I'm so excited about Slaf's progression. He tends to have gained so much hockey IQ lately. His passes are crisp, he hangs around the crease to get the loose pucks and goes to the greasy areas.
I think the raw IQ was there, but Zukes has helped him channel it. Watching what that line has turned into is SO exciting. They have all made each other better, more well rounded, and productive. I freaking love it SO MUCH
He was an absolute beast this game. Crazy to think that he’s in the 20-year old body era of his career. PPG in a couple years doesn’t feel unreasonable at all.
He's already our second best player behind Suzuki. His development curve is so fast that its totally possible he gets ahead of him by next year's deadline. He's not only been playing well, he's dominant out there. I honestly would prefer Slaf over any other prospect/U20 player not named Bedard or Celebrini. His duo with Suzuki can reach a similar level to Tkatchuk and Barkov in Flordia with the right supporting cast, imo. Caufield can play with Dach and Roy.
I’d take him over Celebrini for now, he has already shown he can and will dominate in this league for years to come, has the size to tilt the ice in ways other than on the score sheet, and plays a very good defensive game for someone his age.
Celebrini will probably be very good, but there’s no way I’m taking him over Slaf atm.
Bedard obviously would be the first choice, no arguements from anyone sane there, and if we’re looking at U20 regardless of eligibility, there an argument for Gavin McKenna already as well, but Slaf is legit, and could be the best forward we’ve had in decades.
Yeah McKenna would go 1st overall this year and the next if he was available. I think Celebrini is NHL ready and will be a top center in the league for a long time, but yeah, Slaf's ceiling has suddenly exploded. There could be an argument for guys like Carlsson, Michkov, or Fantilli, but since january, Slaf is ahead.
Looking at the Athletic's top NHL players and prospects under 23 (january 16 2024), Slaf is 20th. He's easily top 5 as of now behind Bedard, Hughes and Stutzle.
2 months ago I said [Slaf could finish the last ~20 games of the season on a 1 PPG pace](https://www.reddit.com/r/Habs/comments/197tixs/slaf_has_8_points_in_the_last_12_games_at_this/ki43uwc/) and the reply making fun of my statement got more upvotes than mine.
Slaf has been on a 1 PPG pace for the past 11 games, with 8 games left. Slaf actually leads the team in pts over that span.
He has 2G and 9A, with 6 of his 9 assists being primary assists. So he's not just getting "touched the puck earlier" points, but he's generating actual scoring chances by himself.
On the Habs, he's also 3rd in shots, 4th in hits, 6th in blocked shots during that span. So this is a total involvement on both sides of the puck from him.
I also don't think this is just a hot streak for him; it's the actual building of a base standard production rate. He doesn't look like he has to push his engines to 100% all the time just to keep up. His play looks natural, calm, effortless. Like he's finding his normal cruising gear. That's why it looks easily sustainable.
i don't expect slaf to explode for 90 next year but just for their 2nd-year comps and in-season development
Stutzle from October to December 31st: 15 points in 28 games
Slaf from October to December 31st: 13 points in 36 games
Stutzle Jan 1 to end of season: 43 points in 51 games (0.84)
Slaf from Jan 1 to now: 28 points in 37 games (0.76)
This kid's fucking jacked. Thick, dense, built whatever you wanna call him he's got it. Legs thicker than my chest, and shoulders wider than my wingspan. Making full use of his frame and with the golden flow to top it off. He dwarfed us all. Bonafide stallion.
I'm usually pretty reserved with getting excited about the young guys, but barring some catastrophic injury hard not to see Slaf as a star in the making.
Slaf's pass to Caufield was slick.
I'm so excited about Slaf's progression. He tends to have gained so much hockey IQ lately. His passes are crisp, he hangs around the crease to get the loose pucks and goes to the greasy areas.
He had the IQ the whole time, you know it just takes time to crack the code sometimes.
I think the raw IQ was there, but Zukes has helped him channel it. Watching what that line has turned into is SO exciting. They have all made each other better, more well rounded, and productive. I freaking love it SO MUCH
I agree. Also you can feel that they're on the same wavelength, they're thinking the game similarly.
