Shaun Starr and Brendan Kelly talk about the Montreal Canadiens recent run of good play. The Canadiens have shown that they have patience with players, their system and the results. No reason to doubt them and no reason to second guess. So let’s talk about Juraj Slafkovsky and his age and the performance this season and the pressure to make it happen
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#montrealcanadiens #habs #nhl #viralvideo
37 Comments
quit trying to start shit leave the guy lone
has he really been that bad? I feel like a huge part of Cole Caufield's even strength production can be chalked up to Slaf creating space for him and Suzuki.
You guys are something! Picking on a 20 year old. Look at what Rantanen produced in his first 3 years. Talking to talk 🙄
I think he played good against Vancouver
The Coaching played with his head he was almost a point a game before he got hurt earlier this year. He comes back and what does the coach do move him to another line make him uncomfortable on the ice if he makes mistakes they sit him let the kid play stay out of his head he will be fine this coaching staff treats players different some can do what ever and nothing happens other players have a target on them Totally bad coaching
He's 20. He'll be fine
Agreed cause again MSL had to pull him aside but to his credit he came out strong
Slafs will be ok..just a kid adjusting to a new game, new size rink,,,,he will be great going forward….
Ah cmon Shaun, if you had a good 6 months of work and your boss give you a raise, would you not take it ? Slaf just need to relax out there adn move his feet, stop thinking and shoot more. If I was MSL, I would sau forget about the money you are getting just focus on you play. He will play 2nd line when demidov makes the team
🚨This is WAY too personal for some🚨 I like Slaf. I DO NOT THINK HE IS A BUST!! Asking if you’re concerned about him after last year and the close to 61 million dollar extension he got is a LEGIT question. It’s a discussion not a be all end all for this player. Cmon guys.
I agree with a lot of what was said in this clip about Slaf. I also wonder if the little back injury that kept him out of Olympic qualifying is still nagging him. Just doesn't seem himself. The good news is he is playing this bad and still on pace for 47 points. Great show 🍻
Leave Slav alone he will turn it around when he gets his moment 😊
When Ivan shows up slaf will become winger #4 less spotlight will be good for him. Patience needed, he was drafted as a project. 😊
Habs gave him $61million to lock him into a sweet deal for when they are contending for cups. Suzuki and Caufield are already underpaid and so it will be for Slaf. He’s a huge 20 year old and they always take time to figure it out and become consistent.
Rushed like Guillaume Latendresse? I hope not
Slafkovsky is Slovak, just like me, so I understand what he might be going through. Most people in this country are poorer, so if you turn a 20-year-old Slovak into a millionaire, it really messes with his mindset. You don't understand that. On top of that, he found himself a beautiful girlfriend – a model and he's no longer 100% focused on hockey. He's living his Canadian-American dream and playing just well enough as it suits him.
Damn, people are defensive when Slaf comes up.
Slaf is 20…I see a good kid, and let's empathize kid with a huge contract. He's probably living life large and thinking he's gone it made. However, we know NHL hockey is a man's league. It's time for him to adjust and play more maturely. He realizes more work is needed on his part but kids will be kids and he needs guidance. Maybe veterans and coaches can push him into using his size more. If not, sit him in the press box.
When you grow up and your hero's are Lafleur and the Six Million Dollar Man Steve Austin, you have high expectations of a 60 million dollar man.
I get the feeling that this is the first time in his life that he has had money. I believe he has a girlfriend now in Montreal, a nice condo, a new car. And I’m happy for him. He’s in an adjustment period. If I were 20 with all of those things and a big paycheck coming I’d be a little distracted too.
We all know he has the skill and the will. But he needs to learn some more things about being a professional.
Don't look now but Wright is only two points behind Slafkovsky and has more goals. Not that i would have picked Wright but my bet is Slafkovsky will not be that power forward everyone thinks he'll be. My opinion he will be a passer more than a shooter. Eventually he will be traded 3 years from now. He's a player that will frustate you with the untapped potential.
Maybe we can entice Washington to give us Ryan Leonard for Slafkovsky. Call me crazy, but I already see the player Slafkovsky is going to be. Nice personality don't win. Slafkovsky reminds me of players like Rene Bourque, Benoit Pouliot.
