Juraj Slafkovsky - Year Two

[The Real Guy Lafleur]

Awesome pass, he's going to be a beast!

 

[cphabs]

Did you just respond to yourself?

I’ve been there lmao

 

[BenchBrawl]

He will start producing more offense when the most majestic part of his game finally clicks: Dangling 1 on 1.

You can sense he's about to integrate it at the NHL level soon.

 

[Nedved]

I wanted Wright or Cooley, a centerman really, but Slaf is the real deal. Even if the other two become better players, Slaf is the right fit for MTL. It was great pick, I don't even mean his talent level, but his ability to believe in himself and not care about us crazy fans.

 

[EXPOS123]

I wanted Wright or Cooley, a centerman really, but Slaf is the real deal. Even if the other two become better players, Slaf is the right fit for MTL. It was great pick, I don't even mean his talent level, but his ability to believe in himself and not care about us crazy fans.

Same here - really wanted a center and thought that Slaf was a bit raw ( a la KK), but the more I watch him the more I see the sky’s the limit for him

 

[LesCanadiens]

I wanted Wright or Cooley, a centerman really, but Slaf is the real deal. Even if the other two become better players, Slaf is the right fit for MTL. It was great pick, I don't even mean his talent level, but his ability to believe in himself and not care about us crazy fans.

I think it's partly due to his ethnicity. Slav men are typically self-confident in an old-school, macho kinda way. I think this helps. They (coach/mgt) always said confidence was never at issue with Slaf no matter what the press/fans were saying or how his play was perceived.

 

[SlafySZN]

I want to see this from him more often!

 

[417]

He's played the same amount of games this year, as he did last.

He only has 4 more points.

Yet it feels totally different.

I know some folks can’t separate production from development, but he's shown a ton of progress.

I can’t wait to see what the next 40+ games look like.

 

[Andrei79]

I want to see this from him more often!

Can't. It only works against Kazakhstan.

 

[SlafySZN]

(Mod)

He's played the same amount of games this year, as he did last.

He only has 4 more points.

Yet it feels totally different.

I know some folks can’t separate production from development, but he's shown a ton of progress.

I can’t wait to see what the next 40+ games look like.

He’s been on the first line for 14 games and he has 7 points. It’s a 40/45 points pace which is pretty good progression taking in consideration only 2 forwards will score 60 points + on the team this year and a bad PP.

 

[The Real Guy Lafleur]

Can't. It only works against Kazakhstan.

If you can't recognize his talent you have much to learn young grasshopper.

 

[BLONG7]

There is much light, at the end of the tunnel......................look out, it will be a train.
The kid has been fantastic since joining the top line.

 

[Kennerback]

He's played the same amount of games this year, as he did last.

He only has 4 more points.

Yet it feels totally different.

I know some folks can’t separate production from development, but he's shown a ton of progress.

I can’t wait to see what the next 40+ games look like.

Slaf now creates plays that lead to shooting opportunities. Which is a big step forward. Unfortunately, this shooting opportunity too often leads to the same result as before. No shot being taken, neither by Slaf nor his linemates. Which is mind-boggling but I guess part of the learning process.

 

[Lshap]

He's played the same amount of games this year, as he did last.

He only has 4 more points.

Yet it feels totally different.

I know some folks can’t separate production from development, but he's shown a ton of progress.

I can’t wait to see what the next 40+ games look like.

He had 1 point in his first 11 games, so the increase in production during the next two months is real.

 

[GrandmaCookie]

He's played the same amount of games this year, as he did last.

He only has 4 more points.

Yet it feels totally different.

I know some folks can’t separate production from development, but he's shown a ton of progress.

I can’t wait to see what the next 40+ games look like.

I remember arguing with you about tanking to draft high and its correlation to cup winning team in the past. Do you think the tank for Slaf was worth it?

 

[Milhouse40]

He had 1 point in his first 11 games, so the increase in production during the next two months is real.

His game is much much more than just points and everybody can see that.

The fact it's this much obvious at 19 years old and after only 78 NHL games, it's impressive in terms of development.

 

[Lshap]

His game is much much more than just points and everybody can see that.

The fact it's this much obvious at 19 years old and after only 78 NHL games, it's impressive in terms of development.

Agreed. He's gaining confidence and steamrolling through players towards the net. He's finally starting to shoot more. He's seeing the ice better. Of course, you'd expect those things to translate to points because, after all, points are the main job of a top-six forward.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Agreed. He's gaining confidence and steamrolling through players towards the net. He's finally starting to shoot more. He's seeing the ice better. Of course, you'd expect those things to translate to points because, after all, points are the main job of a top-six forward.

Going into this year - and certainly after the first month of this year - I never thought this guy had the potential to be our best forward. Now I can see it. The potential is there. He’s playing really well at a young age. I’m so impressed with his development this season.

 

[Skip Bayless]

I like how his game is coming together. He is going to have a big impact well beyond the scoresheet.

Future line driver.

 

[Guess]

slaf could become better skating version of mark stone. puck possesion, two way monster.

Mark Stone's style relies on his very high IQ. Slaf will not become the same kind of player.

 

[LesCanadiens]

Mark Stone is good because of his very high IQ. Slaf will not become the same kind of player.

Slaf has a very high IQ. Not sure where this myth came about that he doesn't.

 

[TT1]

Really liking how he's looking now, he'll be a beast of a player if he can put everything together and become a bigger puck handling and scoring threat.

That way he'll draw way more attention and create way more space for his linemates, he definitely has the tools to reach that level. I really like the intensity he plays with, you can't teach that.

 

[Guess]

Slaf has a very high IQ. Not sure where this myth came about that he doesn't.

Can you provide examples of that? I don't think he was ever known for his hockey IQ even before he was drafted.

 

[BenchBrawl]

Slovakian Maestro

 

[LesCanadiens]

Can you provide examples of that? I don't think he was ever known for his IQ even before he was drafted.

Best example I have I can't provide to you because I can't watch him play for you. He anticipates extraordinarily well in all 3 zones which leads rarely being behind the play. Always aware of where his teammates are on the ice which is amply shown by the many smart, one-touch passes he makes. I've said all this stuff from the start, before he made a jump in outcomes of his play. Just watch him and you'll see how he thinks the game. And I'd be shocked if you objectively don't come away being impressed with his "IQ" or what I still prefer to refer as, hockey sense.

Don't know which people doubted his hockey sense/IQ before and when he was drafted. But, IMO those who did, were dead-wrong.