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Post by electron58 on Nov 4, 2023 23:05:36 GMT
Take Josh Anderson with him 😂 Too funny! 😂
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Post by graeme on Nov 4, 2023 23:06:51 GMT
Arpon says Slaf's playing on top-line tonight. Definitely didn't "earn" it and could be a disaster, but it's worth a shot at this point.
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Post by electron58 on Nov 4, 2023 23:12:34 GMT
Arpon says Slaf's playing on top-line tonight. Definitely didn't "earn" it and could be a disaster, but it's worth a shot at this point. You're right that he didn't earn it and I worry that his lack of defense will hurt this line as defensively it's not a strong line to begin with.
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Post by claremont on Nov 5, 2023 3:56:52 GMT
Arpon says Slaf's playing on top-line tonight. Definitely didn't "earn" it and could be a disaster, but it's worth a shot at this point. well after Caufield blanked out in his first season with Douch-charm , MSL turned him around. It’s hard to watch Slaf especially on engagement and defense, but have to trust MSL on what he sees. Caufield did go to Laval for 6 games prior to his “rise-up”, so I know a lot of us are arm chair coaching him to Laval, but if Slaf can’t thrive on top line then for certain Laval should be a stopover.
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regis
Le Gros Bill
Posts: 1,095
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Post by regis on Nov 5, 2023 11:09:56 GMT
I’m not an evaluator of hockey talent and I can’t criticize the pick ‘ (. Yet ) cause I didn’t follow the draft and I wouldn’t know who was a better pick . I’m willing to give the kid a couple more years before I say “ what a lousy pick “ 😂 He’s only 19 But , so far , for a 1st overall pick , he sure is underwhelming. 2 points in 11 games 🤦♂️ what’s that 15 points for the year I don’t know what I expected out of him but more than this . He’s a big kid , maybe I expected him to dominate in some area . Puck battles , hitting 🤦♂️ something . Hopefully he works out . It’s early but this looks like the Doug Wickenhiser pick all over again
I’m sure the team knows what’s best for him. I recall Mitch marner spent some time on the 3rd or 4th line. But he was the 1st overall pick , at some point in time hes gotta start putting up points or doing something otherwise I’m sure there’s some other plug in Laval who can do the same
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Post by jenniferrocket on Nov 5, 2023 16:23:21 GMT
The promotion to the top line seemed to help. Let's see how he does there over the next couple of weeks. If he doesn't excel, then maybe we can send him to Laval.
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Post by maasart on Nov 5, 2023 18:06:57 GMT
I’m not an evaluator of hockey talent and I can’t criticize the pick ‘ (. Yet ) cause I didn’t follow the draft and I wouldn’t know who was a better pick . I’m willing to give the kid a couple more years before I say “ what a lousy pick “ 😂 He’s only 19 But , so far , for a 1st overall pick , he sure is underwhelming. 2 points in 11 games 🤦♂️ what’s that 15 points for the year I don’t know what I expected out of him but more than this . He’s a big kid , maybe I expected him to dominate in some area . Puck battles , hitting 🤦♂️ something . Hopefully he works out . It’s early but this looks like the Doug Wickenhiser pick all over again I’m sure the team knows what’s best for him. I recall Mitch marner spent some time on the 3rd or 4th line. But he was the 1st overall pick , at some point in time hes gotta start putting up points or doing something otherwise I’m sure there’s some other plug in Laval who can do the same I think the thing we all really have to remind ourselves is that this is not just a 19 year old kid, he's only played 50 NHL games. MSL said Slaf is in the "second half of his first season.' And, like all players his age, he missed developmental time with Covid etc etc. I look at a guy like Cooley or Jiricek and think "these are guys who look more complete" but they did at the draft too. Obviously the braintrust of the team believes Slaf still has a higher ceiling. Does he? Will he meet it? Who knows. But, like you, im not prepared to pass judgement on him... yet. I think he looked a lot better last night on the 1st line but we need consistent production from him, not just 'good looks' or as the team keeps saying 'puck touches.' I do hope this helps him get on track.