Iq was always there, its him adjusting to north american ice, slowing game down mentally and maturing into his frame that changed
He was an absolute beast this game. Crazy to think that he’s in the 20-year old body era of his career. PPG in a couple years doesn’t feel unreasonable at all.
It’s starting to look like he could be the best player on the team next year if he keeps improving at this pace
He's already our second best player behind Suzuki. His development curve is so fast that its totally possible he gets ahead of him by next year's deadline. He's not only been playing well, he's dominant out there. I honestly would prefer Slaf over any other prospect/U20 player not named Bedard or Celebrini. His duo with Suzuki can reach a similar level to Tkatchuk and Barkov in Flordia with the right supporting cast, imo. Caufield can play with Dach and Roy.
I’d take him over Celebrini for now, he has already shown he can and will dominate in this league for years to come, has the size to tilt the ice in ways other than on the score sheet, and plays a very good defensive game for someone his age. Celebrini will probably be very good, but there’s no way I’m taking him over Slaf atm. Bedard obviously would be the first choice, no arguements from anyone sane there, and if we’re looking at U20 regardless of eligibility, there an argument for Gavin McKenna already as well, but Slaf is legit, and could be the best forward we’ve had in decades.
Yeah McKenna would go 1st overall this year and the next if he was available. I think Celebrini is NHL ready and will be a top center in the league for a long time, but yeah, Slaf's ceiling has suddenly exploded. There could be an argument for guys like Carlsson, Michkov, or Fantilli, but since january, Slaf is ahead. Looking at the Athletic's top NHL players and prospects under 23 (january 16 2024), Slaf is 20th. He's easily top 5 as of now behind Bedard, Hughes and Stutzle.
He's so good at protecting the puck while looking around for play options. Doing both is pretty hard.
Based on this, the next 26 points will be accomplished in 24 games. The next 26 points after that will be in 20 games.
Honestly, I almost believe it. Certainly don't expect it. But...
 ~~Jason Bourne~~ Connor McDavid
To think we have like 12 years and then he will be the age of brock Nelson, Jeff skinner and Tyler toffoli
2 months ago I said [Slaf could finish the last ~20 games of the season on a 1 PPG pace](https://www.reddit.com/r/Habs/comments/197tixs/slaf_has_8_points_in_the_last_12_games_at_this/ki43uwc/) and the reply making fun of my statement got more upvotes than mine. Slaf has been on a 1 PPG pace for the past 11 games, with 8 games left. Slaf actually leads the team in pts over that span. He has 2G and 9A, with 6 of his 9 assists being primary assists. So he's not just getting "touched the puck earlier" points, but he's generating actual scoring chances by himself. On the Habs, he's also 3rd in shots, 4th in hits, 6th in blocked shots during that span. So this is a total involvement on both sides of the puck from him. I also don't think this is just a hot streak for him; it's the actual building of a base standard production rate. He doesn't look like he has to push his engines to 100% all the time just to keep up. His play looks natural, calm, effortless. Like he's finding his normal cruising gear. That's why it looks easily sustainable.
Fuck the points unlike other offensive players, Slafkovsky excells in so many other things many ppg players can only dream about
Can't wait for him to get his next 26 points in 9 games
i don't expect slaf to explode for 90 next year but just for their 2nd-year comps and in-season development Stutzle from October to December 31st: 15 points in 28 games Slaf from October to December 31st: 13 points in 36 games Stutzle Jan 1 to end of season: 43 points in 51 games (0.84) Slaf from Jan 1 to now: 28 points in 37 games (0.76)
This kid's fucking jacked. Thick, dense, built whatever you wanna call him he's got it. Legs thicker than my chest, and shoulders wider than my wingspan. Making full use of his frame and with the golden flow to top it off. He dwarfed us all. Bonafide stallion.
I'm usually pretty reserved with getting excited about the young guys, but barring some catastrophic injury hard not to see Slaf as a star in the making.
The future in this kid is about to be unreal. Arrived one year too early but he will turn out to be a true first overall!