c. I think he'll essentially be in the same category Matt Duchene. Not quite a number 1, not quite a number 2. He'll be the classic 1b.

Wingers like Slaf are pretty rare. Cooley will probably be the better point producer. I just see Slaf vs Cooley like choosing between Landeskog and Duchene. The latter is definitely flashier, will be productive for longer in his career, will flirt with PPG. I would choose Slaf given how rare the physical profile is.

 

[FerrisRox]

He 100% can be a 70 point winger. I expect him to be.

He's currently pacing for 36 assists. I think he probably gets to 40 assists by end of the year - which would be 10 more than last year. 40 assists is no easy feat. Suzuki only attained that feat in his 3rd season at the age of 22 for example.

He's down on his goal scoring compared to last year, which is the biggest consequence on his total production thus far. It's not suprising, Slaf just doesn't shoot. He prefers to pass. Alex Tanguay used to be the same way.

Slaf is pacing for a 50 point total, like last year, and hasn't really hit a hot streak yet this season. Like a real heater.

It was quite clear, and explicitly stated by the team, that they didn't expect Slaf to be the best player out of the gate. And that it was a longer term process. He's progressing well, and he's still growing into the giant frame. We've seen how useful that frame can be, and I still think it will take time for him to be able to leverage that consistently.

There is an incredible lack of patience on this board, not just for Slaf, but just across the entire team. Too much micro, shift-by-shift, game-by-game analysis. Too many people want to make quick predictions, and too little people are willing to deviate from early, low-informed predictions. They just want to be right.

Back-to-back 50 point seasons before the age of 21 is great.

Excellent post.

I shouldn't be surprised - but I am - that there are actually people claiming that a 20-year old budding power-forward who's pacing for 50 points is having a "bad season."

It's just such a dumb take, it's pretty difficult to believe. I would find it laughable if it was a mainboard take from one of these guys that talks authoritatively about players they obviously don't watch, but for it to be happening in here, where you assume the poster watches a lot of Canadiens games is just absurd.

It certainly seems like it has a lot more to do with an "agenda" than it has to do with actually watching Slafkovksky play. Even if he had run over your dog with his car and you hated him because he bullied you growing up, I can't understand how you could watch him play this year, see how much more creative he has become with puck distribution, how calm and cool he is with the puck on his stick and and how he is learning more and more to use his size, both in terms of finishing checks and wearing out his opponents, but also in regard to puck protection and board work, then come away with the idea that he is somehow regressing.

It seems pretty obvious - to me at least - that the staff have given him things to work on this season and a checklist of things they want to see from him in terms of how he will compliment Suzuki and Caufield if that's who he wants to play with, and I see very promising things in that regard this season compared to last, even the second half when he was producing well.

 

[Andy]

I agree. I think got a 60-80 pts winger with a physical edge. All he is missing is maturity and we have to remember, eh started at age 18 where guys like Caufield and Hutson started at 20/21.

The real Slaf will show at age 23 IMO. Maybe before. The kid clearly wants to improve and is putting the work in. There is no complacency in his energy

The only thing stopping Slaf from reaching that range is the goal scoring. If he's going to score 10-15 goals a year, he'll top out at 60 points. That means he'll have to get 50-55 assists a year to be able to hit that range, which is an incredibly hard feat to do.

 

[Habs Halifax]

I don't think Cooley is a 2c. I think he'll essentially be in the same category Matt Duchene. Not quite a number 1, not quite a number 2. He'll be the classic 1b.

Wingers like Slaf are pretty rare. Cooley will probably be the better point producer. I just see Slaf vs Cooley like choosing between Landeskog and Duchene. The latter is definitely flashier, will be productive for longer in his career, will flirt with PPG. I would choose Slaf given how rare the physical profile is.

Landeskog vs Duchene is a good comparison.

 

[Andy]

Landeskog vs Duchene is a good comparison.

Landeskog hit 60 points relatively early in his career, but only got to a ppg season at age 25....a whole 4 years older than Slaf. Imagine some of the impatient folks here having to wait 4 seasons for that.

But, back to the point, I think many folks here choose Landeskog over Duchene 10/10/

 

[Habs Halifax]

The only thing stopping Slaf from reaching that range is the goal scoring. If he's going to score 10-15 goals a year, he'll top out at 60 points. That means he'll have to get 50-55 assists a year to be able to hit that range, which is an incredibly hard feat to do.

He has to improve his giveaways/60. The biggest flaw in his game is he is trying to be a play making winger IMO. A lot of times, he is looking for pass vs shooting and/or using his frame to take it deep in the zone. These are maturity issues and him not wanting to be selfish. I'm sure MSL is working with him in this area.

His play making skills are actually solid. You can see some very nice passes at times but then in other times, he is trying to force the pass and creates a turnover and this is happening on the PP more than 5/5

He ranks 8th on our roster in shots with 62 (Caufield is at 151 and Suzuki is at 100). I'd prefer Slaf to be top 5 in shots and he should have around 90-100 shots IMO. Newhook, Armia, and Gallagher have more shots playing less min's

Slaf had 152 shots last year. He's on pace for 110 this year. This is why his goals are less this season

 

[Egresch]

Very misleading....

He wasn't playing top minutes for a good part of the first half last year.

You are right, it is not comparing apples to apples. We also need to consider that he spent good part of his first half this year playing along Kirby Dach, arguably the worst top 6 player in whole NHL at that time.