With hindsight, would you take Cooley over Slaf?

[The Great Weal]

He’s more talented IMO.

Suzuki is a better shooter, has a higher IQ, is more physical, is more trusted defensively, and is better at center. It's extremely premature to claim that Cooley will be better.

Cooley = Point in TB.

Point scored 30 goals in his 2nd NHL season while Cooley is on pace for 18.

 

[nhlfan9191]

Cooley was my pick even before the great stock crash of Shane Wright. He looks about how I expected but I still have faith that I was also completely wrong on Slafkovsky. I really don’t think last season was a fluke. There’s a pretty good ceiling for him. He needs to pull his head out of his ass and get going and I’m not worried yet that he won’t be able to do that.

 

[Apoplectic Habs Fan]

I wanted Cooley but that also doesnt factor in top 6 makeup. It definitely would have taken work to acquire some size in the top 6 which can be difficult too.

It really depends at this point what each player becomes.

Will Cooley become a PPG centre with one way or two way play. Thats a big factor in playoff success especially for a slightly undersized center.

Will Slaf settle in as say a 60-75 point player who uses his size.

Both are very valuable depending on the makeup of your team and both, way too early to tell as players have lots of ups and downs thru their first 5 years.

I do think they did Slaf a disservice moving him from Suzuki. Let him continue thru the growing pains insulated with your best center. It wasnt a win yr anyhow. The early contract may also have been a mistake, but one i would have made as well

 

[The Last Red]

Suzuki is a better shooter, has a higher IQ, is more physical, is more trusted defensively, and is better at center. It's extremely premature to claim that Cooley will be better.


Point scored 30 goals in his 2nd NHL season while Cooley is on pace for 18.

Bro, we’re allowed to disagree. I think Coooley will be a more impactful 1C. It’s just an opinion.

 

[Hacketts]

It shows that he is a young guy that need some offensive support with him on his line until he gets the experience and then can help others himself. It’s the same for most young players.

I think he has the ability to play a lot better when he's not on the 1st line. What stops him from that is the issue between his ears. There's no reason he could't skate like that on the other lines. I feel he'll get there, but not without it's fair share of growing pains.

 

[HabzSauce]

Cooley = Point in TB.


$$$$ and brand new sexy girlfriend.

Man F*ck a gf lol go win a cup or two + conn Smythe first. Become a Habs legend. His options with women will skyrocket even more

 

[Hins77]

Slaf for me. I can find one Cooley in each entire team in the NHL. Undersized player close to be PPG. Slaf will be on his prime later on his career. Like Nicushkin, like Alex Tuch. Those guys are hard to find. You need to keep them. Especially for the playoff.
I'm not sure that Slaf is gonne produce more point than Cooley at the end of their career. But Slaf brings physicallity and also an offensive touch.

 

[1909]

Slaf for me. I can find one Cooley in each entire team in the NHL. Undersized player close to be PPG. Slaf will be on his prime later on his career. Like Nicushkin, like Alex Tuch. Those guys are hard to find. You need to keep them. Especially for the playoff.
I'm not sure that Slaf is gonne produce more point than Cooley at the end of their career. But Slaf brings physicallity and also an offensive touch.

‘will » bring ???? Because right now since the beginning of the season, he is not showing anything like that.

Suzuki is a better shooter, has a higher IQ, is more physical, is more trusted defensively, and is better at center. It's extremely premature to claim that Cooley will be better.


Point scored 30 goals in his 2nd NHL season while Cooley is on pace for 18.

Different teams, different times. Cooley is a passer first and a great skater.

 

[Andrei79]

Tough to say. I find Cooley has always had a better probability of being a point producer. Slaf's profile is so rare though. We saw a big stretch of what his potential could look like last year and that was one of the most valuable wingers in the game. He's just that much stronger than anyone his age. This year has been shit for him after the injury though. I'm also not sure how Cooleys Dvorak like personality would have fit here.

 

[Hins77]

‘will » bring ???? Because right now since the beginning of the season, he is not showing anything like that.


Different teams, different times. Cooley is a passer first and a great skater.

He was the best player of slovakia. He had great olympics. He exceed all that kind of stuff on a young age. Every big guy had their problem in the nhl from 19 to 23/24 years old. Then, their prime starts further. Saying today Slaf is worst than Cooley is not legit at all.

 

[1909]

He was the best player of slovakia. He had great olympics. He exceed all that kind of stuff on a young age. Every big guy had their problem in the nhl from 19 to 23/24 years old. Then, their prime starts further. Saying today Slaf is worst than Cooley is not legit at all.

Today Slaf ? Yes. Last half season: No…. Where is that Slaf ?

 

[Andrei79]

Today Slaf ? Yes. Last half season: No…. Where is that Slaf ?

What I don't understand is that he's more agile, but he's significantly slower. It shows up in the data. What happened this summer ? Or is it a mental thing ? He's had good chances lately so I'm hoping these are signs he's finding his game again.

 

[Hins77]

Today Slaf ? Yes. Last half season: No…. Where is that Slaf ?

Progression curve from 18 to 23 years old on a board would be like action bitcoin. Up/ down. A big down. And a huge raise up. Right now, obviously Slaf is progression curve isnt really climbing. After 23 years old, their going into a plateau both of them and I think Slaf is going be to be useful for us on a top 6

 

[1909]

Progression curve from 18 to 23 years old on a board would be like action bitcoin. Up/ down. A big down. And a huge raise up. Right now, obviously Slaf is progression curve isnt really climbing. After 23 years old, their going into a plateau both of them and I think Slaf is going be to be useful for us on a top 6

That’s what everyone here are hoping and expecting. But right now, so far this season, he is a huge deception.

