World Championships

[glenwo2]

I don’t post hit pieces.

How about Reeses Pieces?

 

[imMagnum]

Here are my notes for the SVK vs. CAN game:

Slafkovsky:
- With a CAN team that featured NHLers like Dubois, Barzal, and Mercer, Slaf was as dynamic as anyone on the ice. He was a bull yet again. The way he generates speed for as big as he is is unlike anything I've ever seen from a prospect. Someone in the comments made a Kovalchuk comparison, and honestly, Slaf rushes just like him.

- A shift in the first, Nemec lost possession and Slaf grabbed the loose puck. He generated a ton of speed up the middle of the ice and nearly scored. That same shift, he intercepted a CAN transition and again, rocketed up the middle of the ice. This time, he made an excellent short pass through a defender and his teammate nearly scored.

- Slaf is also fantastic at taking pucks away. Whether intercepting passes or using his crazy long reach to strip puck carriers, he's a constant counter attack threat with his speed. Imagine him on the same line as Jack. It's a match made in heaven.

- He did score an own goal. Slaf got his stick in between a CAN cross ice saucer that took a weird deflection off his stick. I would say he probably couldn't do it again if he tried, but he's so good with his stick I'm sure he could.

- It'd be easy to write Slaf off if you're just point watching. I said this last review though: think of Jack in his first two seasons. Jack was extremely dynamic and you knew the points would come. Slaf is the same. Him and his teammates will need to find a way to finish off all the chances Slaf generates (sound like anyone to you?) if they want to start winning some games.

Nemec:
- Nemec had the most frustrating performance I've seen this tournament. This was definitely his best game of the tournament and for the first time I could see why he is a potential top 5 pick. He held his own against a strong CAN team and was certainly noticeable this game.

- Let's start with the good. Nemec was really good when his team had the puck. I've been waiting to see his breakouts and he had many this game, including a really nice saucer up the ice. When he wasn't breaking out by passing, he would rush the puck up the ice. While his rushes weren't as dynamic as some of his teammates, they were certainly effective at starting SVK's offence.

- I also liked his game in the OZone. While the large majority the time he just wrists it from the blue line, he did make a couple nice plays. His best came from him delivering a hard pass to his SVK teammate on the backdoor that caught everyone off guard. Nemec's vision was very strong this game in all three zones.

- His defense was very frustrating. Nemec does not move his feet in the defensive zone. With 1:30 left in the 2nd, Nemec took the laziest defensive shift I've seen in recent memory. He was a statue near his net and did not move his feet for a full 25 seconds (I counted) while CAN had possession. He could've have blocked two shots easily or tied up a forward, however he was frozen.

- The way he defends shooting lanes as a defenseman is very concerning as well. He goes completely vertical and thin if someone shoots near him. Nemec didn't even try to get his stick in the shooting lanes. It was like he was afraid to get hit. I don't want to make too many comparisons to Jiricek yet, however the way the two defend shooting lanes is night and day.

- His transition defense was the most frustrating because Nemec has shown he is an excellent transition skater. He kept up with both Mercer and Gregor in transition really well. He only seems to moves his feet when he wants to though. In the 3rd, Josh Anderson stole a SVK puck and bolted up the ice. It's like Nemec knew he wouldn't catch him and decided to do a casual skate to his end, even though he was SVK's last man back. A SVK forward was the one who hustled and caught up to Anderson, disrupting his shot.

- The TSN commentator nailed it when he said something along the lines of, "It's impressive that Nemec is holding his own against CAN. It's amazing that Slafkovsky is as good as anyone on the ice".

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Nemec should be on the top power play. This guy sucks

 

[MauDevils]

As the Series Rank (28th) shows, the Devils season was a pancake organization.

That's amazing. From Mickey Mouse to flapjacks.

 

[RangerDoggo]

This Slovak power play is straight doodoo.

 

[Hisch13r]

Nico’s been great

 

[RNCDevil]

I like watching Malgin, like I like watching Barzal -- creative.

 

[Oneiro]

I somewhat question the idea that the team gets tougher with Slafkovsky. When he's off the wall, I don't think he's imposing at all. And he has as much a defensive conscience as Hughes at the same age, which is to say very little. He doesn't seem like a power forward beyond his puck protection skills.

 

[Monsieur Verdoux]

So far weakest period in this tournament by Slafkovsky. On the other hand, the whole Team Slovakia has played poorly. Especially number 14 was terrible.

Nico has been great.

 

[Hisch13r]

I somewhat question the idea that the team gets tougher with Slafkovsky. When he's off the wall, I don't think he's imposing at all. And he has as much a defensive conscience as Hughes at the same age, which is to say very little. He doesn't seem like a power forward beyond his puck protection skills.

Yeah he's a Rantanen/Kakko type power forward and not like a Benn/Lucic type power forward

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

I somewhat question the idea that the team gets tougher with Slafkovsky. When he's off the wall, I don't think he's imposing at all. And he has as much a defensive conscience as Hughes at the same age, which is to say very little. He doesn't seem like a power forward beyond his puck protection skills.

That's what I was wondering too. Idk where this power forward thing came from. Who am I kidding, I do know, it's cuz he's 6'4.

 

[Devs3cups]

From the Slaf games I've watched in Liiga and the WC he's very effective along the boards. He uses his body very well. He's not out here crashing and banging, but he uses his body to win board battles and he's good at it. Doesn't mean he's not a power forward.

 

[devilsblood]

Here are my notes for the SVK vs. CAN game:

Slafkovsky:
- With a CAN team that featured NHLers like Dubois, Barzal, and Mercer, Slaf was as dynamic as anyone on the ice. He was a bull yet again. The way he generates speed for as big as he is is unlike anything I've ever seen from a prospect. Someone in the comments made a Kovalchuk comparison, and honestly, Slaf rushes just like him.

I imagine this is a bit exaggerated but from my viewings I thought his acceleration and open ice skating looked pretty good.

I've shewed away the early concerns about his skating.

That's what I was wondering too. Idk where this power forward thing came from. Who am I kidding, I do know, it's cuz he's 6'4.

So no signs of at least a net front presence? An ability to take up space but still maintain his feet and use his hands to get shots off down low?

Where are they playing him on the PK?

 

[Devs3cups]

I imagine this is a bit exaggerated but from my viewings I thought his acceleration and open ice skating looked pretty good.

I've shewed away the early concerns about his skating.


So no signs of at least a net front presence? An ability to take up space but still maintain his feet and use his hands to get shots off down low?

Where are they playing him on the PK?

He does all of this very well from what I've seen.

 

[devilsblood]

From the Slaf games I've watched in Liiga and the WC he's very effective along the boards. He uses his body very well. He's not out here crashing and banging, but he uses his body to win board battles and he's good at it. Doesn't mean he's not a power forward.

And this would be all that I am looking for. I kind of feel crashing and banging would be a negative. Unneeded wear and tear imo.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Beautiful stretch pass by Slaf, snipes one home later in the shift

 

[RangerDoggo]

And there it is. Excellent lead-up to the goal by Slaf too.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

From the Slaf games I've watched in Liiga and the WC he's very effective along the boards. He uses his body very well. He's not out here crashing and banging, but he uses his body to win board battles and he's good at it. Doesn't mean he's not a power forward.

I guess everyone's a power forward then. Every NHL player should use their body to win board battles....

 

[devilsfan35]

Holy snipe

 

[Oneiro]

Guy can whip it, nice to see that.

 

[Hisch13r]

If that isn’t the most perfect timing I’ve ever seen

 

[RangerDoggo]

An ill-advised pass to a teammate with someone directly in front of him blocking the lane? Sounds like he'll fit right in.

 

[RNCDevil]

Well, that is a risky pass and a very unfortunate deflection for Slaf.

 

[RangerDoggo]

Ha, an EDM version of Wonderwall. Euro as hell.

 

[devilsblood]

What channel is on? I saw Finland Sweden on NHL network.