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Post by graeme on Nov 5, 2023 18:30:08 GMT
While not with Suzuki and Caufield, had a very nice looking goal on the PP last night, and 5-on-5 looked okay - worth sticking with for at least a few more games.
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Post by electron58 on Nov 5, 2023 21:13:04 GMT
While not with Suzuki and Caufield, had a very nice looking goal on the PP last night, and 5-on-5 looked okay - worth sticking with for at least a few more games. For sure, give Slafkovsky a 10 game stint. After that if they send him down, there can be no excuses. It will be the right decision. Hopefully Slaf proves everyone wrong and plays well. At least that's what I want.
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Post by ramcharger440 on Nov 6, 2023 4:17:48 GMT
Slaf looked good with Dach and Newhook to start the year then Dach got hurt we all know how fell off a cliff with his new linemates! then he gets put on a line with Nick and CC and boom he plays well...So Anderson who was with him for a good bit gets moved too and the line he goes to goes dead....I was reading over at RDS about how each line Anderson has been on this season has been an absolute disaster! they have the stats to prove it and it is an eye opener! watch the kid get back on track playing with some top tier players now like we all said he should! Waste of time playing a #1 pick on a line with a winger going downhill fast and a guy who is really not a center! especially when he is a rookie!
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Post by maasart on Nov 6, 2023 17:59:25 GMT
Slaf looked good with Dach and Newhook to start the year then Dach got hurt we all know how fell off a cliff with his new linemates! then he gets put on a line with Nick and CC and boom he plays well...So Anderson who was with him for a good bit gets moved too and the line he goes to goes dead....I was reading over at RDS about how each line Anderson has been on this season has been an absolute disaster! they have the stats to prove it and it is an eye opener! watch the kid get back on track playing with some top tier players now like we all said he should! Waste of time playing a #1 pick on a line with a winger going downhill fast and a guy who is really not a center! especially when he is a rookie! MSL had some nice comments about Slaf after teh game so I suspect they will keep him on that line for a bit at least. As for Anderson, I think he may be ok on a line with Monahan or even Dvo but i would definitely keep him away from Slaf (and, ideally, newhook). Pearson-Dvo-Anderson may be able to do some decent 2 way work, not sure. Honestly id be looking to move Josh Anderson if there was interest in him. I think he's a good player in the right situation (and always looks strong in the playoffs) but i dont think he fits this team right now.
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Post by ramcharger440 on Nov 6, 2023 18:10:18 GMT
I am with you on this good player wrong team I don't think we need his size as much and other than that he does little for us.
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Post by habsology on Nov 7, 2023 15:22:28 GMT
Slaf looked good with Dach and Newhook to start the year then Dach got hurt we all know how fell off a cliff with his new linemates! then he gets put on a line with Nick and CC and boom he plays well...So Anderson who was with him for a good bit gets moved too and the line he goes to goes dead....I was reading over at RDS about how each line Anderson has been on this season has been an absolute disaster! they have the stats to prove it and it is an eye opener! watch the kid get back on track playing with some top tier players now like we all said he should! Waste of time playing a #1 pick on a line with a winger going downhill fast and a guy who is really not a center! especially when he is a rookie! Here are the numbers, and they are damning. Fifty percent means there are equal chances on either side of the ice. Above 50% means that you have the advantage over your opponents and, obviously, below 50% means that the advantage goes to the opponent.
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Post by electron58 on Nov 7, 2023 16:24:17 GMT
Slaf looked good with Dach and Newhook to start the year then Dach got hurt we all know how fell off a cliff with his new linemates! then he gets put on a line with Nick and CC and boom he plays well...So Anderson who was with him for a good bit gets moved too and the line he goes to goes dead....I was reading over at RDS about how each line Anderson has been on this season has been an absolute disaster! they have the stats to prove it and it is an eye opener! watch the kid get back on track playing with some top tier players now like we all said he should! Waste of time playing a #1 pick on a line with a winger going downhill fast and a guy who is really not a center! especially when he is a rookie! Here are the numbers, and they are damning. Fifty percent means there are equal chances on either side of the ice. Above 50% means that you have the advantage over your opponents and, obviously, below 50% means that the advantage goes to the opponent. Wow. Damning is right. If they can get something decent without retaining I say do it. I thought it was just the eye test which can get a little fuzzy, but Stats are Stats!
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regis
Le Gros Bill
Posts: 1,095
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Post by regis on Nov 7, 2023 17:00:50 GMT
www.msn.com/en-ca/sports/other/slafkovsky-headed-to-a-nice-destination-despite-hitting-traffic-with-canadiens/ar-AA1ju3OW?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=383bc4e9088a42e495b9c38b8bcb4d91&ei=31MONTREAL — A little gridlock won't stop Juraj Slafkovsky from reaching his destination as a talented player in the NHL, if you ask Martin St. Louis. Slafkovsky, last year’s first-overall draft pick, has one goal and one assist through 11 games of his second season and often looks out of place on the ice. This after an underwhelming rookie campaign that was cut short by injury. The Canadiens head coach compared Slafkovsky’s progress to using the GPS app “Waze” -- his estimated time of arrival might get longer due to some congestion and wrong turns, but he'll still arrive at his destination. St. Louis feels the 19-year-old forward is heading to a good place, even if he's not on the most direct route so far. “You get caught in traffic, what happens to the time (on Waze)? Does it go up or down? Do you turn around or continue? You continue. And if you miss an exit, do you get upset, turn around and go home, or does it reroute you and you still get to your destination?” St. Louis said Monday at Bell Centre. “Slaf is headed to a nice destination, we don’t know exactly how long it’s going to take, and sometimes there’s traffic — he can’t get upset, he can’t get discouraged.” St. Louis says navigating his way into the NHL with the pressure of being a No. 1 selection in a market like Montreal makes things even more difficult for Slafkovsky. “It’s not easy for a young 19-year-old to not hear about it, not be exposed to it with all the media in Montreal," he said. "Everyone is talking about the fact that he’s in traffic and his missed exits, it’s not easy for a kid who’s 19, so we’re trying to help him with that." Whether or not the Canadiens should have kept Slafkovsky in the NHL last season instead of sending him back to his native Slovakia, or to Laval of the American Hockey League, has long been a discussion. Perhaps to give him a boost, St. Louis, forced to shuffle his lines after an injury to Rafael Harvey-Pinard and the return of Christian Dvorak, put Slafkovsky on Montreal’s top line alongside captain Nick Suzuki and sharpshooter Cole Caufield in Montreal’s 6-3 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Saturday. Slafkovsky broke through with a first goal of the year and his first in 31 games to get the monkey off his back. Veteran Canadiens centre Sean Monahan believes that could be all he needs. "Sometimes it's just putting one in the back of the net,” said Monahan. “You start to feel the pressure, you put one in and you start to play more relaxed, loosen up on your stick, and player more your game and be yourself, so I think that last goal there in St. Louis is going to be big." Though Monahan wasn’t a first-overall pick, he understands the pressures Slafkovsky is facing after playing in a Canadian NHL market as an 18-year-old when the Calgary Flames drafted him sixth in 2013. He says he talks to Slafkovsky every day, and believes the most important thing is to stay off social media. “I remember when I was that age, and you play a bad game and you go on Twitter or whatever it is, and it's everywhere,” said Monahan, who no longer uses any social media. "You've just got to try and avoid that. And like I said, put in the work and enjoy being at the rink, enjoy your teammates and learn new stuff every day." Slafkovsky’s next chance to build on his momentum is at home on Tuesday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning, when he’s again expected to skate on the Canadiens' top line. ANDERSON NEXT? After Slafkovsky finally found the scoresheet on Saturday, could Josh Anderson be next? Anderson, often Slafkovsky’s linemate this season, is goalless through 11 games and has 21 shots, many of which came from Grade A opportunities. "As a player, you want to produce in this league and I feel like personally the chances are there,” he said. “I'm fully confident in my teammates and myself that, it only takes one to get going and you've just got to bear down and start capitalizing on your chances." Has he tried to change things up equipment-wise? "I tried to change my tape job, but that's about it," he said. “Trying different things right now.” The 29-year-old winger has 122 goals in 468 career games — or one every 3.8 games — and is under contract through 2026-27 at a US$5.5-million cap hit. “He could be at four or five goals,” said St. Louis. “He had a lot of chances early, and once you haven’t scored on those the pressure builds. I know that’s not easy as a player, you got keep working to get the first one. “Josh is pretty streaky, when he scores one, he’s going to score a couple.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 6, 2023.
