Prospect Info: [2022 - 1st OA] Juraj Slafkovsky (LW) (Player Discussion ONLY)

[vlady]

Someone mentioned in the other thread that they liked his response to getting booed by some of the fans. Anyone care to share what his response was?

 

[SOLR]

Someone mentioned in the other thread that they liked his response to getting booed by some of the fans. Anyone care to share what his response was?

"I guess some people are less convinced" - "its true my game can be a lot better"

 

[SOLR]

So that was the idea, I get the pick now.
He’ll mesmerize the opposition so much with his charisma, no one will notice Suz and Cauf scoring boatloads in the background. Nice strategy

You don't get it all. It's about finding the learner's personality, the one player that can be developed vs. the player that doesn't really want to change.

 

[Seele]

Someone mentioned in the other thread that they liked his response to getting booed by some of the fans. Anyone care to share what his response was?

 

[Archijerej]

I know you guys are tired of the "played against men" quote but....

If he goes from the Liga to the AHL where the competition is comparable-ish he probably won't have a slow start. There is a good chance that he could be one of the better player in the AHL next year and gain lots of experience and confidence.

Even if you do play him with Caufield and Suzuki do you want him to be a part of a losing atmosphere cause lets be honest, The Habs aren't going to be good next year.

Let him have a good year and Laval then he can walk into development camp with some swagger and drive to play with the Habs next season.

Even if he sticks around with the big club I find it hard to believe that, unless he turns into Jagr overnight, he's going to be playing with Suzuki and Caufield. Those two are going to be the focus of opponents' attention. Putting Slafkovsky out there is pretty much an anti-development strategy.

 

[BehindTheTimes]

I didn’t like the pick, a few days have gone by. I love the kids emotion and excitement to be a hab. I think he will represent the CH well. I’m coming around.

 

[Archijerej]

Quite the difference with KK where he would always questionned the coach. Steph Wait said he was often rolling his eyes after Julien told him something.

To be fair, this kind of evaluations have to be taken with a grain of salt. I distinctly remember Kotkaniemi was supposed to have a great character and a great background. Good family, good opinion among national team members and staff etc. The question is how certain can you really be based on a couple of interviews with a 18 year old kid? Heck, I'm a brilliant hard-worker based on every interwiev I was invited to.

 

[NotProkofievian]

You don't get it all. It's about finding the learner's personality, the one player that can be developed vs. the player that doesn't really want to change.

Slafkovsky does come off as genuine, and as a very well balanced personality. Wright sounds like a tape recording of things his agent told him to say.

Quite the difference with KK where he would always questionned the coach. Steph Wait said he was often rolling his eyes after Julien told him something.

Stephane Waite's a bum ass loser who leaks personal medical details about our players.

 

[HostileCapSpace]

I’ve seen Juraj playing in TPS for the past few years. While he didn’t have similar impact as Kakko did, he reminded me a lot of another young player I used to watch years ago. That player is Mikko Rantanen.

And Rantanen was drafted 10 overall, not 1st.

 

[dkd]

 

[ReHabs]

I'm so curious to see how he does in the training camp. We were told he has it all: IQ, shot, skating, speed, size, awareness, positioning, etc.

Should be electrifying to see him. He will surely dominate the scrimmages, so I wonder if it's even worth thinking he won't start in the NHL next year on the first line and PP1.

 

[River Meadow]

Even if he sticks around with the big club I find it hard to believe that, unless he turns into Jagr overnight, he's going to be playing with Suzuki and Caufield. Those two are going to be the focus of opponents' attention. Putting Slafkovsky out there is pretty much an anti-development strategy.

Yeah.

IMO, at minimum, 9 games in NHL, then have him go to AHL for 1 year (monitor him closely though and ensure he is well supported, etc).

Then see how he is the year later.

Similar to what Avs did for Rantanen.

Just for comparison, Slaf has one season of Liiga under his belt.. give him time folks. The tools are there and he is trending up now.

 

[Garo]

And Rantanen was drafted 10 overall, not 1st.

And...? Rantanen is easily in the conversation for second best in his class, if you think you get the next one (or even Rantanen-lite) it's easily a 1st overall worthy pick

 

[morhilane]

And Rantanen was drafted 10 overall, not 1st.

Scouts look what "mold" worked from 5-10 years ago and draft eligible players fitting those mold gets increased rankings.