What I don't understand is that he's more agile, but he's significantly slower. It shows up in the data. What happened this summer ? Or is it a mental thing ? He's had good chances lately so I'm hoping these are signs he's finding his game again.

He has lost some of his baby fat. He was (according to many sites) 238 lbs last season, and 228, this season.

 

[SlafySZN]

What I don't understand is that he's more agile, but he's significantly slower. It shows up in the data. What happened this summer ? Or is it a mental thing ? He's had good chances lately so I'm hoping these are signs he's finding his game again.

He was just more dynamic last season, I kinda see it more in the last 3-4 games though. I think when he’s confident he thinks less on the ice and use his instincts and speed more.

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

I go with Slaf because of his ceiling. If he reach his ceiling, he is a rare player. Cooley have a better floor, means he have more chances to reach his floor or ceiling but he's not projected to be in the range of McKinnon. He will be a new Adam Oates at best, not a new Joe Sakic. It's easyer to find that kind of talent. Slaf might be riskyer to developp full potential but he's worth the try.

Today Slaf ? Yes. Last half season: No…. Where is that Slaf ?

That Slaf existed, so he can come back.

 

[1909]

I go with Slaf because of his ceiling. If he reach his ceiling, he is a rare player. Cooley have a better floor, means he have more chances to reach his floor or ceiling but he's not projected to be in the range of McKinnon. He will be a new Adam Oates at best, not a new Joe Sakic. It's easyer to find that kind of talent. Slaf might be riskyer to developp full potential but he's worth the try.


That Slaf existed, so he can come back.

… like we saw a better version of Dach before. If both could recover, that team would be a legitimate Playoffs participant.

 

[Harry Kakalovich]

I like what Slaf brings. He has good passing and playmaking for a big guy. He hasn't scored much this year. I'm willing to be patient with Slaf. Like with Xhekaj. Big guys like that, there's more to it than just what have you done for me lately. Trade Xhekaj or Slaf, those are tough guys to replace. I don't know Cooley that well, but I think Slaf will improve.

 

[Michoulicious]

Cooley for sure.

Tough to say. I find Cooley has always had a better probability of being a point producer. Slaf's profile is so rare though. We saw a big stretch of what his potential could look like last year and that was one of the most valuable wingers in the game. He's just that much stronger than anyone his age. This year has been shit for him after the injury though. I'm also not sure how Cooleys Dvorak like personality would have fit here.

Cooley is a C as well, very valuable.

But he's small... Still Cooley for me. Slaf's progression curve is concerning.

 

[bud12]

No. We need size with skill. Slaf has showed he has it. He had points in what, 5 of the first 6 games? Then got hurt. Upon return, he got pushed down to the second line. I can only assume it was to see if he could drive a line. IMO, it was too soon to try that. He's back with Suzuki and Caufield. He is showing signs of getting out of the slump. Leave him there.

8pts in 9 games before getting hit by Acciari. Downfall from there!

 

[amnesiac]

Cooley for sure.


Cooley is a C as well, very valuable.

But he's small... Still Cooley for me. Slaf's progression curve is concerning.

6'0 192 lbs.... I would say thats quite average. Same as Demidov.

 

[Michoulicious]

6'0 192 lbs.... I would say thats quite average. Same as Demidov.

Yeah, average.

 

[montreal]

Leonard over Michkov?

Taking Kulich over Mesar would be a nice do over as well.

Michkov chose the flyers from what I just saw on twitter the other day. But I am not a big Michkov fan, I saw him in one game this year vs the Habs and I wasn't impressed at all. I started to watch a little of his last game but got bored and turned it off, saw later posters saying it may have been his worst game of the season.

So for whatever reason, I seem to catch him on his bad days lately but I still think he's a better Caufield and not much more but his stats are certainly very impressive so I could be wrong. I just don't like the way he plays but I also don't watch a lot of him. If he was a Hab I would know his game way better.

 

[amnesiac]

Michkov chose the flyers from what I just saw on twitter the other day. But I am not a big Michkov fan, I saw him in one game this year vs the Habs and I wasn't impressed at all. I started to watch a little of his last game but got bored and turned it off, saw later posters saying it may have been his worst game of the season.

So for whatever reason, I seem to catch him on his bad days lately but I still think he's a better Caufield and not much more but his stats are certainly very impressive so I could be wrong. I just don't like the way he plays but I also don't watch a lot of him. If he was a Hab I would know his game way better.

I mean he is a rookie, he'll develop his game over the years. Time will tell.

But I thought it was said in the past few weeks that Hughes just flat up passed on him. I think a lot had to do with the 3 year contract and having no control in Russia.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

Today Slaf ? Yes. Last half season: No…. Where is that Slaf ?

Read the post. He correctly said young players especially his size have ups and downs. He will likely get back to last years form.

I mean he is a rookie, he'll develop his game over the years. Time will tell.

But I thought it was said in the past few weeks that Hughes just flat up passed on him. I think a lot had to do with the 3 year contract and having no control in Russia.

Apparently it had more to do with Michkov refusing to talk to any team but Philadelphia.