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Post by maasart on Nov 7, 2023 17:38:31 GMT
Here are the numbers, and they are damning. Fifty percent means there are equal chances on either side of the ice. Above 50% means that you have the advantage over your opponents and, obviously, below 50% means that the advantage goes to the opponent. Wow. Damning is right. If they can get something decent without retaining I say do it. I thought it was just the eye test which can get a little fuzzy, but Stats are Stats! The thing is, last year & this summer i think Anderson had value. He's had a slow start but that shouldnt stop some GMs. he has a 450+ game body of work... but... if this drags on, his value will plummet. I think Josh still has a lot of good hockey in him, i just dont see a great fit here...
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Post by HTL on Nov 7, 2023 18:43:21 GMT
Not ready to toss Anderson under the bus just yet ( close though). He's always been a streaky player and this just may be one of those slumps.
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Post by maasart on Nov 7, 2023 18:53:11 GMT
Not ready to toss Anderson under the bus just yet ( close though). He's always been a streaky player and this just may be one of those slumps. The problem for me this year is he seems like he's playing his own game. I know he's trying - he throws his body around with reckless abandon - but it seems like he's got a completely different memo from everyone he's on a line with. I wonder if Monahan is the only guy that might work with him but i really dont want to find out. Maybe something will Gel with Dvo.
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Post by habsology on Nov 7, 2023 20:57:43 GMT
Not ready to toss Anderson under the bus just yet ( close though). He's always been a streaky player and this just may be one of those slumps. The problem for me this year is he seems like he's playing his own game. I know he's trying - he throws his body around with reckless abandon - but it seems like he's got a completely different memo from everyone he's on a line with. I wonder if Monahan is the only guy that might work with him but i really dont want to find out. Maybe something will Gel with Dvo. I can't remember exactly who (was it JenniferRocket?) that wanted him gone last year because he was one-tick pony. I also see him as a one-trick pony. As the numbers point out, he doesn't seem to add value to his teammates. The reason others aren't as high on getting rid of him is because he still has perceived value. However, if this perceived value begins to diminish, then so will his actual trade value. Trade him now while there is still some perceived value.
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Post by BigTed3 on Nov 8, 2023 1:50:58 GMT
The problem for me this year is he seems like he's playing his own game. I know he's trying - he throws his body around with reckless abandon - but it seems like he's got a completely different memo from everyone he's on a line with. I wonder if Monahan is the only guy that might work with him but i really dont want to find out. Maybe something will Gel with Dvo. I can't remember exactly who (was it JenniferRocket?) that wanted him gone last year because he was one-tick pony. I also see him as a one-trick pony. As the numbers point out, he doesn't seem to add value to his teammates. The reason others aren't as high on getting rid of him is because he still has perceived value. However, if this perceived value begins to diminish, then so will his actual trade value. Trade him now while there is still some perceived value. I've been saying this for two years. I think others have said this too. Anderson is a great skater. He uses his size well. He can score goals at times. But the results have never been the sum of the parts. Benoit Pouliot was another example of a guy who seemed to have a lot of tools but just never put everything together. And I get that GMs drool over the toolkit, but as I've said, Anderson is a guy we should have traded a year or two ago when we had the chance to maximize value. He just doesn't figure into the age bracket of guys who will peak when we are set to win and he doesn't fit into the line-up all that well.
As for Slafkovsky, the question is whether he'll end up being the same as Anderson or not: a guy with skills but not enough game. Slaf has looked better on the top line the past couple of games, but it's clear he's a supporting player at this point and doesn't drive play by himself. He still looks hesitant on the ice. I'd like to see more confident play from him, and if there's one thing he can learn from Anderson it's how to use his size to take the puck to the net. Hopefully, Slaf's finishing abilities end up better than Anderson's.
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