 

[Gustave]

There’s zero percent chance that he goes back to the Liiga if I’m in charge. Whatever happened there, it didn’t work out.

JF Houle did one hell of a job in Laval by creating a fiesty team that worked hard and the « right way ». I want Slaf to experience that positive environment. I don’t need him in the NHL on a team that has no D and probably no G either.

Matter of fact, I want Guhle with Laval too. Let these two become the total package and form some team chemistry. 2022/23 Habs are the land of the Dadonovs and Hoffmans Tank assemblers.

 

[cphabs]

If anyone has the physical tools to start in the NHL, it's him. But yeah, if he can't cut it after 9 or fewer games, it's to the land of silver chains and modified Civics for him

He can’t fit in a Civic!

 

[NewEraGM]

Yes he belongs either in Montreal or Laval.
Wouldn’t mind Mesar coming over to the OHL as well to keep a closer eye on them.

What’s going to be interesting is we have WAYYYYY too many forwards right now. Some movement for sure still coming

 

[HostileCapSpace]

Scouts look what "mold" worked from 5-10 years ago and draft eligible players fitting those mold gets increased rankings.

Yes, that is true. They tend to draft a player similar to another player sooner than they should because said player had success. I hope Slaf works out just as well.

And...? Rantanen is easily in the conversation for second best in his class, if you think you get the next one (or even Rantanen-lite) it's easily a 1st overall worthy pick

Hopefully we find a C just as good as MacKinnon to play with our Rantanen - I'm sure most people would agree it plays a part in how effective Rantanen is. And sorry to say, Kirby Dach ain't it. Looking forward in seeing what he'll do with Suzuki down the line,

 

[cphabs]

Yup.

A bigger Nichushkin type... must not be fun

At all lmao

I didn’t like the pick, a few days have gone by. I love the kids emotion and excitement to be a hab. I think he will represent the CH well. I’m coming around.

Me too

 

[Et le But]

To be fair, this kind of evaluations have to be taken with a grain of salt. I distinctly remember Kotkaniemi was supposed to have a great character and a great background. Good family, good opinion among national team members and staff etc. The question is how certain can you really be based on a couple of interviews with a 18 year old kid? Heck, I'm a brilliant hard-worker based on every interwiev I was invited to.

This is the problem with "personality", it's open to interpretation. We heard nothing but good things about Kotkamiemi until he signed an offer sheet, suddenly all this dirt came out. PK Subban's energy and talkative nature was inspiring for the team until he was traded, then he was a distracted locker room cancer unlike the true leader in silent Weber. Weber and Markov we're silent either because they were serious leaders or because they didn't care depending on how they were performing.

Slafkovsky seems like a confident, likable kid. A friend interviewed him after the Olympics and described him as a "chad". All good until he starts performing in the NHL like he did in Finland and suddenly his confidence is arrogance.

These quotes from him are nice but I don't care about how well he or Weight interviewed, let their games do the talking.

 

[Hannibal]

To be fair, this kind of evaluations have to be taken with a grain of salt. I distinctly remember Kotkaniemi was supposed to have a great character and a great background. Good family, good opinion among national team members and staff etc. The question is how certain can you really be based on a couple of interviews with a 18 year old kid? Heck, I'm a brilliant hard-worker based on every interwiev I was invited to.

Slafkovsky doesn’t have a toxic family. KK and Chucky were listening way too much their fathers since they were the coach of them. Just like Lambert.

 

[Et le But]

Slafkovsky doesn’t have a toxic family. KK and Chucky were listening way too much their fathers since they were the coach of them. Just like Lambert.

The toxic family stuff doesn't come out until we trade them. Give it a few years.

 

[Tanknation]

And Rantanen was drafted 10 overall, not 1st.

Except that, not every draft is the same. Sure it would be nice to have a Crosby or McDavid 1st, but that is rare. I am really hoping we pick 1st again and get Bedard in 2023. That would be incredible and this team would be scary good in 3-5 years.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Your deduction (fair) or someone said that?

In an Athletic article.

 

[HankyZetts]

Yes, that is true. They tend to draft a player similar to another player sooner than they should because said player had success. I hope Slaf works out just as well.



Hopefully we find a C just as good as MacKinnon to play with our Rantanen - I'm sure most people would agree it plays a part in how effective Rantanen is. And sorry to say, Kirby Dach ain't it. Looking forward in seeing what he'll do with Suzuki down the line,

I thought Rantanen played with nichushkin and burakovsky?