Not worried, Slaf just needs to use his size and he’ll be a force
PWF’s like big D need time to fill into their frames
Also once the second line gets Laine back and gets going, opposing teams will need to divide up their better defenders
Slaf’s passing is elite and he factor’s in on many of 13 & 14’s goals
If anyone needs a demotion it’s Newhook
His speed finally showed up against Vancouver but talk about lack of production
Rather see Heineman in Newhook’s spot
Slide Newhook down to 3rd
Andy down to 4th
Do you remember how everybody would say " he's only # years old" with both Galchennyuk and KK.
Slaf is a physical specimen but looks like he doesn't care enough., Cole Caufield hits more than he does.
I'm pretty sure he's being distracted by a woman just like Galchennyuk was.
If they tell slaf to get used to his frame and get hits. Then he will definitely develop bad habits for later one. So he should completly forget to pass and learn to shoot?. So thats another 2-3 years down the line??? Thats too long of a development path and everyone will be sick of him by then. Why are we turning him into the next josh Anderson? We already have one. You gonna pay him 61m to become a screener? Like be fr. Tell him to everything now so he doesn't develop bad habits for later on. Because at 22-23 if he learns to shoot and pass then. His career is pretty much over. I dont want a KK 2.0
I don’t see how he can remain a top 6 player once Demidov gets here and they can’t put Laine on a third line either .
Heineman is on his rookie season and is ahead of Slafkovsky in every aspect with lesser icetime and almost no pp time . He won’t be a bottom 6 for long if he keeps improving .
They will probably decide on Slafkovsky’s future with the habs once the season is over . If he hasn’t shown any significant signs of improvement i wouldn’t be surprised if they move him at the draft to get a higher pick .
I’m not worried about Slaf he’s doing better than lafreniere was doing he just needs more shots on net demigod coming next season will be huge for him as well no need to panic with Slaf
JURAJ??? BET YOU HE AS A NEW GIRL FRIEND.CONSERVE ENERGY FOR THE GAME.HE IS THE YOUNGEST GUY ON THE TEAM.DONT FORGET.
I said all along they should have drafted Cooley . If you watch Slaf and all his goals, you don’t see soft hands or great vision .
Shaun,
Despite not playing like in the 2nd half of last year, he's on pace for 47pts, which is about like last year. Yes, he's playing without confidence and sometimes looks lost. Should we compare this year's slum to last years? It not even close. He's still producing passable numbers. HE IS 20 YEARS OLD! What do almost all young star struggle with the most in their first few seasons? Consistency. That's often mental. It's even more the case with these big guys.
Let the kid figure it out. He didn't forget how to play hockey. He's still the same guy as last year. J. Hughes's 2nd season, over a 80 games, would have been 47pts too. And Slaf is no JH.
That's another thing, we can't compare him to other 1st OA. There was no one was projecting to be a franchise player that year. We know of one from that year that might very well become one. And we have him too!
Let's give him more time. Maybe sit him once in a while if he's not putting in the effort. Some guys are late bloomers, but he's not one … for now. He's only 20!!
Back off boys! Your out of line, I know you need something to talk about. Take a look at N Mackinnon first four years and his inconsistent numbers. He is not hurting the team at this point and he is contributing.
Enough already, whats wrong with him being a 50-60 ppg player. That is a solid season and if he can peak at 70-80 ppg in his prime well thats a great career. What more do you want? The next McDavid or McKinnon? Good luck on those generational talents, Slaf aint one, but he is a solid 2 way guy with great potenial.
He's youngest player on the team. younger than Lane Hutson. He'll be fine.
If he finishes with 50 points its a learnin curve
Kelly's take is not surprising given he always criticizes Habs however I am surprised by Starr. Kelly's truism in sports is ridiculous. Young players need time to develop, that is a fact! Both Kelly and Starr have somehow have forgotten that Slaf lost development time due to Covid as did Wright etc… Kelly at the very least should pronounce "Les Canadiens" correctly. Is he taking the piss? The money Slaf gets doesn't start until next season so cut Slaf some slack and lets see what happens. This was IMO a very disappointing take by the commentators.
Brandon Kelly has some of the worst takes I’ve ever read or heard ! I actually stoped reading all his material because imo he hates the habs
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We did the same thing with Guillaume Latendresse, remember? Trying to force him to play a physical game when it just wasnt in him. I dont think Slaf will ever be a power forward tbh. He doesnt have what, for example, Josh Anderson has. Anderson is big and he knows it and he use his size. Slaf doesnt.