Player Discussion Will Slafkovsky better last years stats

[Kennerback]

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

In the savannah, you have predator and prey. Both have different survival and success strategies. If he’d be an animal Cooley would have the prey eyes on the side of the head like a hare, a squirrel or a gazelle. They survive by speed and smarts. If Slaf was an animal he’d have predator eyes like a lion or a bear. They survive by brute strength, power and killer instinct.

The top preys like Gretzky, Kariya and Sakic can be NHL greats. Because their key tools are smarts and speed they can have success very quickly. Cooley is in the NHL because of his speed. He’s at the very top of the NHL speed chart with Newhook, another less skilled prey. If Cooley’d have Tkachuk’s speed he’d be a career minor leaguer.

PowerForward/Predators’ key tool is brute force. Athletes at the very earliest start getting an effective amount of it at 21 years old as trial and testing in other brute force sports like American Football have shown. Preys can get their peak seasons at 20, 21, and predators have them at 25+. Sundin, Neely and Getzlaf then become immovable forces.

 

[Habs Halifax]

In the savannah, you have predator and prey. Both have different survival and success strategies. If he’d be an animal Cooley would have the prey eyes on the side of the head like a hare, a squirrel or a gazelle. They survive by speed and smarts. If Slaf was an animal he’d have predator eyes like a lion or a bear. They survive by brute strength, power and killer instinct.

The top preys like Gretzky, Kariya and Sakic can be NHL greats. Because their key tools are smarts and speed they can have success very quickly. Cooley is in the NHL because of his speed. He’s at the very top of the NHL speed chart with Newhook. If he’d have Tkachuk’s speed he’d be a career minor leaguer… PowerForward/Predators’ key tool is brute force. Athletes at the earliest start getting this at 21 years old as trial and testing in other brute force sports like American Football have shown. Preys can get their peak seasons at 20, 21, and predators have them at 25+. Sundin’s, Neely’s and Getzlaf then become immovable forces.

Good stuff. At the end of the day, we can't evaluate these two on points only. It's much deeper than that. We are no longer the Smurfs of the NHL and we need to continue to add guys with size/skating. Look at the cup winners and how the Caps have retooled. Bruins had this strategy as well. Tampa didn't win a cup until they added the right pieces around their core.

 

[SlafySZN]

Very misleading....

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

He played 25 games with Caufield and Suzuki this year. He has 19 points in that span.

Not like he spent all year playing top minutes.

What the comparison says is that he can finish with a better season than he had last year, still.

 

[LaP]

Very misleading....

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

At the end of the day what matters is how much TOI you have over the full season.

2023-24 TOI 17:56 PP TOI 2:57
2024-25 TOI 16:40 PP TOI 3:13

He was actually playing more last year

 

[habbubba]

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.

There are a few guys in my oldtimers league that have been calling him Sloth krapski, some of which played pro.lol
If you've come here expecting to have a rational and civil experience, you've come to the wrong place.lol
When I first found this site I thought that it was cool to find a place where insightful, articulate hockey savvy minded people could bounce things around, didn't take long to discover how wrong I was.
If you're into absurdity, check out the Matheson thread, the hate for him by some is lunacy and laughable at the same time. And for more shits and giggles, see all the people shredding apart Reinbacher, and he hasn't even played and NHL game yet.lol

 

[Guy Larose]

There are a few guys in my oldtimers league that have been calling him Sloth krapski, some of which played pro.lol
If you've come here expecting to have a rational and civil experience, you've come to the wrong place.lol
When I first found this site I thought that it was cool to find a place where insightful, articulate hockey savvy minded people could bounce things around, didn't take long to discover how wrong I was.
If you're into absurdity, check out the Matheson thread, the hate for him by some is lunacy and laughable at the same time. And for more shits and giggles, see all the people shredding apart Reinbacher, and he hasn't even played and NHL game yet.lol

Welcome to HF, one of the most toxic sites I've come upon.

 

[Andy]

I took a look at Slaf's monthly productions. He's produced 7 points a month since the beginning of the season. That is remarkable consistency LOL.

Slaf really hasn't hit a "heater" this season, like a string of 10-12 games he produces a PPG or above a PPG. I do think it's coming soon.

60 points is still not that out of reach. I think he hits 40 assists this year. If he can get back to the 20goal pace he had last year, he hits 60.

That's my hope for him. ANd I do think he can do it.

 

[Rapala]

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.

One of the reasons I suggested Suzuki would be a PPG player in his second season was his ability to strike out of nowhere despite having a bad(ish) game by his standards. I even went on to say if he doesn't become a PPG guy it would be on us for not surrounding him properly. Slaf is showing some of the same tendencies in what I consider to be his sophomore season. I'm not certain he can match his back-end production of a year ago but I think he will eventually become the catalyst for more multiple point games for both Caufield and Suzuki.

 

[Team_Spirit]

He's bullying Gally for all of us so that alone is worth at least 10pts in my books.


View attachment 967668

He took the Sammy pic! Another 5pts for this gem.

 

[Doom Bot]

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


This is perfect, air-tight logic.

lmfao get some air

 

[Habs13]

Slafkovsky rips home his 8th of the season!

 

[ahmedou]

HFHabs Shane Wright fans: